After nine months, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season is set to culminate on Sunday afternoon at Phoenix Raceway. For the second straight year, the one-mile oval will host the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race. Four drivers successfully navigated their way through three elimination rounds and will now battle it out to be crowned the top champion in stock car racing. A familiar name turned in both the fastest practice session and qualifying time ahead of Sunday’s season finale. Kyle Larson has officially earned pole position honors in the NASCAR Cup Series Championship starting lineup as he looks to cap off a dominant season with a title.
The following article contains all kinds of vital information to get you set for Sunday afternoon’s NASCAR action. Read on for the complete NASCAR Championship Race starting lineup, start time and race details.
🏆 Be sure to also check out our in-depth breakdown and preview of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4 drivers!
NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix Raceway
Date: Sunday, November 7, 2021
Start Time: 3 p.m. EST
Track: Phoenix Raceway — Avondale, AZ
Coverage: NBC
Pole Sitter: Kyle Larson
Defending Champion: Chase Elliott
NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race Details
Distance: 318.864 miles
Laps: 312
Lap Length: 1.022 miles
Stages: Three (Laps 1-75; 76-190; 191-312)
Surface: Asphalt
Turns: 4
NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race Starting Lineup
Unlike the majority of races this season, the NASCAR Cup Championship Race starting lineup was decided by actual on-track qualifying. Drivers turned one-lap time trials around Phoenix Raceway on Saturday night to determine the starting grid for Sunday’s race.
NASCAR betting favorite Kyle Larson earned the pole position as he aims to cap off a dominant 2021 season with a championship. Concerning the other members of this year’s Championship 4, Chase Elliott qualified second, Denny Hamlin sixth, and Martin Truex Jr. eleventh. See the table below for the complete starting grid.
| Starting Position | Driver | Car Number | Team | Manufacturer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cole Custer | 41 | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 2 | Christopher Bell | 20 | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 3 | Tyler Reddick | 8 | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 4 | Chase Briscoe | 14 | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 5 | Kyle Larson | 5 | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 6 | Justin Haley | 31 | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 7 | Ty Dillon | 42 | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 8 | Alex Bowman | 48 | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 9 | Chase Elliott | 9 | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 10 | Joey Logano | 22 | Team Penske | Ford |
| 11 | Kyle Busch | 18 | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 12 | Austin Dillon | 3 | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 13 | Kurt Busch | 45 | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 14 | Erik Jones | 43 | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 15 | Chris Buescher | 17 | Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing | Ford |
| 16 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 47 | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 17 | Michael McDowell | 34 | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 18 | Brad Keselowski | 6 | Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing | Ford |
| 19 | William Byron | 24 | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 20 | Austin Cindric | 2 | Team Penske | Ford |
| 21 | Daniel Suarez | 99 | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet |
| 22 | Bubba Wallace | 23 | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 23 | Todd Gilliland | 38 | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 24 | Harrison Burton | 21 | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 25 | Ryan Blaney | 12 | Team Penske | Ford |
| 26 | Corey LaJoie | 7 | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 27 | Justin Allgaier | 77 | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 28 | Noah Gragson | 16 | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 29 | J.J. Yeley | 15 | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 30 | Martin Truex Jr. | 19 | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 31 | Aric Almirola | 10 | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 32 | Kevin Harvick | 4 | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 33 | Ross Chastain | 1 | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet |
| 34 | Denny Hamlin | 11 | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 35 | Cody Ware | 51 | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 36 | Josh Williams | 78 | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford |
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