Ryan Blaney rallies for Phoenix victory, completes Penske weekend sweep: Ryan Blaney completed a hard-earned Team Penske sweep at the famed Phoenix Raceway in Sunday’s Straight Talk Wireless 500 – recovering from multiple early race setbacks to claim his first NASAR Cup Series trophy of the 2026 season and answer his Penske team’s Saturday IndyCar win at the track with a spectacular and popular stock car victory a day later.[Read More]
#12-Ryan Blaney won the Straight Talk Wireless 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway. The win is his first win of the year, second at Phoenix and 18th career win.
#20-Christopher Bell finished 2nd followed by #5-Kyle Larson, #54-Ty Gibbs, #11-Denny Hamlin, #23-Bubba Wallace, #24-William Byron, #45-Tyler Reddick, #71-Michael McDowell and #43-Erik Jones.
Pole sitter #22-Joey Logano run up front most of the day but was caught in a late race accident and could not continue. He finished 31st.
Stage 1 was won by #12-Ryan Blaney. Stage 2 was won by #20-Christopher Bell.
The fastest lap bonus a earned by #22-Joey Logano.
There were 23 lead changes among 8 drivers and 12 cautions for 86 yellow flag laps.
The average speed of the race was: 88.219mph.
See race details at: Race Results, Driver Points Standings, Owner Points Standings, Cumulative Report, Infraction Report.
Race Fast Facts – Phoenix:
Ryan Blaney won the Straight Talk Wireless 500, his 18th victory in 382 Cup Series races.
This is his first victory and third top-10 finish in 2026.
This is his second victory and 15th top-10 finish in 21 races at Phoenix Raceway.
Christopher Bell (second) posted his eighth top-10 finish in 13 races at Phoenix Raceway. It is his second top-10 finish in 2026.
Kyle Larson (third) posted his 16th top-10 finish in 24 races at Phoenix Raceway.
Connor Zilisch (29th) was the highest finishing rookie.
Tyler Reddick leads the point standings by 60 points over Ryan Blaney
(NASCAR)
Driver Points /Chase Standings after Phoenix:
Race 4 of 26 in the regular season:
1) #45-Tyler Reddick, 225, +127
2) #12-Ryan Blaney, 165, +67
3) #23-Bubba Wallace, 153, +55
4) #9-Chase Elliott, 128, +30
5) #97- Shane van Gisbergen, 116, +16
6) #20-Christopher Bell, 113, +15
7) #22-Joey Logano, 113, +15
8) #71-Michael McDowell, 111, +13
9) #17-Chris Buescher, 111, +13
10) #5-Kyle Larson, 109, +11
11) #24-William Byron, 108, +10
12) #11-Denny Hamlin, 107, +9
13) #16-A.J. Allmendinger, 104, +6
14) #77-Carson Hocevar, 103, +5
15) #54-Ty Gibbs, 101, +3
16) #6-Brad Keselowski, 100, +2
Outside the top 16:
17) #7-Daniel Suarez, 98, -2
18) #60-Ryan Preece, 92, -8
19) #38-Zane Smith, 85, -15
20) #8-Kyle Busch, 81, -19
See the Driver Points Standings and Owner Points Standings.
Race updates:
Checkered flag for Blaney over Bell Larson Gibbs Hamlin Wallace Byron Reddick McDowell and Jones.
White flag for Blaney. Half second lead.
Lap 310 – Bell not making much progress. .8 second back.
Lap 309 – Four laps to go. Blaney ahead of Bell by .9 second.
Lap 307 – Blaney leads Bell by 1 second with 6 laps to go. Larson now third.
Lap 306 – Bell to second.
Lap 304 – Blaney back to the lead over Gibbs. Then Larson Bell and Byron.
Lap 302 – Blaney to second. Bell up to fourth.
Lap 301 – Green flag with 12 laps remaining. Gibbs Larson Blaney Byron McDowell Reddick Hamlin Bell Wallace Hocevar the top 10.
Lap 297 – Pit road is open. Leaders stay out.
