Michael Jordan’s Ace Enters Championship Race As Odd One Out With Rick Hendrick’s Prodigy As Biggest Thorn To Roger Penske & Co’s ‘3Peat’ Dream

As the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Four approaches, it's shaping up to be one of the most intriguing lineups in recent memory. With two seasoned champions, a rising star, and a powerful wildcard all fighting for the title, the competition is fiercer than ever. Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney, and William Byron will all race for the crown, but the story is more complex than just the cars they drive and the victories they've earned.

Michael Jordan's protégé, Tyler Reddick, enters the fray as the unexpected wildcard in the Championship Four, while William Byron, Rick Hendrick's prodigy, becomes the toughest obstacle for the reigning champions of Team Penske in their quest for a third consecutive title. So will Team Penske win their third title in a row?

What are the problems Team Penske can face winning their 3-peat? Eric Estepp shared a video on his YouTube where he broke down the eclectic mix of drivers that make up the Championship Four in NASCAR this year. He laid out the scenario where Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick, and Ryan Blaney secured their spots through wins, while William Byron earned the final slot based on points after a controversial finish at Martinsville. According to Estepp, it's a unique Championship Four, with a blend of past champions and newcomers and teams from three different manufacturers—Toyota, Chevrolet, and Ford.

In his episode titled, ' Back-to-Back? Three-peat? First-Timer? ' on YouTube, Estepp also dove into the stats, pointing out that every driver in the Championship Four has won three races this season, making them evenly matched in that regard. He then shifted to the history of Phoenix Raceway, where the final showdown will take place. He highlighted that Toyota had dominated the Phoenix race earlier in the season, with Christopher Bell taking the win, while other Championship Four contenders had varying levels of success there.

Among the drivers, Logano has the most experience at Phoenix , with three career wins, but Estepp pointed out that William Byron and Ryan Blaney have had consistently strong finishes at the track, making them strong contenders for the championship. Byron has three top-10 finishes including one win in his last four races at Phoenix. The defending champ has an impeccable record at the Phoenix Speedway with his last six consecutive races being top-5 finishes at the track. Reddick, while not historically a threat at Phoenix, showed his potential earlier in the season by leading 68 laps in the spring race.

Estepp also gave a special shoutout to Joey Logano , who is making his sixth career Championship Four appearance, a record he now holds. The narrative took a deeper turn as Estepp pointed out the potential impact of Logano's performance in the Round of 8, where he won the opening race and earned extra weeks to prepare for the championship battle. Historically, Logano has been very successful when given that extra preparation time, which adds a layer of intrigue to his chances of clinching another title.

With Rick Hendrick 's rising prodigy and Jordan's ace, Tyler Reddick, now in the Championship Four, Estepp summed up the excitement by noting that this year's championship race is shaping up to be a fierce battle, with Logano leading the charge to secure a third Cup for Team Penske and continue their 'three-peat' dream. But with such a varied field of talent, it's anyone's game, and the outcome could be unpredictable. With all this talk about Logano, what are the chances of Ryan Blaney winning the title for Penske this year?

Ryan Blaney's dad is excited for the finals After securing his first NASCAR Cup Series title last year, Ryan Blaney 's dad, Dave, had the idea of building a trophy case for his son. But there's been a slight holdup: Dave hasn't started yet, joking that he needs to know whether to build one or two. With Blaney now attempting to become the first driver in 14 years to win back-to-back titles, his dad might just need to keep his tools ready.

Blaney's journey to this point hasn't been easy. Despite his seven-race finishes outside the top 30, he believes his team's performance this year has been better than the previous season. It's a testament to how far they've come since last year when Blaney needed a win at Martinsville to secure his spot in the Championship 4. Now, once again, he heads into Phoenix with momentum, having secured another Martinsville win.

While Blaney remains focused on the task ahead, he understands the challenge of repeating as champion in such a competitive field. Teammate Logano, who won titles in 2018 and 2022 but failed to make the Championship 4 the following years, knows just how difficult it is to stay on top. If all goes well, his dad might just get started on that second trophy case. Or maybe, Blaney jokes, he'll wait until next year.

With that said, do you think that Team Penske will secure a 3peat this year? Let us know your prediction for the winner in the comments below.