In the first ever Desert Double, the Cup Series caps off the weekend with the Straight Talk Wireless 500 on the one mile flat oval of Pheonix Raceway.
Thirty-seven teams have brought cars to Phoenix for the race for 40 starting spots.
As was previously announced, Alex Bowman is dealing with some vertigo issues and will not be in the car this weekend. “Fast Pasta” Anthony Alfredo will take over the driving duties of the number 48 Hendricks Motorsports car. HMS will be requesting a medical waiver for Bowman in order for him to compete for the championship.
Alfredo is under contract with HMS as their sim driver and is cleared to run races in the Cup Series.
The drivers have been divided into two groups for a 25 minute practice session each.
Chris Buescher has a flat tire but makes it to pit road with no further issue.
Carson Hocevar is reporting some brake shake in his car.
Riley Herbst gets into the wall with a flat tire.
The crews are running the cars with some very low tire pressures which can cause some issues until the air pressures inflate.
Daniel Suarez topped the leaderboard in Group 1 practice with a time of 26.877 seconds. Austin Cindric topped the leaderboard in multiple lap runs.
Team Penske is celebrating 60 years of racing this weekend.
Brad Keselowski is the second RFK driver to have a blown tire and he gets into the wall. Keselowski is still recovering from his broken right femur incurred after falling on the ice during the off season. Brad Keselowski reports that he had no warning of the blown tire; adding that he will most likely have to move to a backup car.
Tyler Reddick got loose and spun out sliding down the track; but kept it off the wall.
Ty Gibbs topped the leaderboard of Group 2 but is sixth overall of all the drivers.
The drivers will make one round of qualifying in a single car qualifying run to set the field.
The first driver on the track to make a qualifying run is Anthony Alfredo who posted a time of 27.088 seconds around the one mile track.
Brad Keselowski will not make a qualifying run after wrecking his car in practice. The crew is busy preparing the backup car for the race and Brad will start the race form the back of the field.
Mike Joy announced that the pole time for this race will be the fastest ever for the Next Gen car.
With a time of 26.561 seconds Joey Logano puts his number 22 Team Penske car on the pole with Kyle Larson alongside on the front row. A Team Penske car is also on the pole for the IndyCar race on Saturday afternoon.
The starting lineup for the Straight Talk Wireless 500:
Joey Logano
Kyle Larson
Austin Cindric
Daniel Suarez
Ryan Blaney
Ross Chastain
Carson Hocevar
Tyler Reddick
William Byron
Josh Berry
Denny Hamlin
Christopher Bell
Ryan Preece
Ty Gibbs
John Hunter Nemechek
Michael McDowell
Chris Buescher
Shane van Gisbergen
Connor Zilisch
Chase Briscoe
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Riley Herbst
AJ Allmendinger
Austin Dillon
Chase Elliott
Austin Hill
Bubba Wallace
Kyle Busch
Todd Gilliland
Anthony Alfredo
Erik Jones
Ty Dillon
Cody Ware
Noah Gragson
Cole Custer
Brad Keselowski
Zane Smith
Stage one is 60 laps, stage two is 125 laps and stage three is 127 laps for a total of 312 laps around the one mile track (500km).
NASCAR has determined that the number 38 Front Row Motorsports car driven by Zane Smith made some unapproved adjustments to the car during practice and pre-qualifying adjustments on Saturday. As a result, car chief Will Norris has been ejected from the track, Smith has had his qualifying time (24th) invalidated and will have to start the race from the back of the field, and Smith will have to serve a passthrough penalty once the green flag drops.
After discovering a charge issue on Sunday morning, Carson Hocevar’s team replace the altinater and will have to start the race from the back of the field for unapproved adjustments.
The teams have just eight sets of sticker tires and one set of scuffs for the race.
The drivers can run 86 to 90 laps on a single load of fuel.
Joey Logano brings the field down for the green flag start of the race with Kyle Larson alongside. Drivers spread out across the track with Joey Logano taking the lead.
Drivers are four and five wide on lap two.
The top five are Joey Logano, Kyle Larson, Austin Cindric, Daniel Suarez, and William Byron.
Lap five, William Byron passes Daniel Suarez for fourth.
Ryan Blaney passes William Byron and Daniel Suarez for fourth.
Lap six, Joey Logano has pulled out to a near one second lead on Kyle Larson; Austin Cindric, Ryan Blaney, and Daniel Suarez round out the top five.
Carson Hocevar has moved up eight spots since the race start. He had qualified for the race in the top 10 before having altimeter issues.
Lap eleven, Joey Logano has a near second and a half lead on Kyle Larson; Austin Cindric, Ryan Blaney, and Daniel Suarez round out the top five.
Lap 14, Joey Logano leads the race with teammates Austin Cindric and Ryan Blaney behind; Kyle Larson and Daniel Suarez round out the top five.
