Statistical Advance: Analyzing the Freeway Insurance 500

Below is a look at the top statistical performers at Phoenix Raceway in Phoenix, Arizona leading into the Freeway Insurance 500 on October 18 at 3 p.m. ET on USA, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).

NASCAR Cup Series Chase Fast Facts: Race #7 (Phoenix Raceway)

• The 2026 season marks the first-time Phoenix Raceway will host the seventh race in the Chase for the NASCAR Cup Series (2026).
• This season is the 23rd consecutive season Phoenix Raceway has participated in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason (2004-2026).
• Since the inception of the Chase in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2004-2026, Phoenix Raceway has occupied four different positions on the postseason schedule:
• Seventh Race: 2026 (This season)
• Eighth Race: 2004 (Inaugural Chase season)
• Ninth Race: From 2005 – 2019 (15 consecutive seasons)
• 10th (Final) Race: From 2020 – 2025 (6 consecutive seasons)
• A total of 13 different drivers have won the NASCAR Cup Series postseason races at Phoenix Raceway.
• Kevin Harvick leads the NASCAR Cup Series in postseason race wins at Phoenix Raceway with four victories (2006, 2012, 2013 and 2014).
• Joey Logano leads all active Cup drivers in postseason race wins at Phoenix with three victories (2016, 2022, 2024).
• Four active Chase drivers have won postseason races at Phoenix Raceway – Joey Logano (three), Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson and Ryan Blaney (each have one).

• A total of 17 different crew chiefs have won a NASCAR Cup Series postseason race at Phoenix Raceway, led by NASCAR Hall of Famer Chad Knaus with three wins (all at Phoenix from 2007-2009 with driver Jimmie Johnson).
• Five active crew chiefs have won a postseason race at Phoenix Raceway – Alan Gustafson (two), Paul Wolfe (two), Adam Stevens, Cliff Daniels, Jonathan Hassler (one each).
• A total of nine different organizations have won a NASCAR Cup Series postseason race at Phoenix Raceway, led by Hendrick Motorsports with seven wins (2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2015, 2020, 2021).
• Six times a non-postseason driver has won the NASCAR Cup Series postseason race at Phoenix Raceway: Kyle Busch (2005), Kasey Kahne (2011), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2015), Matt Kenseth (2017), Ross Chastain (2023), Ryan Blaney (2025).

1. In 2005, Kyle Busch was ranked 19th in the point standings at the time of the win.
2. In 2011, Kasey Kahne was ranked 14th in the point standings at the time of the win.
3. In 2015, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was seventh in the point standings at the time of the win. Earnhardt Jr. had made the Playoffs in 2015 but was eliminated in the Round of 12.
4. In 2017, Matt Kenseth was seventh in points at the time of the win. Kenseth had made the Playoffs in 2017 but was eliminated in the Round of 12.
5. In 2023, Ross Chastain was ninth in points at the time of the win. Chastain had made the Playoffs in 2023 but was eliminated in the Round of 12.
6. In 2025, Ryan Blaney was sixth in points at the time of the win. Blaney had made the Playoffs in 2025 but was eliminated in the Round of 8.

• The worst finish in a NASCAR Cup Series postseason race at Phoenix Raceway by a driver that went on to win the title the same season was 38th by Jimmie Johnson in 2016 – then the penultimate event of the season.
• A total of 12 different drivers have won the seventh race in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason, led by NASCAR Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson (Atlanta: 2004, 2007 and Martinsville: 2012, 2016), and Joey Logano (Martinsville: 2018; Kansas: 2020; Las Vegas: 2022, 2024) with four postseason victories each.
• Three current Chase drivers have won the seventh race in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason – Joey Logano (four wins), Kyle Larson (two wins) and Denny Hamlin (one win).
• A non-postseason driver has won the seventh race in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason three times – 2006, 2009 and 2010.
• In 2006, Tony Stewart won the seventh race of the postseason at Atlanta Motor Speedway, he was 11th in points at the time of the win.
• In 2009, Jamie McMurray won the seventh race of the postseason at Talladega Superspeedway, he was ranked 22nd in the points at the time of the win.
• In 2010, Clint Bowyer won the seventh race of the postseason at Talladega Superspeedway, he was 12th in the points at the time of the win.

