AVONDALE, Ariz. — NASCAR President Steve Phelps defended the four drivers competing for the Cup Series championship this weekend — even though others had better stats than the runners-up — as well as the playoff system. -even during Friday’s annual State of Sports address.

Defending champion Ryan Blaney, Team Penske teammate Joey Logano, Daytona 500 winner William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports and regular season champion Tyler Reddick of 23XI Racing will race for the title Sunday in the winner-take-all feature at Phoenix Raceway.

Phelps admitted that NASCAR had heard backlash from fans that the most deserving drivers had been eliminated from the title-deciding race, including Kyle Larson, who led the Cup Series with six wins this season, and Christopher Bell, who distinguished himself in the third round of the playoffs. but disqualified for going over the wall last week at Martinsville Speedway, a move considered a safety violation.

This gave Byron the final spot in points after Logano, Reddick and Blaney all won races to earn automatic spots in the final. Among those eliminated were Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin.

“There is a lot of discussion around the four competing on Sunday. I heard words like, ‘They don’t deserve, you have the wrong drivers, two, three, four drivers,'” Phelps said. “All our drivers knew the format. These four drivers deserve to be here – period.

Logano was eliminated from the playoffs after the second round, but was reinstated when Alex Bowman’s car failed post-race inspection after a heat race. He will attempt to become the only active three-time champion in NASCAR’s top series.

He will face Blaney, who, along with Logano, will try to win a third straight Cup title for team owner Roger Penske and Ford. Reddick didn’t have the best playoff run, but used a final-turn pass at Homestead-Miami Speedway to win and put the team co-owned by Michael Jordan and Hamlin in the championship for the first time in the team history.

Byron gained points once Bell’s move was ruled illegal.

Sanctions galore

NASCAR this week imposed $600,000 in fines and suspended nine team members from three organizations for race manipulation last weekend at Martinsville Speedway. Chief operating officer Steve O’Donnell said the sanctioning body found it completely irrelevant.

NASCAR penalized 23XI Racing for interfering with fellow Toyota Bell, while teams Chevrolet Trackhouse Racing and Richard Childress Racing were penalized for assisting Byron.

“I would say before what we saw, this is one of the best runs we’ve seen in the playoffs, and it’s amazing that we’re sitting here talking about this topic,” O’ said Donnell. “I’m probably going to get in trouble for saying this, but I’ll say it anyway… what I saw at Martinsville pissed me off, and it pissed off everyone at NASCAR because we all know better, and We know what’s happening.”

NASCAR hesitated to suspend drivers Bubba Wallace, Ross Chastain and Austin Dillon, but instead issued hefty fines and held a drivers’ meeting Saturday to discuss sanctions. NASCAR has already held a meeting with manufacturers to discuss the role they play in ordering their teams to help the teams fielded.

“We had a call with our OEMs where we were very clear about our intentions going forward,” O’Donnell said. “That’s right, do we currently have a rule that we could do something about?” We don’t do it. Will we have a rule next year? 1000%. They are aware of it, and they know that if something happens this weekend, it won’t be the case, but we will react.

O’Donnell also denied that NASCAR was inconsistent in its officiating and remained adamant that the playoff system will not go away.

“Can you name a sport where there are no officiating issues throughout the year? » he asked. “The format is one thing, but the playoffs, we’re not going to get away from the playoffs. We read the fans and everything. We will absolutely watch what shape the playoffs take during the offseason. You’re always learning, but the playoffs themselves, you can’t argue with the quality of racing that they provided.

Antitrust lawsuit

NASCAR declined to answer any questions about the federal antitrust lawsuit filed against the series by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports on the same day a judge ruled against the teams in their request to obtain a court order to compete as approved teams next season.

Farewell to the champions

Phelps took a moment to congratulate former Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr., who will retire at the end of the season, and Hall of Famer Tony Stewart, who is selling his stake in Stewart- Haas Racing.

Truex won the 2017 championship driving for now-defunct Furniture Row Racing, while Stewart won two titles for Joe Gibbs Racing and one for SHR. He is now a full-time NHRA drag racer and expecting his first baby with his wife, Leah Pruett.

“I wanted to make sure I said something about Martin Truex and his retirement from full-time racing. Martin was a class act. He is a clean racing driver, never dirty. He has a great fan base and he will be missed. We hope he comes back and does one-off races or participates in the sport in some other way,” Phelps said.

“And then, likewise, Tony Stewart sells his charters. Tony will therefore focus with Leah on their family and on drag racing. So we wish Tony good luck. Tony is also always welcome at our racecourses.