2026 Straight Talk Wireless 500

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2026 Straight Talk Wireless 500
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Race 4 of 36 in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series
Date March 8, 2026 (2026-03-08)
Location Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona
Course Permanent racing facility
Course length 1.000 miles (1.609 km)
Distance 312 laps, 312 mi (502.115 km)
Average speed 88.219 miles per hour (141.975 km/h)
Pole position
Driver
Team Penske
Time 26.561
Most laps led
Driver Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing
Laps 176
Fastest lap
Driver Joey Logano Team Penske
Time 27.402
Winner
No. 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske
Television in the United States
Network FS1
Announcers Mike Joy, Clint Bowyer, Kevin Harvick, Townsend Bell, and James Hinchcliffe (stage 2)
Nielsen ratings 2.841 million
Radio in the United States
Radio MRN
Booth announcers Alex Hayden, Mike Bagley, and Todd Gordon
Turn announcers Dan Hubbard (1 & 2) and Kurt Becker (3 & 4)

The 2026 Straight Talk Wireless 500 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on March 8, 2026, at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. Contested over 312 laps on the 1.000 mi (1.609 km) oval, it was the fourth race of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Ryan Blaney won the race. Christopher Bell finished 2nd, and Kyle Larson finished 3rd. Ty Gibbs and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top five, and Bubba Wallace, William Byron, Tyler Reddick, Michael McDowell, and Erik Jones rounded out the top ten.

Report

Background

Phoenix Raceway, the track where the race was held.

Phoenix Raceway is a 1-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona, near Phoenix. The motorsport track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually including the final championship race between 2020 and 2025. Phoenix Raceway has also hosted the CART, IndyCar Series, USAC and the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The raceway is currently owned and operated by NASCAR.

Straight Talk Wireless was announced as the title sponsor for the 2026 race, which became the "Desert Double" weekend with the NTT IndyCar Series's Good Ranchers 250.[7]

Entry list

  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
  • (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
No. Driver Team Manufacturer
1Ross ChastainTrackhouse RacingChevrolet
2Austin CindricTeam PenskeFord
3Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
4Noah GragsonFront Row MotorsportsFord
5Kyle LarsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
6Brad KeselowskiRFK RacingFord
7Daniel SuárezSpire MotorsportsChevrolet
8Kyle BuschRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
9Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
10Ty DillonKaulig RacingChevrolet
11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
12Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord
16A. J. AllmendingerKaulig RacingChevrolet
17Chris BuescherRFK RacingFord
19Chase BriscoeJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
20Christopher BellJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
21Josh BerryWood Brothers RacingFord
22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord
23Bubba Wallace23XI RacingToyota
24William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
34Todd GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord
33Austin Hill (i)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet
35Riley Herbst23XI RacingToyota
38Zane SmithFront Row MotorsportsFord
41Cole CusterHaas Factory TeamChevrolet
42John Hunter NemechekLegacy Motor ClubToyota
43Erik JonesLegacy Motor ClubToyota
45Tyler Reddick23XI RacingToyota
47Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Hyak MotorsportsChevrolet
48Anthony Alfredo (i)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
51Cody WareRick Ware RacingChevrolet
54Ty GibbsJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
60Ryan PreeceRFK RacingFord
71Michael McDowellSpire MotorsportsChevrolet
77Carson HocevarSpire MotorsportsChevrolet
88Connor Zilisch (R)Trackhouse RacingChevrolet
97Shane van GisbergenTrackhouse RacingChevrolet
Official entry list

Alex Bowman, the original driver of the No. 48, was sidelined for the race due to vertigo sustained at Austin a week prior.[8]

Practice

Daniel Suárez was the fastest in the practice session with a time of 26.877 seconds and a speed of 133.943 mph (215.560 km/h).

Practice results

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 7Daniel SuárezSpire MotorsportsChevrolet26.877133.943
2 77Carson HocevarSpire MotorsportsChevrolet26.961133.526
3 19Chase BriscoeJoe Gibbs RacingToyota26.983133.417
Official practice results

Qualifying

Joey Logano scored the pole for the race with a time of 26.561 and a speed of 135.537 mph (218.126 km/h).[9]