• Seven times the winner of the seventh race of the NASCAR Cup Series postseason, has gone on to win the championship later that same season – 2007, 2011, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2024.
• In 2007, Jimmie Johnson won from the sixth starting position at Atlanta Motor Speedway and went on to win his second consecutive NASCAR Cup Series championship.
• In 2011, Tony Stewart won from the fourth starting position at Martinsville Speedway and went on to win his third NASCAR Cup Series championship.
• In 2016, Jimmie Johnson won from the third starting position at Martinsville Speedway and went on to win his record tying seventh NASCAR Cup Series championship.
• In 2018, Joey Logano won from the 10th starting position at Martinsville Speedway and went on to win his first NASCAR Cup Series championship.
• In 2021, Kyle Larson won from the pole at Texas Motor Speedway and went on to win his first career NASCAR Cup Series championship.
• In 2022, Joey Logano won from the fifth starting position at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and went on to win his second NASCAR Cup Series championship (2018, 2022).
• In 2024, Joey Logano won from the 10th starting position at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and went on to win his third NASCAR Cup Series championship (2018, 2022, 2024).
• The worst finish by a driver in the seventh NASCAR Cup Series postseason race that later went on to win the title that same season; was at Atlanta Motor Speedway (2004-2008) when Kurt Busch posted a 42nd-place finish in the 2004 Atlanta postseason race, then the seventh race in the postseason. The finish was due to an engine failure.
• A total of 14 different crew chiefs have won the seventh race on the NASCAR Cup Series postseason schedule, led by NASCAR Hall of Fame crew chief Chad Knaus with four victories (all with driver Jimmie Johnson – Atlanta: 2004, 2007 and Martinsville: 2012, 2016).
• Five active crew chiefs have won the seventh postseason race in the NASCAR Cup Series – Paul Wolfe (three), Alan Gustafson (two), Cliff Daniels (two), Adam Stevens (one), Chris Gayle (one).
• A total of six different organizations have won the seventh race on the NASCAR Cup Series postseason schedule; led by Hendrick Motorsports with nine victories (2004, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2021, 2023).
• The six organizations that have wins in the seventh race of the NASCAR Cup Series postseason are Hendrick Motorsports (nine), Joe Gibbs Racing (four), Team Penske (four), RFK Racing (three), Richard Childress Racing (one) and Stewart-Haas Racing (one).

Phoenix Raceway Stats & Tidbits:

Race Name: Freeway Insurance 500
Season Race #: 33 of 36 (October 18, 2026)
Chase Race #: 7 of 10
Track Size/Type: 1 Mile Asphalt Oval
The Purse: $11,233,037
Banking/Turn 1 & 2: 9 degrees
Banking/Turn 3 & 4: 11 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 3 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 9 degrees
Race Length: 312 laps / 500 Kilometers / 312 Miles
Stage 1 Length: 60 laps
Stage 2 Length: 125 laps (Ends on Lap 185)
Final Stage Length: 127 laps (Ends on Lap 312)

PHOENIX QUALIFYING / RACE RECORDS 

Track Qualifying Record:
Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, 143.158 mph, 25.147 secs., November 13, 2015

Track Race Record:
Tony Stewart, Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac, 118.132 mph, (02:38:28), November 7, 1999

2025 Postseason Race Pole Winner:
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, 133.759 mph, 26.914 secs., November 1, 2025

2025 Postseason Race Winner:
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford, 97.711 mph, (03:15:53), November 2, 2025

