Which drivers are in contention for the last playoff final in history?

They are two representatives of Hendrick Motorsports, Kyle Larson and William Byron, as well as two Joe Gibbs Racing drivers, Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe, fighting for the 2025 title of the NASCAR Cup Series. As has been the case since 2014, the Phoenix finale will be contested in a "winner-takes-it-all" format, with the first of the four remaining drivers to cross the finish line claiming the championship. This controversial format is not expected to be used again in 2026. While NASCAR has not yet announced the format that will be implemented, NASCAR President Steve O'Donnell has repeatedly confirmed that a new format is likely. Will it retain the current format with a final round extended to multiple races, will it revert to the "Chase" format used from 2004 to 2013, or even a points system based on the entire season? All options are currently under consideration.

However, the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series champion will have to beat his three rivals on the Phoenix track this Sunday night, and so this is a good opportunity to introduce you to the four contenders for the crown.

Kyle Larson, the jack-of-all-trades champion

Of the four drivers who qualified for this final, Kyle Larson is the only one to have already won a Cup Series title, back in 2021, also in Phoenix. Dominant that season, Larson clinched the championship by winning the final race. While 2025 has been quieter for him, with only three wins so far, Larson boasts the most top-10 finishes among the four contenders (21 in 35 races). This consistency at the highest level can be crucial in a situation where every member of the team needs to execute flawlessly. After a second attempt at the Indianapolis 500 earlier this year (DNF on lap 92), Larson seems to have refocused on his primary objective: capturing a second NASCAR Cup Series title. Although he continued to shine on the country's dirt ovals, the driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet decided to limit distractions, admitting that he did not intend to stay in NASCAR indefinitely, and that he would therefore have the opportunity to try other things once his "main" career was over.

William Byron, the gamer

It's perhaps surprising to still be mentioning it in 2025, but it was indeed on the iRacing simulation that William Byron was discovered by the general public, as he began his career in NASCAR's junior formulas. This led to him being labeled similarly to Southampton's (and previously RC Lens and Stade de Reims') football manager, Will Still, who was categorized as a Football Manager player who transitioned into coaching. As with Byron, this label is only partly true, as the American driver has nonetheless honed his skills and is now establishing himself as one of the championship's leading drivers. Winner of the last two Daytona 500s, Byron is present for the third consecutive year in the final stage of the playoffs and hopes to finally clinch the title this time. Like Larson, he has won three times this season, most recently at Martinsville, seven days ago…

Chase Briscoe, the newcomer

Pilot of the Toyota Number 19 for Joe Gibbs Racing, Chase Briscoe, is making his first appearance in the final, also boasting three wins this year. Having taken over from Martin Truex Jr., the 2017 champion, Briscoe himself admitted he didn't know if he could live up to his predecessor's legacy. Gaining momentum throughout the season, Briscoe has finished in the top five 15 times, a record for the entire field this season. Winner two weeks ago at Talladega, Briscoe is determined to cause an upset by winning his first title, in what will undoubtedly be a landmark season in his young career.

Denny Hamlin, the veteran

The fourth contender in this year's series, Denny Hamlin hopes to cap off his twentieth Cup Series season in style with a title he's been chasing since 2006. As a rookie, he finished third in the championship race, which ultimately went to Jimmie Johnson. Also competing in 2010 (again losing to Johnson), Hamlin is making his fifth appearance in the Final Four. Most importantly, with six wins this season (and a total of 60 career victories), the three-time Daytona 500 winner has been the most prolific driver this season. He has also undergone a transformation in his popularity. Initially seen as an ambitious young driver, he has evolved over the last decade into a veteran who speaks his mind and isn't afraid to make enemies!

His catchphrase to deflect boos after a victory had become, "I beat your favorite driver!" A heartfelt cry that doesn't sit well with his father, as Denny Hamlin has already explained. This Sunday in Phoenix, it's for his ailing father that he's chasing a championship title. During his last victory in Las Vegas three weeks ago, the provocateur shed a few tears regarding his family's situation. This revealed another side of a prominent figure in NASCAR and gave many fans hope that he'll finally win the title he deserves, given his career.

Unlike recent seasons, all four drivers in contention have strong arguments for winning the title, and there's no room for debate about who will ultimately take it. Perhaps this is the best way to end the playoff era…

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