Lap 295 – CAUTION. Accident involving Nemechek Stenhouse Smith TDillon. Gibbs still the leader. Larson now second over Blaney Byron and McDowell.
Lap 294 – Green flag with 19 laps to go.
Lap 290 – Pit road is open. Lead lap cars are in. A mix of strategies. Off pit road: Gibbs Blaney Larson Reddick Byron McDowell Hocevar Bell SVG Busch. Bell was the first to take four tires.
Lap 288 – CAUTION is out. ADillon with a tire down in turn 2.
Lap 286 – Hill has a tire down but no caution.
Lap 283 – 30 laps remaining. Bell’s lead is now 2.8 seconds over Blaney. Gibbs back to third, then Larson Reddick Hamlin Wallace Byron ADillon and McDowell.
Lap 276 – Bell’s lead is now 1.5 second over Gibbs. Third place Blaney is 2.6 seconds back.
Lap 273 – Bell has pulled out to a 1.2 second lead over Gibbs.
Lap 269 – Berry also done for the day.
Lap 268 – 45 to go. Bell leads Gibbs Larson Reddick Blaney and Wallace.
Lap 266 – Suarez and Logano officially done for the day.
Lap 265 – Larson moves to third on the restart.
Lap 264 – Green flag with 49 laps remaining. Bell leads Gibbs Blaney Hamlin Larson Wallace Reddick Byron Hocevar and Allmendinger.
Lap 259 – Pit road is open. Leaders stay out.
Lap 254 – CAUTION for Logano Berry Elliott and Suarez. Logano and Berry will be done for the day. Busch will get the free pass.
Lap 253 – Green flag with 60 laps remaining.
Lap 248 – Pit road is open. Off pit road: Bell Gibbs Blaney Buescher Hamlin Logano Larson Wallace Reddick Hocevar.
Lap 246 – CAUTION for a spin by SVG in turn 4.
Lap 245 – A tire down for Busch again. The race stays green.
Lap 236 – Blaney is battling Bell for the lead. Hamlin Gibbs and Wallace round out the top 5.
Lap 233 – Cindric and Alfredo done for the day.
Lap 227 – Bell to the lead, Blaney up to second.
Lap 226 – Back to green with 87 laps to go. Berry leads Bell Elliott Gibbs Buescher Blaney Wallace Hamlin Reddick and Larson.
Lap 222 – Pit road is open. Leaders stay out.
Lap 217 – Green flag out. 96 laps remaining. CAUTION right back out after contact between Chastain Alfredo Cindric in the dogleg. The incident started after contact from Logano into Cindric. Wallace also got some damage.
Lap 212 – Pit road is open. Berry and Elliott stay out. Others are back in. Bell is off first, then Gibbs Buescher Chastain Alfredo Logano Wallace Blaney. Zilisch too fast on pit road.
Lap 211 – CAUTION for Preece. He spins in turn 1.
Lap 199 – Wallace has moved to second.
Lap 197 – Back to green for the start of the final stage. 116 laps to go. Bell Logano Wallace Buescher Cindric Hocevar Reddick Gibbs Hamlin Elliott the top 10.
Lap 191 – Pit road open for service. Leaders in. Off pit road: Bell Logano Wallace Buescher Cindric Hocevar Reddick.
Lap 186 – CAUTION for the end of stage 2. Bell wins it over Hamlin Logano Buescher Wallace Cindric Hocevar Reddick Larson Gilliland.
Lap 181 – Five laps remaining in stage 2. Bell leads Hamlin Buescher Logano and Cindric.
Lap 174 – Bell takes the lead again.
Lap 173 – Since restarting out front Preece has fallen to 23rd and Keselowski to 31st.
Lap 170 – Gragson and Custer are done for the day. All drivers still running are now on the lead lap, except for Busch in 34th.
Lap 169 – Hamlin take the lead for the first time today.
Lap 168 – Back to green with 18 laps remaining in stage 2: Preece Keselowski Hamlin Buescher Cindric Bell Logano Hocevar Reddick Wallace the top 10.