HISTORY

• Construction was completed, on what was then known as Phoenix International Raceway, in January of 1964.
• The facility consisted of a one-mile oval and a 2.5-mile road course.
• In 1985, Buddy Jobe purchased Phoenix Raceway from then owner Dennis Wood. Jobe soon initiated a massive improvement program to upgrade the track and its facilities.
• The first NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway was held on November 6, 1988 and was won by NASCAR Hall of Famer Alan Kulwicki. Kulwicki celebrated by performing the first-ever ‘Polish Victory Lap’
• International Speedway Corporation (now NASCAR) purchased Phoenix Raceway in 1997.
• The first spring race at Phoenix Raceway was held on April 23, 2005 and was also the first night race, which was won by NASCAR Hall of Famer Kurt Busch.
• The track underwent its first repave in 2011. The construction began in March and concluded in September of that year.
• The following changes were made during the construction period (March – Sept. 2011):
• Widened the frontstretch from 52 to 62 feet and reconfigured pit road with the installation of concrete pit stalls
• Pushed the dog-leg curve between Turn 2 and Turn 3 out 95 feet and tightened the turn radius of the dog-leg from 800 to 500 feet
• Implemented banking, including 11-degree banking between Turn 1 and Turn 2; 10-11-degree banking in the apex of the dog-leg; and 9-degree banking in Turns 3 and 4.
• Phoenix Raceway underwent a second reconstruction following the Spring race of 2018, with many new fan amenities added to the track, as well as the track itself being reconfigured so that the start/finish line is now just before the dog leg.
• In total, there have been 60 NASCAR Cup Series races at Phoenix Raceway, one per season from 1988-2004 and two each season since.
• Phoenix Raceway hosted the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race from 2020-2025.

STARTS

• In total 250 different drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway, and 192 have competed in more than one Cup Series race at Phoenix.
• Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin lead the NASCAR Cup Series in starts at Phoenix Raceway with 42 starts each.
• Top five all-time in starts at Phoenix: Kevin Harvick (42), Denny Hamlin (42), Kyle Busch (42), Kurt Busch (39), Ryan Newman (39).
• Top five in active drivers in starts at Phoenix: Denny Hamlin (42), Joey Logano (35), Brad Keselowski (35), Michael McDowell (31), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (27).
• In total 26 different drivers have made their first NASCAR Cup Series career start at Phoenix Raceway; none are currently active in the series; the most recent was Katherine Legge on March 9, 2025.
• Of the 26 drivers that made their first NASCAR Cup Series start at Phoenix Raceway, Clint Bowyer had the best finish in his series debut at Phoenix, with a 22nd-place finish on April 23, 2005.

• Kyle Larson leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Phoenix Raceway with a 6.750 in 24 starts.

Top 10 in Average Starting Position at Phoenix Raceway (All-Time & Active)

POLES

• There have been 27 different NASCAR Cup Series pole winners at Phoenix Raceway, and 18 of 27 pole winners have won multiple poles at the one-mile track.
• Geoffrey Bodine won the first NASCAR Cup Series pole at Phoenix Raceway in 1988 at a speed of 123.203 mph (29.220 secs.) in a Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.
• Ryan Newman (2002, 2003, 2004, 2008), Kyle Busch (2006, 2012, 2016, 2019) and Denny Hamlin (2005, 2014, 2024, 2025) lead the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Phoenix Raceway with four each.
• Youngest series Phoenix pole winner: Kyle Busch (April 22, 2006 – 20 years, 11 months, 20 days).
• Oldest series Phoenix pole winner: Mark Martin (March 3, 2013 – 54 years, 1 month, 22 days).
• This weekend, nine of the 27 NASCAR Cup Series Phoenix Raceway pole winners are active.

