In each of the four years the NASCAR Cup series championship has been contested at Phoenix Raceway, at least one Toyota driver has been included. But none of those drivers finished higher than thir…
In the four years that the NASCAR Cup series championship has taken place at Phoenix Raceway, Toyota drivers have always been contenders, but none have finished higher than third in the final standings. Toyota Racing Development (TRD) president David Wilson expressed disappointment over their lack of championship wins in Phoenix, saying it’s time to step up and deliver results. Despite their past struggles, Toyota showed dominance in the recent race at Phoenix with five drivers leading the way, and Christopher Bell securing the win. The transition to the Next Gen car in 2022 posed new challenges for Toyota teams at Phoenix, with limited laps led in the previous races. Bell and Denny Hamlin emphasized the importance of improving their performance at Phoenix, acknowledging their past struggles on the oval track. Looking back at previous championship races at Phoenix, Hamlin and his team knew they faced tough odds and needed everything to align perfectly to secure a win. The recent race showcased Toyota’s strength with multiple drivers leading laps and claiming stage victories, signaling a potential turnaround in their Phoenix performance.
