Overview
- Love gained track position on a late pit stop and passed Connor Zilisch with about 24 laps remaining, then controlled the race to the checkered flag at Phoenix.
- Zilisch capped a dominant rookie year with 10 wins and the regular-season title but finished third in the finale and second in the championship.
- The victory marked Richard Childress Racing’s sixth Xfinity driver crown, and Aric Almirola’s runner-up finish secured the owners’ championship for Joe Gibbs Racing.
- Afterward, Love answered detractors by saying he "got the trophy," while Dale Earnhardt Jr. credited RCR’s preparation and expressed pride in his JR Motorsports group.
- Prominent voices criticized the winner-take-all format, and NASCAR says it intends to adjust the playoff system for 2026; Zilisch is confirmed for a full-time Cup move with Trackhouse.