Active NASCAR Cup Series Phoenix Raceway Pole Winners

• Ryan Newman (2002-2004), Jeff Gordon (2006-2007) and Carl Edwards (2010-2011) are the only drivers to win consecutive poles at Phoenix Raceway.
• Four drivers have won their first career NASCAR Cup Series pole at Phoenix Raceway:
  • Casey Atwood (October 2001)
  • Denny Hamlin (November 2005)
  • AJ Allmendinger (April 2010)
  • Alex Bowman (November 2016).
• Since the postseason began in the Cup Series in 2004, 28 different Cup Series crew chiefs have won a pole at Phoenix Raceway in both the spring and fall races, led by Alan Gustafson, Bob Osbourne, Chad Knaus, and Rodney Childers with three poles each.
• Since the introduction of the Next Gen car in 2022, seven crew chiefs have won a pole in the Cup Series at Phoenix Raceway – Rudy Fugle (two poles), Chris Gayle, Christopher Gabehart, Cliff Daniels, James Small, Jonathan Hassler and Paul Wolfe (each have one pole).
• A total of 17 different organizations have won a pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix Raceway:

• Hendrick Motorsports leads the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Phoenix Raceway with 16 poles among 10 different drivers: Geoff Bodine (1988), Ken Schrader (1989), Jeff Gordon (2005, 2006, 2007), Kyle Busch (2006), Jimmie Johnson (2008, 2013, 2015), Mark Martin (2009), Alex Bowman (2016), Chase Elliott (2020), Kyle Larson (2021, 2023) and William Byron (2023, 2025).
• Five different manufacturers have won at least one pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix Raceway, led by Chevrolet with 22 poles; followed by Ford (18), Toyota (10), Dodge (four) and Pontiac (four).
• Chevrolet has won the most consecutive Cup Series poles at Phoenix Raceway with five straight from 2005-2007.

WINS

• A total of 32 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won at Phoenix Raceway, and 13 of the 31 have won multiple times at the one-mile track.
• Kevin Harvick leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Phoenix Raceway with nine victories (2006 sweep, 2012 Playoff race, 2013 Playoff race, 2014 sweep, 2015 Spring race, 2016 Spring race, 2018 Spring race).
• Joey Logano leads all active Cup drivers this weekend in wins at Phoenix Raceway with four victories (2016, 2020, 2022, 2024).
• This weekend, nine of the 32 NASCAR Cup Series Phoenix Raceway winners are active:

• A total of 15 drivers have multiple wins at Phoenix Raceway: Kevin Harvick leads the series in wins with nine followed by Jimmie Johnson (four), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (three), Kyle Busch (three), Joe Logano (three), Davey Allison (two), Jeff Burton (two), Jeff Gordon (two) Carl Edwards (two), Mark Martin (two), Matt Kenseth (two), Ryan Newman (two), Denny Hamlin (two), Christopher Bell (two), Ryan Blaney (two).
• Of the 15 drivers with multiple wins at Phoenix Raceway, Mark Martin (Ford; 1993 and Chevrolet; 2009) and Kyle Busch (Chevrolet; 2005 and Toyota; 2018, 2019) are the only two drivers to win in two different manufacturers.
• Seven drivers have won consecutive races at Phoenix Raceway: Davey Allison (1991,1992); Jeff Burton (2000, 2001); Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2003, 2004); Kevin Harvick (swept 2006, then 2013 Playoff race, swept 2014 and 2015 spring race); Jimmie Johnson (fall race of 2007, swept 2008); Kyle Busch (Playoff race 2018, Spring race 2019), Ryan Blaney (fall 2025 and spring 2026).
• Three drivers have scored their first career NASCAR Cup Series victory at Phoenix Raceway – Alan Kulwicki (11/6/1988), Bobby Hamilton (10/27/1996) and Chase Briscoe (3/13/2022).
• In total 23 different starting positions on the grid have resulted in victories in the NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix Raceway.
• Eight of the 60 NASCAR Cup Series races (13.8%) at Phoenix Raceway have been won from the pole or first starting position by eight different drivers: Jeff Gordon (Spring race of 2007), Jimmie Johnson (Playoff race of 2008), Mark Martin (Spring race of 2009), Carl Edwards (Playoff race of 2010), Kevin Harvick (Spring race of 2015), Chase Elliott (Playoff race of 2020), Kyle Larson (Playoff race of 2021) and Joey Logano (Playoff race of 2022).
• The first and third starting positions are tied for the most proficient starting position in the field producing more winners than any other starting positions (eight each) – the most recent was William Byron’s win in 2023 from the third starting position.
• Ricky Rudd won the 1995 Phoenix Raceway race from the 29th-place starting position, the furthest in the field a NASCAR Cup Series race winner has started at the one-mile raceway.
• The furthest back an active NASCAR Cup Series race winner has started at the one-mile track is 13^th position and three drivers have done it – Denny Hamlin (2012), Joey Logano (2020) and Christopher Bell (2024).

