Martin Truex Jr. ends 29-race winless streak with Phoenix victory: Martin Truex Jr. overcame an early-race brush with the wall and took the lead on the final restart with 25 laps remaining to earn his first victory of 2021 and first in 31 career starts at Phoenix Raceway. Truex’s No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota ultimately held off Joey Logano’s No. 22 Penske Racing Ford by a convincing 1.698-seconds for the win in the Instacart 500. The 2017 NASCAR Cup Series champion Truex took the race lead from the outside on a bold restart move – pulling away in the closing laps of a spirited race that featured 22 lead changes.[Read More](3-14-2021)
#19-Martin Truex, Jr. won the Instacart 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway. The win is his 1st win of the year, 1st win at Phoenix and 28th career win.
#22-Logano finished 2nd followed by #11-Hamlin, pole sitter #2-Keselowski, #9-Elliott, #4-Harvick, #5-Larson, #24-Byron, #20-Bell, and #12-Blaney.
Truex led 64 laps on the day. He passed Logano for the lead with 24 laps remaining and pulled away for a win of more than a second.
Stage 1 was won by #12-Blaney. Stage 2 was won by #22-Logano.
There were 22 lead changes among 9 drivers and 7 cautions for 45 yellow flag laps.
The average speed of the race was: 103.808mph.
See race details at: Race Results, Driver Points Standings, Owner Points Standings, Cumulative Report, Penalty Report.
Race Fast Facts – Phoenix:
Martin Truex Jr. won the 17th Annual Instacart 500, his 28th victory in 554 Cup Series races.
This is his first victory and third top-10 finish in 2021, breaking a 29-race winless streak. Truex’s last win came at Martinsville Speedway on June 10, 2020.
This is his first victory and 13th top-10 finish in 31 races at Phoenix Raceway.
Joey Logano (second) posted his 14th top-10 finish in 25 races at Phoenix Raceway. It is his third top-10 finish in 2021.
Denny Hamlin (third) posted his 19th top-10 finish in 32 races at Phoenix Raceway.
Chase Briscoe (22nd) was the highest finishing rookie.
Joe Gibbs Racing (Truex, Christopher Bell) joins Hendrick Motorsports (William Byron, Kyle Larson) with two drivers qualified for the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
(NASCAR)(3-14-2021)
Cup Series Playoff Standings after Phoenix:
(Race 5 of 26 in the regular season)
1) #19-Martin Truex, Jr. [1 win], 180
2) #5-Kyle Larson [1 win], 179
3) #20-Christopher Bell [1 win], 167
4) #24-William Byron [1 win], 152
5) #34-Michael McDowell [1 win], 140
6) #11-Denny Hamlin, 236 [point leader]
7) #2-Brad Keselowski, 197
8) #22-Joey Logano, 192
9) #9-Chase Elliott, 179
10) #4-Kevin Harvick, 176
11) #1-Kurt Busch, 144
12) #3-Austin Dillon, 135
13) #12-Ryan Blaney, 134
14)#37-Ryan Preece, 123
15) #18-Kyle Busch, 115
16) #47-Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., 113
See the Driver Points Standings and Owners Point Standings.
Paint Schemes
Cars to the rear: #00-Houff (unapproved adjustments), #5-Larson (failed pre-race inspection twice), #9-Elliott (unapproved adjustments), #24-Byron (failed pre-race inspection twice), #51-Ware (failed pre-race inspection twice), #53-Smithley (driver change)
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Instacart 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway have been made.
Pole winner #2-Keselowski chose pit stall 1.
Outside pole sitter #5-Larson took the 6th stall, with an opening in front of it.
See all pit choices on Pit Stall chart.(3-10-2021)
#2-Brad Keselowski will start from the pole for the Instacart 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway.
#5-Larson will start second, followed by #11-Hamlin, #20-Bell, #19-Truex, Jr., #9-Elliott, #18-Busch, #12-Blaney, #22-Logano, and #24-Byron.
The lineup was set by the qualifying metrics, based on race finish, points position, and fastest race lap.
See the complete starting order on the Instacart 500 Starting Lineup page.(3-10-2021)
There will not be practice or qualifying at Phoenix.
Crew Rosters
Goodyear Tire Notes
The Entry List for the Instacart 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway is posted, 38 teams/drivers [for 40 spots] are listed.
Some of the drivers entered include: #15-Davison, #53-Yeley, #77-Haley.
See the full entry list on the Instacart 500 Entry List page.
2021 Instacart 500 at Phoenix Raceway CUP TandemDraft Stats