Lap 17, Joey Logano has pulled out to a two second lead on Ryan Blaney; Austin Cindric, Kyle Larson, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.
Tyler Reddick passes Kyle Larson for fourth.
Lap 21, after starting the race from the back of the field Brad Keselowski is up to 31st place. Carson Hocevar is up to 25th.
Lap 23, Ryan Blaney has cut into the lead of teammate Joey Logano to just one second; Austin Cindric, Tyler Reddick, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.
Lap 27, Joey Logano’s lead on Ryan Blaney is now down to under a second. Third place driver Austin Cindric is over two seconds behind the leader.
Several of the drivers are reporting loose conditions.
Lap 30, Zane Smith has managed to stay on the lead lap after serving his pass through penalty, but is in danger of going a lap down with the leaders right in front of him.
Lap 33, the top five are Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, Austin Cindric, Tyler Reddick, and Christopher Bell.
Lap 38, Ryan Blaney has caught leader Joey Logano; nearly three seconds ahead of the field.
Lap 41, Tyler Reddick battles with Austin Cindric for third. He is reporting a brake shake in the car.
Lap 44, leader Joey Logano has begun lapping slower traffic; 33 cars on the lead lap.
Lap 47, the battle for the lead begins between teammates Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney.
Ryan Blaney takes the lead.
Ten laps remain in stage one; the top five are Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin.
Lap 54, leader Ryan Blaney is mired in heavy traffic.
There are 28 cars on the lead lap.
With four laps remaining in stage one, Tyler Reddick is cutting into the lead of Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano and is less than two seconds back.
Ryan Blaney wins stage one for his sixth stage win at Phoenix.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Ryan Blaney
Christopher Bell
Joey Logano
Tyler Reddick
Denny Hamlin
Austin Cindric
Daniel Suarez
Ty Gibbs
William Byron
Ross Chastain
Riley Herbst is the “lucky dog”.
Drivers come down pit road for service with Christopher Bell winning the race off of pit road.
Kyle Larson was caught speeding on pit road and will have to restart the race from the back of the field.
Christopher Bell brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two with Joey Logano alongside on lap 71. Drivers spread out four and five wide.
Christopher Bell takes the lead with Joey Logano in second; Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.
Lap 77, Tyler Reddick passes boss man Denny Hamlin for fourth; with Christopher Bell leading the race by nearly a second over Ryan Blaney.
There are 26 cars on the lead lap.
Lap 89, Christopher Bell has a lead of over a second on Ryan Blaney; Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.
Lap 91, Denny Hamlin and Tyler Reddick battle for fourth place.
Kyle Busch gets into the wall with a flat tire
Shane van Gisbergen also spins out with a flat tire to bring out the first caution flag for an on track incident.
Drivers come down pit road for service with Christoopher Bell just edging out Joey Logano for the lead.
Brad Keselowski is the “lucky dog”.
Ryan Blaney had to make a second trip down pit road to tighten a loose wheel.
Bubba Wallace was caught speeding on pit road and will have to restart the race from the back of the field.
Christopher Bell brings the field down for the green flag restart with Joey Logano alongside on lap 102.
Drivers get five wide in the dog leg. Christopher Bell leads the race.
The caution flag comes out for a crash involving Daniel Suarez, Ryan Preece, Josh Berry, and Chase Elliott.
Zane Smith is the “lucky dog”.
Kyle Larson was caught speeding on pit road and Connor Zilisch had too many crew members over the wall. Both drivers will have to restart the race from the back of the field.
Christopher Bell brings the field down for the green flag restart with Joey Logano alongside on lap 109. Drivers are four and five wide going into the dog leg with Joey Logano edging out for the lead but Christopher Bell comes up to battle for the lead.
Lap 113, the top five are Joey Logano, Christopher Bell, Tyler Reddick, Chase Briscoe, and William Byron.
After having to start the race from the back of the field, Carson Hocevar is in the top 10.
There are 30 cars on the lead lap.
Lap 119, Joey Logano has a lead of less than half a second on Christopher Bell; Tyler Reddick, Chase Briscoe, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.
Lap 124, Christopher Bell battles with Joey Logano for the lead and gets out in front but Logano comes up to continue the battle.
Lap 127, the top five are Christopher Bell, Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick, Chase Briscoe, and Denny Hamlin.
Christopher Bell has pulled out to a half second lead on Joey Logano.
Lap 131 Chase Briscoe and Tyler Reddick battle for third and then gets into the wall with a flat tire. He had been reporting a vibration issue in the car prior to the caution.
Chase Briscoe takes his car to the garage.