NASCAR Cup Series Wins by Starting Positions at Phoenix Raceway

• A total of 12 of the 60 (20%) NASCAR Cup Series races at Phoenix Raceway have been won from the front row: eight from the first starting position and four from second starting position.
• Youngest NASCAR Cup Series Phoenix winner: Kyle Busch (November 13, 2005 – 20 years, 6 months, 11 days).
• Oldest NASCAR Cup Series Phoenix winner: Mark Martin (April 18, 2009 – 50 years, 3 months, 9 days).
• A total of 30 of the 32 NASCAR Cup Series drivers who have won at Phoenix Raceway participated in at least two or more races before visiting Victory Lane.
• NASCAR Hall of Famers Alan Kulwicki (11/6/1988) and Tony Stewart (11/7/1999) are the only two drivers to win at Phoenix Raceway in their first appearance.
• Since the postseason began in the Cup Series in 2004, 25 different Cup Series crew chiefs have won at Phoenix Raceway in both the spring and fall races; led by Rodney Childers (five wins), Alan Gustafson, Adam Stevens, Chad Knaus (with four wins each) and Paul Wolfe (three wins).
• Since the introduction of the Next Gen car in 2022, six different crew chiefs have won in the Cup Series at Phoenix Raceway – Adam Stevens (two wins), Paul Wolfe (two wins), John Klausmeier, Jonathan Hassler, Phil Surgen and Rudy Fugle (each have one win).
• In total 14 different organizations have won at Phoenix Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series, led by Hendrick Motorsports with 13 victories.

• Hendrick Motorsports leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Phoenix Raceway with 13 victories among nine drivers: Terry Labonte (1994), Kyle Busch (2005), Jeff Gordon (2007, 2011), Jimmie Johnson (2007, 2008 sweep, 2009), Mark Martin (2009), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2015), Chase Elliott (2020), Kyle Larson (2021) and William Byron (2023).
• In total four different manufacturers have won at Phoenix Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series, led by Chevrolet with 27 victories and followed by Ford (22), Toyota (9) and Pontiac (2).

ADDITIONAL FINISHING POSITIONS

Runner-Up Finishes:

• A total of 34 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have finished runner-up at Phoenix Raceway.
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin leads the NASCAR Cup Series in runner-up finishes at Phoenix Raceway with five second-place finishes.
• Ryan Blaney lead all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in runner-up finishes at Phoenix with four second-place finishes.

Top Five in Runner-Up Finishes at Phoenix Raceway (All-Time & Active)

Top-Five Finishes:

• A total of 59 different drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series have finished inside the top-five at Phoenix.
• Kevin Harvick leads the NASCAR Cup Series in top-five finishes at Phoenix Raceway with 20 top fives.
• Denny Hamlin leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in top-five finishes at Phoenix Raceway with 18 top fives.

