Tyler Reddick earned his sixth win of the NASCAR season at Phoenix Raceway, boosting his position in the Cup Series championship standings. On Sunday, Reddick's No. 45 Toyota overtook Chase Briscoe with 17 laps to go. Kyle Larson, the leader, had a rough day, finishing 34th after hitting the wall due to a flat tire. Larson's lead is now just five points over Christopher Bell as they head to Talladega next week. Denny Hamlin and others remain in contention. Joey Logano won both stages, collecting 20 points. The Cup Series continues with three races left in the season.

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Ryan Blaney makes a pit stop on lap 128 during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

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Denny Hamlin (11) leads Tyler Reddick on the 30th lap during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

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Kyle Larson (5) leads Austin Dillon on the 12th lap during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Chase Briscoe's back-to-back wins have put him in the mix for the NASCAR Cup Series championship. Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell are also contenders, but Kyle Larson remains the front-runner. Larson leads Hamlin by 49 points with four races left. He has two postseason wins and two second-place finishes. Larson heads to Phoenix Raceway, a track where he's had consistent success, despite some challenges. Bell is third in the standings, 51 points behind Larson, while Briscoe is fourth, 65 points back. The series continues with races at Talladega and Martinsville before the finale at Homestead-Miami.

Chase Briscoe is aiming to replicate Tony Stewart's 2011 NASCAR Cup Series comeback. Briscoe has won back-to-back playoff races, including a close victory at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday. These wins have significantly reduced his points deficit from 123 to 65 behind leader Kyle Larson. With four races left, Briscoe knows he needs more victories to stay in contention. His crew chief, James Small, emphasizes maintaining momentum as they head to Phoenix. Briscoe remains focused on winning, acknowledging that only victories will close the gap with Larson.

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Chase Briscoe celebrates in Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, in Concord, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

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Chase Briscoe celebrates in Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, in Concord, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

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Chase Briscoe celebrates in Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, in Concord, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

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Chase Briscoe does a burnout after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, in Concord, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)