Qualifying results

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord26.561135.537
2 5Kyle LarsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet26.678134.943
3 2Austin CindricTeam PenskeFord26.731134.675
4 7Daniel SuárezSpire MotorsportsChevrolet26.744134.610
5 12Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord26.747134.595
6 1Ross ChastainTrackhouse RacingChevrolet26.757134.544
7 77Carson HocevarSpire MotorsportsChevrolet26.758134.539
8 45Tyler Reddick23XI RacingToyota26.787134.394
9 24William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet26.791134.373
10 21Josh BerryWood Brothers RacingFord26.814134.258
11 11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota26.819134.233
12 20Christopher BellJoe Gibbs RacingToyota26.836134.148
13 60Ryan PreeceRFK RacingFord26.837134.143
14 54Ty GibbsJoe Gibbs RacingToyota26.840134.128
15 42John Hunter NemechekLegacy Motor ClubToyota26.858134.038
16 71Michael McDowellSpire MotorsportsChevrolet26.862134.018
17 17Chris BuescherRFK RacingFord26.875133.953
18 97Shane van GisbergenTrackhouse RacingChevrolet26.878133.939
19 88Connor Zilisch (R)Trackhouse RacingChevrolet26.882133.919
20 19Chase BriscoeJoe Gibbs RacingToyota26.897133.844
21 47Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Hyak MotorsportsChevrolet26.899133.834
22 35Riley Herbst23XI RacingToyota26.902133.819
23 16A. J. AllmendingerKaulig RacingChevrolet26.905133.804
24 38Zane SmithFront Row MotorsportsFord26.906133.799
25 3Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet26.948133.591
26 9Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet26.956133.551
27 33Austin Hill (i)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet26.959133.536
28 23Bubba Wallace23XI RacingToyota27.021133.230
29 8Kyle BuschRichard Childress RacingChevrolet27.037133.151
30 34Todd GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord27.041133.131
31 48Anthony Alfredo (i)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet27.088132.900
32 43Erik JonesLegacy Motor ClubToyota27.094132.871
33 10Ty DillonKaulig RacingChevrolet27.133132.680
34 51Cody WareRick Ware RacingChevrolet27.182132.441
35 4Noah GragsonFront Row MotorsportsFord27.207132.319
36 41Cole CusterHaas Factory TeamChevrolet27.516130.833
37 6Brad KeselowskiRFK RacingFord0.0000.000
Official qualifying results

Race

Race results

Stage Results

Stage One Laps: 60

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
112Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord10
220Christopher BellJoe Gibbs RacingToyota9
322Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord8
445Tyler Reddick23XI RacingToyota7
511Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota6
62Austin CindricTeam PenskeFord5
77Daniel SuárezSpire MotorsportsChevrolet4
854Ty GibbsJoe Gibbs RacingToyota3
924William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet2
101Ross ChastainTrackhouse RacingChevrolet1

Stage Two Laps: 125

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
120Christopher BellJoe Gibbs RacingToyota10
211Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota9
322Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord8
417Chris BuescherRFK RacingFord7
523Bubba Wallace23XI RacingToyota6
62Austin CindricTeam PenskeFord5
777Carson HocevarSpire MotorsportsChevrolet4
845Tyler Reddick23XI RacingToyota3
95Kyle LarsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet2
1034Todd GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord1

Final Stage Results

Stage Three Laps: 127

Pos Grid No Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1512Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord31265
21220Christopher BellJoe Gibbs RacingToyota31254
325Kyle LarsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet31236
41454Ty GibbsJoe Gibbs RacingToyota31236
51111Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota31247
62823Bubba Wallace23XI RacingToyota31237
7924William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet31232
8845Tyler Reddick23XI RacingToyota31239
91671Michael McDowellSpire MotorsportsChevrolet31228
103243Erik JonesLegacy Motor ClubToyota31227
111897Shane van GisbergenTrackhouse RacingChevrolet31226
123034Todd GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord31226
131360Ryan PreeceRFK RacingFord31224
141717Chris BuescherRFK RacingFord31230
15375Brad KeselowskiRFK RacingFord31222
16253Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet31221
17298Kyle BuschRichard Childress RacingChevrolet31220
182235Riley Herbst23XI RacingToyota31219
192316A. J. AllmendingerKaulig RacingChevrolet31218
20777Carson HocevarSpire MotorsportsChevrolet31221
212733Austin Hill (i)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet3120
222147Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Hyak MotorsportsChevrolet31215
23269Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet31214
243451Cody WareRick Ware RacingFord31213
251542John Hunter NemechekLegacy Motor ClubToyota31212
263310Ty DillonKaulig RacingChevrolet31111
272438Zane SmithFront Row MotorsportsFord29410
2861Ross ChastainTrackhouse RacingChevrolet28610
291988Connor Zilisch (R)Trackhouse RacingChevrolet2818
3047Daniel SuárezSpire MotorsportsChevrolet25411
31122Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord25323
321021Josh BerryWood Brothers RacingFord2535
333148Anthony Alfredo (i)Hendrick MotorsportsChevrolet2170
3432Austin CindricTeam PenskeFord21613
353641Cole CusterHaas Factory TeamChevrolet1592
36354Noah GragsonFront Row MotorsportsFord1551
372019Chase BriscoeJoe Gibbs RacingToyota1311
Official race results