Christopher Bell leads much of the field down pit road for service with Joey Logano winning the race off of pit road. Ryan Blaney stopped in Joey Logano’s pit to get a wheel tightened again. Logano is charged with pitting outside of his pit box and has to restart the race from the back of the field.
Erik Jones is the “lucky dog”.
Joey Logano brings the field down for the green flag restart with Chrisotpher Bell alongside on lap 139 with Christopher Bell taking the lead.
The top five are Christopher Bell, Joey Logano, Denny Hamiln, Ty Gibbs, and Carson Hocevar.
Tyler Reddick battles with Carson Hocevar for fifth.
Chase Briscoe is out of the race.
Richard Petty compared Carson Hocevar to a young Dale Earnhardt Sr.
Lap 147, Charistopher Bell has a lead of over a second on Joey Logano; Denny Hamlin, Ty Gibbs, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.
After two loose wheels, Ryan Blaney has entered the top 20.
Lap 156, Christopher Bell has pulled out to a two second lead on Joey Logano; Denny Hamlin, Ty Gibbs, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.
The caution flag comes out on lap 158 for Noah Gragson who blows a tire and gets into the wall spewing debris all over the racing surface.
William Byron’s car is smoking with a flat tire.
Connor Zilisch also has a tire issue.
Michael McDowell’s car is smoking with a tire issue.
Cole Custer is on pit road with the crew working on the grille; something has gotten into the grille.
Apparently the debris from Noah Gragson’s car was not tire rubber but a brake rotor.
Drivers come down pit road for service. Larry McReynolds suggests using the qualifying scuffs to the end of the stage.
Taking only two tires Denny Hamlin wins the race off of pit road but Ryan Preece, Brad Keselowski, and Connor Zilisch stay out on the track.
Ryan Preece brings the field down for the green flag restart with Brad Keselowski alongside on lap 168. There are 18 laps remaining in stage two. Drivers are five and six wide going into the dog leg. Denny Hamlin takes the lead.
Cole Custer is out of the race with a radiator issue.
Noah Gragson is out of the race.
Lap 170, the top five are Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, Chris Buescher, Joey Logano, and Austin Cindric.
Lap 173 Christopher Bell passes teammate Denny Hamlin to take the lead. Bell has won the past two spring races at Phoenix.
With 10 laps remaining in stage two, Christopher Bell has a near one second lead on Denny Hamlin.
The big battle of the race is back in the field around 20th place that includes Anthony Alfredo and Shane van Gisbergen.
With five laps to go in stage two, Christopher Bell has pulled out to a lead of over two seconds on Denny Hamlin.
Kyle Busch is the only driver on the track who is one lap down.
Oey Logano passes Chris Buescher for third.
Christopher Bell wins stage two.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Christopher Bell
Denny Hamlin
Joey Logano
Chris Buescher
Bubba Wallace
Austin Cindric
Carson Hocevar
Tyler Reddick
Kyle Larson
Todd Gilliland
Kyle Busch is the “lucky dog”.
Drivers come down pit road for service with Christopher Bell winning the race off of pit road.
Christopher Bell brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three on lap 197 with Joey Logano alongside. Bell gets out in front with Bubba Wallace up to second; Joey Logano, Austin Cindric, and tyler Reddick round out the top five.
On pit road Kyle Larson had jack issues and lost five spots.
Back on the lead lap, Kyle Busch has moved up a couple of spots.
Carson Hocevar’s crew plans to stop only once during stage three for tires and fuel.
Lap 203, Christopher Bell has pulled out to a one second lead on Bubba Wallace; Joey Logano, Austin Cindric, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.
Ryan Blaney passes Tyler Reddick for fifth.
Lap 208, Ryan Blaney passes Austin Cindric for fourth.
Ryan Preece and Connor Zilisch bring out the caution flag on lap 211 when they make contact and spin out. There is debris including a piece of a tire on the track. Ricky Stenhouse Jr was also involved.
Drivers come down pit road but are running low on tires. Taking only two tires, Christopher Bell wins the race off of pit road.
Connor Zilisch was caught speeding on pit road.
Josh Berry and Chase Elliott stayed out on the track short of tires.
Josh Berry brings the field down for the green flag restart with Chase Elliott alongside on lap 217. The eighth caution flag comes out on the restart for a crash involving Austin Cindric, Anthony Alfredo, Ross Chastain, Bubba Wallace, and Joey Logano. Logano gave Chastain a push and sent them into the other cars. Cindric took a big hit but reports that he is okay.
Josh Berry brings the field down for the green flag restart with Christopher Bell alongside with 88 laps remaining in the race. Christopher bell jumps out for the lead with a three way battle for second place.
The top five are Chrisotpher bell, Ryan Blaney, Ty Gibbs, Chris Buescher, and Denny Hamlin.
Riley Herbst gets into the wall but he track stays green.
Tyler Reddick is reporting some brake issues.
