Ryan Blaney Leads Final NASCAR Practice at Phoenix

During the final practice session at Phoenix Raceway for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series, reigning champion Ryan Blaney posted the fastest lap, leading the field as he aims for back-to-back titles. Blaney's closest championship rivals, William Byron, Joey Logano, and Tyler Reddick, finished fourth, ninth, and 21st, respectively. Jimmie Johnson, a seven-time champion, spun during the session but avoided a collision, while Martin Truex Jr. briefly topped the charts before Blaney took over. Byron also demonstrated strong performance, ranking second among the Championship 4 drivers and excelling in long-run averages. The teams will qualify on Saturday, with the championship race set for Sunday at 3 p.m. ET. The practice provided critical insights for the teams to refine their strategies ahead of the title battle.