Race statistics

  • Lead changes: 23 among 8 different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 12 for 86
  • Red flags: 0
  • Time of race: 3 hours, 32 minutes and 12 seconds
  • Average speed: 88.219 miles per hour (141.975 km/h)

Media

Television

Fox Sports covered the race at the Phoenix Raceway. Mike Joy, Clint Bowyer, and nine-time Phoenix winner Kevin Harvick called the race from the broadcast booth, with Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe joining for Stage 2. Jamie Little and Regan Smith handled pit road for the television side, and Larry McReynolds provided insight on-site during the race.[10][11]

FS1
Booth announcersPit reportersIn-race analyst
Lap-by-lap: Mike Joy
Color-commentator: Clint Bowyer
Color-commentator: Kevin Harvick
Color-commentator: Townsend Bell (Stage 2)
Color-commentator: James Hinchcliffe (Stage 2)		Jamie Little
Regan Smith		Larry McReynolds

Radio

MRN covered the radio action for the race which was also simulcasted on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Alex Hayden, Mike Bagley, and former crew chief Todd Gordon called the race when the field races past the start/finish line. Dan Hubbard called the action from turns 1 & 2, and Kurt Becker called the action from turns 3 & 4. Pit lane was manned by Lead MRN Pit Reporter Steve Post and Chris Wilner.

MRN
Booth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters
Lead announcer: Alex Hayden
Announcer: Mike Bagley
Announcer: Todd Gordon		Turns 1 & 2: Dan Hubbard
Turns 3 & 4: Kurt Becker		Steve Post
Chris Wilner

Standings after the race

Drivers' Championship standings
Pos Driver Points
1 Tyler Reddick 225
2 2 Ryan Blaney 165 (–60)
1 3 Bubba Wallace 153 (–72)
1 4 Chase Elliott 128 (–97)
5 Shane van Gisbergen 116 (–109)
18 6 Christopher Bell 113 (–112)
1 7 Joey Logano 113 (–112)
1 8 Michael McDowell 111 (–114)
2 9 Chris Buescher 111 (–114)
5 10 Kyle Larson 109 (–116)
2 11 William Byron 108 (–117)
11 12 Denny Hamlin 107 (–118)
5 13 A. J. Allmendinger 104 (–121)
4 14 Carson Hocevar 103 (–122)
2 15 Ty Gibbs 101 (–124)
4 16 Brad Keselowski 100 (–125)
Official driver's standings
Manufacturers' Championship standings
Pos Manufacturer Points
1 Toyota 200
1 2 Ford 148 (–52)
1 3 Chevrolet 138 (–62)
  • Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings.

References

  1. "2026 schedule". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
  2. "Phoenix Raceway". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. March 3, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  3. "NASCAR releases 2026 schedule, adding Chicagoland and shifting All-Star to Dover". NASCAR. August 20, 2025. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  4. "Entry List" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. March 2, 2026. Retrieved March 2, 2026.
  5. "Straight Talk Wireless 500 Results". Racing-Reference. March 8, 2026. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  6. "Points standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. March 8, 2026. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  7. "Excitement builds for Straight Talk Wireless 500 at Phoenix Raceway, March 8". Jayski's Silly Season Site. February 17, 2026. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  8. "Alex Bowman to miss NASCAR race at Phoenix due to vertigo diagnosis; Anthony Alfredo to fill in". Hendrick Motorsports. March 5, 2026. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
  9. DeGroot, Nick (March 7, 2026). "2026 NASCAR Cup at Phoenix full starting lineup: Joey Logano on pole". Motorsport.com. Avondale, Arizona: Motorsport Network. Retrieved March 7, 2026.
  10. "2026 Straight Talk Wireless 500". Fox Sports. 2026. Retrieved 2026-02-19.
  11. "2026 NASCAR Cup Series Schedule". NBC Sports. 2026. Retrieved 2026-02-18.