Lap 231, Ryan Blaney is just half a second behind Christopher Bell and gaining for the battle for the lead.
With 77 laps remaining in the race, Christopher Bell has a narrow lead on Ryan Blaney; Denny Hamlin, Ty Gibbs, and Bubba Wallace round out the top five.
Lapa 240, Joey Logano and Tyler Reddick battle for seventh.
Lap 245, Christopher Bell continues to hold off Ryan Blaney and maintain a narrow lead; Denny Hamlin, Ty Gibbs, and Bubba Wallace round out the top five.
The caution flag comes out on lap 246 when Shane van Gisbergen spins out after contact form Austin Dillon.
Kyle Busch has more tire issues.
Ross Chastain is the “lucky dog”.
Drivers come down pit road for service with Christopher Bell winning the race off of pit road.
Chris Buescher was caught speeding on pit road and will have to restart the race from the back of the field.
Christopher Bell brings the field down for the green flag restart with Ty Gibbs alongside on lap 253. Bell takes the lead.
The top five are Christopher Bell, Ty Gibbs, Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, and Kyle Larson.
The caution flag comes out for a crash involving Chase Elliott, AJ Allmendinger, Joey Logano, Daniel Suarez, Austin Dillon, Shane van Gisbergen, and Josh Berry.
Kyle Busch is the “lucky dog”.
Christopher Bell brings the field down for the green flag restart with Ty Gibbs alongside with 50 laps remaining in the race. Bell gets out in front for the lead with Ty Gibbs in second; Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.
Ryan Blaney and Tyler Reddick battle for fourth.
Lap 268, Christopher Bell has pulled out to a lead of nearly a second on Ty Gibbs; Kyle Larson, Tyler Reddick, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.
Lap 275, Christopher Bell continues to increase his lead and is now a second and a half on Ty Gibbs; Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.
Five of the top seven cars on the track are Toyotas.
All drivers in the crash have been checked and released from the infield care center.
There are 28 cars on the lead lap.
Connor Zilisch comes down pit road with a flat tire.
Just 30 laps remain in the race, Christopher Bell has pulled out to a three second lead on Ryan Blaney; Ty Gibbs, Kyle Larson, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.
Austin Hill has a flat tire but makes it to pit road in time and the track stays green.
Austin Dillon has a flat tire to bring out the eleventh caution flag with 25 laps remaining in the race. Working his way to pit road, Dillon is dropping debris all around the track.
All 25 lead lap cars come down pit road for fresh tires with Ty Gibbs and Ryan Blaney winning the race off of pit road after taking only two tires.
Ty Gibbs brings the field down for the green flag restart with Ryan Blaney alongside with just 20 laps remaining in the race. Kyle Busch is in the top 10! Ty Gibbs gets out in front but Kyle Larson comes up on the outside to pass for the lead.
The caution flag comes out for a crash involving Zane Smith, John Hunter Nemechek, Ty Dillon, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr were all involved.
The 12th caution ties the record at Phoenix.
Ty Gibbs brings the field down for the green flag restart with Kyle Larson alongside with just 12 laps remaining in the race. Gibbs gets out in front for the lead.
Ryan Blaney comes up to battle for the lead.
Ryan Blaney takes the lead
The top five are Ryan Blaney, Ty Gibbs, Kyle Larson, Charistopher Bell, and William Byron.
Eight to go, Ryan Blaney has a half second lead and increasing.
Christopher Bell passes Ty Gibbs for second but Ryan Blaney has a one second lead.
Five to go, Ryan Blaney has a one second lead on Christopher Bell; Kyle Larson, Ty Gibbs, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five. After moving back and forth through the field, Ryan Blaney has passed a total of 49 cars today.
Three to go, Christopher Bell has closed the gap on Ryan Blaney; but does he have enough time???
Ryan Blaney takes the white flag.
Ryan Blaney wins the race to sweep the weekend for Team Penske and Roger Penske. This is Blaney’s first win as a dad!
The unofficial results of the Straight Talk 500:
Ryan Blaney
Christoher Bell
Kyle Larson
Ty Gibbs
Denny Hamlin
Bubba Wallace
William Byron
Tyler Reddick
Michael McDowell
Erik Jones
Shane van Gisbergen
Todd Gilliland
Ryan Preece
Chris Buescher
Brad Keselowski
Austin Dillon
Kyle Busch
Riley Herbst
AJ Allmendinger
Carson Hocevar
Austin Hill
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Chase Elliott
Cody Ware
John Hunter Nemechek
Ty Dillon
Zane Smith
Ross Chastain
Connor Zilisch
Daniel Suarez
Joey Logano
Josh Berry
Anthony Alfredo
Austin Cindric
Cole Custer
Noah Gragson
Chase Briscoe