Lap 164 – Now out front because they did not pit: Preece Keselowski.
Lap 163 – Pit road open. Most leaders pit. Off pit road: Hamlin Buescher Cindric Bell Logano Hocevar Reddick Wallace Alfredo. A mix of tires among the top.
Lap 160 – Under caution Byron, Zilisch and McDowell also have tires down. Teams are reporting there could be some brake rotor on the track.
Lap 158 – CAUTION is out for Gragson into the wall in turn three. Tire down.
Lap 157 – The race is halfway in 1 hour and 35 minutes.
Lap 156 – Thirty laps left in stage 2. Bell leads Logano by 2 seconds and Hamlin by 2.2 seconds.
Lap 141 – Briscoe is officially done for the day. He will finish 37th.
Lap 138 – Back to green again.
Lap 134 – Pit road opens and leaders come in. Off pit road: Logano Bell Hamlin Gibbs Reddick Hocevar Cindric. Blaney pulled into Logano’s pit stall to have a wheel tightened. He will have to restart in the rear.
Lap 132 – CAUTION for Briscoe into the wall. He had complained about a vibration. Jones will be the free pass.
Lap 126 – Bell takes the lead back from Logano.
Lap 121 – Logano leads Bell Reddick Briscoe Hamlin Gibbs Byron Cindric Hocevar and McDowell.
Lap 110 – Logano leads at the line.
Lap 109 – Back to green. Bell leads Logano. 30 drivers on the lead lap.
Lap 105 – Pit road is open but leaders stay out.
Lap 103 – CAUTION. Accident in turn two involving Elliott and Suarez. Free pass is Smith.
Lap 102 – Back to green flag racing.
Lap 99 – Blaney had to pit a second time. The team was unsure if all the wheels were tight. Wallace was too fast on pit road.
Lap 97 – Pit road is open. Leaders are in again. Off pit road: Bell just beat Logano. Then Blaney Briscoe Reddick Gibbs Byron Hamlin McDowell Buescher.
Lap 94 – CAUTION our after SVG spins off turn 4. Keselowski is the free pass.
Lap 92 – Busch got into the outside wall. Possible tire down. Race remains green as he gets to pit road.
Lap 86 – Bell has pulled out to a 1.2 second lead over Blaney. Logano is third, Reddick up to fourth.
Lap 71 – Green flag for the start of the second stage. Bell Logano Blaney Hamlin Reddick Gibbs Byron Briscoe Cindric McDowell the top 10.
Lap 65 – Pit road is open and leaders come in. Off pit road: Bell Logano Blaney Hamlin Reddick Gibbs Byron. Larson was speeding and will have to fall to the rear.
Lap 61 – CAUTION for the end of stage 1. Blaney leads Bell Logano Reddick Hamlin Cindric Suarez Gibbs Byron Chastain. Free pass will be Herbst, in 26th.
Lap 48 – Blaney takes the lead.
Lap 46 – Fifteen laps remaining in stage 1. Logano still leads Blaney. Four drivers have lost a lap: Busch Alfredo (subbing for Bowman) Smith and Ware.
Lap 35 – Smith falls off the lead lap.
Lap 33 – Blaney continues to close in on Logano, now just .3 second back.
Lap 26 – Logano continues to lead. Blaney is 1 second back. Then Cindric Reddick Hamlin Bell Larson Suarez Byron and Chastain.
Lap 17 – Blaney now up to second.
Lap 14 – Larson has fallen to fourth behind Logano Cindric and Blaney.
Lap 11 – With 10 laps complete, it’s Logano Larson Cindric Blaney and Suarez. Smith remains on the lead lap but is 25 seconds off the lead.
Lap 2 – Logano leads the first lap. Smith serves his pass through penalty.
• 3:42pm/et – Green flag at Phoenix.
• 3:32pm/et – Engines are fired.
• 3:24pm/et – Pre-race ceremonies are underway.
