"It's time": When NASCAR Insider proposed 'mixing it up' on Phoenix being the championship race

Following the finale of the 2024 NASCAR Cup season, Jordan Bianchi gave his take on Phoenix Raceway and championship race. The NASCAR journalist and the Teardown podcast co-host proposed the idea of the Championship 4 race being taken away from the track in Arizona. This discussion came a week after Joey Logano secured his third NASCAR Cup series.

Phoenix Raceway has been hosting the NASCAR season finale since 2020. Before that, the all-important round in the playoff format era, or the final race was hosted at Homestead (2002-2019).

Ever since the championship race venue has been shifted to Phoenix, fans and many insiders have wondered if the racetrack deserves to hold that place. On a similar note, Jordan Bianchi also proposed some 'mixing up' in race venues. Speaking to Jeff Gluck in a DirtyMoMedia podcast episode released on November 11, 2024, Bianchi said (via YouTube):

"I've said this for a while now, I respect Phoenix, I think there's a place for Phoenix in the championship on a semiannual basis. But to have it year after year like, we've seen since 2020 ... it's time. I mean, you need to go to track, you need to mix it up first of all. This place just doesn't produce amazing stellar racing and I don't know what it was today, there seemed to be some tire wear but you back a week ago at Martinsville and that was great and dramatic, you go back a week before that at Homestead, that was great and dramatic," Bianchi said. [30:10]

He further claimed that while the race got exciting after the restart with 30 to 50 laps left, the initial laps felt underwhelming.

---

Jordan Bianchi proposed alternate racetracks for hosting the Championship race

Further discussing the subject of venues for the final races, Jordan Bianchi said that NASCAR needs to bring the Championship 4 race to a place that can put on a 'great show', while also allowing the drivers to showcase their abilities.

In Bianchi's opinion, such a track could be Homestead, Las Vegas, or Charlotte Speedway. He then went on to name Texas as another contender for this race, claiming that the racing has 'gotten better there', while not being entirely perfect.

"I've slammed Texas more than anybody but the racing has gotten better there to a point. But you've got to figure out a way to put these guys in situations that allow them to show their ability and that was what we've seen the last few weeks like Reddick at Homestead or Blaney last week (Maritinsville)." [31:20]

Bianchi said that while he was impressed with what drivers put on show at Phoenix, he didn't find it to be magical where they gave it their all. Adding to this, co-host Jeff Gluck felt that the race at Phoenix was as good as a race could've gotten at that particular track.