Top Five in Top-Five Finishes at Phoenix Raceway (All-Time & Active)

Top-10 Finishes:

• A total of 95 different drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series have finished inside the top-10 at Phoenix Raceway.
• Kevin Harvick leads the NASCAR Cup Series in top-10 finishes at Phoenix Raceway with 31 top 10s.
• Denny Hamlin leads all active drivers in the Cup Series in top-10 finishes at Phoenix Raceway with 25 top 10s.

Top Five in Top-10 Finishes at Phoenix Raceway (All-Time & Active)

Average Finish:

• Alan Kulwicki (five starts) leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Phoenix Raceway with a 5.200.
• Kyle Larson (24 starts) leads all active NACAR Cup Series drivers in average finishing position at Phoenix Raceway with a 10.042.

Top 10 in Average Finishing Position at Phoenix Raceway (All-Time & Active)

LAP LEADERS

• In total 104 different drivers have led at least one lap in the NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix Raceway.
• Kevin Harvick leads the NASCAR Cup Series in laps led at Phoenix with 1,722 laps led in 42 starts.
• Joey Logano leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in laps led at Phoenix Raceway with 1,169 laps led in 35 starts.
• The most laps led by the race winner in a single NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway was 264 of the scheduled 312 laps (84.6%) by Kevin Harvick on November 9, 2014 – he started from the third position.
• The most laps led by a driver that did not win in a single NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway was 237 of the scheduled 312 laps (74.3%) by Kyle Busch on November 11, 2012 – he started from the pole but finished third.
• The fewest laps led by the race winner in a single NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway was four of the scheduled 378 laps (1.05%) by Ryan Newman on April 10, 2010 – he started from the 14th position.

Top 10 Lap Leaders at Phoenix Raceway in NASCAR Cup Series (All-Time & Active)

TRACK & EVENT STATS

Closest Margin Finishes

• Since the advent of electronic scoring in 1993, the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix Raceway was produced by the race on March 13, 2016, when Kevin Harvick beat Carl Edwards to the line by 0.010-second.

Top Five Closest Cup Series Margins of Victory at Phoenix Raceway

Largest Margin Finishes

• Since the advent of electronic scoring in 1993, the largest margin of victory in the NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix Raceway was produced by the race on March 4, 2012, when Denny Hamlin beat Kevin Harvick to the line by 7.315-seconds.

Top Five Largest Cup Series Margins of Victory at Phoenix Raceway

• A total of 11 of the 60 NASCAR Cup Series races at Phoenix Raceway have ended with NASCAR Overtime (18.3%):

Weather/Postponements

• Qualifying has never been cancelled due to weather at Phoenix Raceway.
• Qualifying has been cancelled twice due to the pandemic – The 2020 season finale and the 2021 Spring race at Phoenix Raceway had the starting lineups decided by Metric Qualifying due to pandemic restrictions.
• Only two of the 60 NASCAR Cup Series races at Phoenix Raceway have been shortened due to weather:

Cautions & Caution Laps

• The most cautions in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway was 12 – and it has happened twice – March 8, 2020 and November 9, 2014.
• The fewest cautions in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway was two – and it has happened twice – November 7, 1999 and November 15, 2015.

FEMALE COMPETITORS

• Last season, Katherin Legge joined Danica Patrick as just the second female driver in the NASCAR Cup Series to compete at Phoenix Raceway.
• Danica Patrick made 11 starts at Phoenix Raceway in her Cup Series career posting a best finish of 16th in 2015.

NASCAR IN ARIZONA

• There have been 152 NASCAR national series races among four tracks in the state of Arizona dating as far back as 1951.
• The first NASCAR national series race held in the state of Arizona was a NASCAR Cup Series race at Arizona State Fairgrounds in 1951.
• Arizona State Fairgrounds is a 1-mile dirt track. The race was 150 laps and had 33 entries. Marshall Teague won the race in a 1951 Hudson.

ARIZONA DRIVERS IN NASCAR

• A total of 36 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Arizona.
• Of the 36 Arizona drivers, only two have won a NASCAR national series race.

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