• 3:00pm/et – FS1 now has RaceDay pre-race coverage.
• Hocevar will also drop to the rear for the start. The team changed the alternator and part of the dash.
• As of Saturday evening Keselowski and Smith were the only drivers going to the rear for the start of the race.
• It’s Phoenix, so no weather issues today. Sunny with a high near 88.
Straight Talk Wireless 500
Broadcast: FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 312 laps / 312 miles
Stages: 60 / 185 / 312
Average time of race: 3:08:04
Pit road speed: 45 mph
Caution car speed: 50 mph
Fuel Window: 98 laps
Timing (all times local & subject to change)
Invocation: 12:24:20 p.m.
National Anthem: 12:25:00 p.m.
Command: 12:32:00 p.m.
Green Flag: 12:41:00 p.m.
Paint Schemes
Cars to the rear: #6-Brad Keselowski (backup car), #38-Zane Smith (inspection penalty), #77-Carson Hocevar (unapproved adjustments)
The No. 38 Car in the NASCAR Cup Series was observed making an unapproved adjustment to the underbody during practice/pre-qualifying adjustments, the vehicle was reinspected prior to practice/qualifying session.
- The #38 Car chief (Will Norris) has been ejected from the Phoenix event.
- The #38 car will start at the tail of the field and perform a drive through penalty after taking the green flag.
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Straight Talk Wireless 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway have been made.
Pole winner #22-Joey Logano chose pit stall 1.
Outside pole sitter #5-Kyle Larson took the 38th stall, with an opening in front of it.
See all pit choices on the Phoenix Pit Stall page.
#22-Joey Logano won the Busch pole for the Straight Talk Wireless 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway with a speed of 135.357mph for his first pole of the year, third at Phoenix and 34th of his career.
#5-Kyle Larson will start second followed by #2-Austin Cindric, #7-Daniel Suarez, #12-Ryan Blaney, #1-Ross Chastain, #77-Carson Hocevar, #45-Tyler Reddick, #24-William Byron and #21-Josh Berry.
See the complete qualifying results and the Straight Talk Wireless 500 Starting Lineup.
Phoenix – Qualifying Fast Facts:
Joey Logano won the Pole Award for the Straight Talk Wireless 500 with a lap of 26.561 seconds, 135.537 mph.
This is his 34th pole in 619 NASCAR Cup Series races.
This is his first pole and third top-10 start in 2026.
This is his third pole in 35 races at Phoenix Raceway.
Kyle Larson (second) posted his second top-10 start of 2026 and his 20th in 24 races at Phoenix Raceway.
Austin Cindric (third) posted his third top-10 start at Phoenix Raceway. It is his first in four races this season.
Connor Zilisch (19th) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
Qualifying Order
Practice for the Straight Talk Wireless 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway is over. The results:
#7-Daniel Suarez 133.943
#77-Carson Hocevar 133.526
#19-Chase Briscoe 133.417
#1-Ross Chastain 133.353
#2-Austin Cindric 133.333
Slowest: #41-Cole Custer 130.871mph
Most laps run: #23-Bubba Wallace & #20-Christopher Bell, 41 laps.
Best 10 consecutive lap avg (of 37 drivers): #2-Austin Cindric, 131.789mph
Notes: #17-Chris Buescher and #35-Riley Herst cut down tires during the first group. No damage for either of them. #6-Brad Keselowski also cut a tire in Group 2 and got into the outside wall. He will have to go to a backup car. #45-Tyler Reddick spun late in Group 2 but had no damage.
See the fastest speeds, best 10 consecutive lap average, laps run on the Straight Talk Wireless 500 Practice speeds page.
NASCAR Cup Series pre-race inspection is complete at Phoenix Raceway. There were no multiple failures.
Crew Rosters
The entry list for the Straight Talk Wireless 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway is posted, 37 teams/drivers [for 40 spots] are listed.
See the full entry list on the Straight Talk Wireless 500 Entry List page.
Goodyear Fast Facts — Phoenix
Race rules and information:
