DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – NASCAR® announced a new partnership with Super.com, which helps consumers save on everyday purchases, including a variety of ways fans can save when they attend NASCAR race weekends. Beginning in 2026, Super.com will serve as the Official Savings Partner of NASCAR, unlocking new ways for fans to save while engaging with the sport they love.
Built to make life more affordable, Super.com will integrate directly into NASCAR’s digital platforms, giving fans seamless access to various discounts as they plan race weekends throughout the season.
Super.com customers will also receive special access to certain discounted tickets for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series – making race day even more accessible.
“Our fans travel thousands of miles every season to be at the track,” said Craig Stimmel, SVP and chief commercial officer, NASCAR. “That’s what makes NASCAR unlike any other sport, and partnering with Super.com means we can make it easier on their wallets, from the hotel room or campsite to the infield and the grandstands. That’s the kind of value that keeps fans coming back race after race.”
Beyond digital, Super.com will activate on-site at select NASCAR-owned tracks and integrate into the NASCAR Fan Rewards program, connecting with more than 400,000 loyalty members. The brand will also leverage hospitality and experiential assets throughout the season to reward its Super+ members with premium access and experiences.
To kick off its entry into the sport, Super.com served as the primary sponsor of the No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Chevy Camaro last weekend at Phoenix Raceway, featuring a bold new Super.com paint scheme.
The partnership reinforces NASCAR’s continued commitment to accessibility and fan-first innovation – ensuring that more fans can experience the excitement of race weekend, both at the track and beyond.
MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Martinsville Speedway announced today that the Virginia Tourism Corporation will return as the entitlement partner for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour for the upcoming spring race weekend.
The Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200, previously held during the fall race weekend at Martinsville, will take place on Friday, March 27, under the lights at the historic Virginia-based short track.
“It’s always a pleasure to work with the folks at the Virginia Tourism Corporation as we prepare to welcome race fans to the Commonwealth, and we’re proud to continue our partnership with them for the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200,” said Clay Campbell, President of Martinsville Speedway. “Their support helps spotlight the rich racing history in Virginia and we can’t wait to welcome fans from across the state and beyond to witness the rough and tough racing on Friday night at Martinsville Speedway.”
Virginia welcomes thousands of visitors each year, drawing travelers to the scenic beaches, storied mountains, lively cities and towns, and of course, action-packed racetracks, with people flocking from all over to discover all there is to love about the Commonwealth.
“We’re excited to continue our partnership with Martinsville Speedway for the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200,” said Rita McClenny, President and CEO of Virginia Tourism Corporation. “Few places capture the heart of short-track racing like Martinsville, where generations of fans have gathered under the lights to experience the intensity and tradition that define Virginia’s racing heritage. We look forward to welcoming visitors from near and far to enjoy an unforgettable race weekend, and to discover all there is to love about Virginia.”
The NASCAR spring race weekend at Martinsville Speedway kicks off on Friday, March 27, with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Virginis is for Racing Lovers 200 under the lights, followed by Saturday’s NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series NFPA 250.
The weekend culminates on Sunday, March 29, when drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series will battle it out for a chance to win an iconic Grandfather Clock Trophy in the Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway.
Tickets for the upcoming race weekend are available for purchase via phone at 877-RACE-TIX or online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.
Fans can stay connected to Martinsville Speedway on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and the NASCAR Tracks App.
After races on a pair of drafting tracks, a road course and a 1-miler, the meat and potatoes of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule begins in earnest this Sunday at the 1.5-mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Sun., 4 p.m. ET, FS1, HBO Max, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
The significance of these 1.5-mile venues — even this early into the 2026 season — is twofold. One: This weekend’s race is the first of nine contests on traditional 1.5-mile tracks, the most in a season since nine in 2021. Quick math means that, in a 36-race schedule, this encompasses 25% of the docket. This isn’t a percentage to scoff at; these tracks matter, and for the Cup Series field still trying to navigate the Upside Down that is the standings, they offer an opportunity to correct some chaos.
Which leads to Point No. 2: The big dogs have a knack for showing off here.
Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing, this means you.
In the Next Gen era, these two organizations have combined for 16 victories on 1.5-mile tracks: Hendrick with 11 and Joe Gibbs with five. As such, it’s no surprise that pilots from these camps are all over average-finish leaderboards among active drivers.
Best Average Finish on 1.5-mile tracks in the Next Gen Car
Driver
Average finish
Wins
William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports)
9.82
2
Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports)
11.22
6
Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing)
11.36
2
Ross Chastain (Trackhouse Racing)
11.93
2
Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing)
12.32
3
Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing)
13.75
3
Alex Bowman (Hendrick Motorsports)
13.84
1
Joey Logano (Team Penske)
14.00
3
Stats courtesy Racing Insights
Starting is just as important as finishing, and once again, these organizations have been at the forefront. Joe Gibbs Racing drivers won the pole for the last three races on 1.5-mile tracks (Chase Briscoe with two, Denny Hamlin with one). Hendrick Motorsports, meanwhile, had the top-rated car on speed on intermediates in six of the nine races in 2025. In other words, these two organizations have not only finished well but have excelled in practice and qualifying in the lead-up to each weekend’s main event.
Paving the way for Hendrick Motorsports has been Kyle Larson, whose six wins on 1.5-mile tracks lead all drivers in the Next Gen era. Denny Hamlin, meanwhile, has been the ace for Joe Gibbs, with three such victories. A trio is right behind them with two wins apiece: Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs), William Byron (Hendrick) and Chase Elliott (Hendrick).
What is the common denominator of this success? It goes back to speed. On comparable tracks in 2025, six Hendrick Motorsports/Joe Gibbs Racing drivers ranked in the top 10 in Speed Rating, which, according to NASCAR Insights, analyzes a driver’s overall pace relative to the field by tracking lap times throughout the race. Once again, each organization’s heavy hitter showed out; Larson ranked first, followed by Hamlin in second. Byron (fifth), Bell (sixth), Elliott (seventh) and Alex Bowman (eighth) rounded out the group.
And so, it makes sense that drivers from these organizations have led a ton of laps on 1.5-milers. The top four in this category? Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing drivers.
Laps Led on 1.5-mile tracks in the Next Gen Car
Driver
Laps led
Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports)
1,780
William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports)
886
Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing)
665
Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing)
627
Ryan Blaney (Team Penske)
497
Ross Chastain (Trackhouse Racing)
475
Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing)
471
Stats courtesy Racing Insights
At this juncture, you get the gist. The track record — no pun intended — for these two organizations has been stout at 1.5-mile facilities. Sure, 2025 was so last year, but recent history plays into each organization’s favor in 2026, especially given the schedule. Of the nine traditional 1.5-mile races this season, four of those will make up the 10-race Chase later this year, with all four coming over the final seven races. In fact, the season finale — the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race — will occur at Homestead-Miami Speedway, a 1.5-mile track.
Much can occur between now and the season’s end. Perhaps the organizations hit a major rough patch. The standings could very well unravel further. “Anything can happen,” so the cliche goes. But if the statistics suggest anything, it’s that Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing will show up and produce at 1.5-mile tracks. And with these venues making up such a hefty dose of the schedule, momentum could very well sway toward these two powerhouse organizations.
It all starts in Las Vegas. And should the metrics prove correct once again, it could be Hendrick Motorsports’ and Joe Gibbs Racing’s world, with everyone else living in it.
Alex Bowman will remain out of the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet for the second consecutive week with vertigo, the team announced Wednesday.
Bowman was sidelined from last weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway after being diagnosed with vertigo midweek. Justin Allgaier, the 2024 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champion, will drive the No. 48 Chevrolet at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday (4 p.m. ET, FS1, HBO Max, FOX One, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Bowman first experienced symptoms of vertigo during the March 1 race at Circuit of The Americas, where he exited his vehicle after 71 of 95 laps before Myatt Snider replaced him in Snider’s inaugural Cup Series laps.
“Alex continues to work closely with doctors toward being medically cleared, but he’s still experiencing some lingering symptoms,” Hendrick Motorsports president and general manager Jeff Andrews said in a team statement. “He’s put a lot into the recovery process, and we will continue to support him every step of the way. Our priority remains making sure Alex is fully ready before returning to the race car.”
Anthony Alfredo, a simulation driver for Hendrick Motorsports, filled in for Bowman last weekend at Phoenix. He was running seventh when he was collected in a crash at Lap 217 that ended his day, resulting in a 33rd-place finish. Phoenix marked Alfredo’s first Cup Series appearance on a non-drafting-style track since April 2023 at Martinsville Speedway.
Allgaier is a 29-time winner in O’Reilly Auto Parts Series competition, earning his most recent victory last Saturday at Phoenix Raceway. The 39-year-old veteran has made 84 starts in the NASCAR Cup Series, most recently in the 2026 Daytona 500 with JR Motorsports. Allgaier has substituted for Hendrick Motorsports drivers in the past, including for Jimmie Johnson in the 2020 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis and for Kyle Larson in the 2024 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where he finished 13th.
In his ninth season with the Rick Hendrick-owned team, Bowman sits 36th in the Cup Series standings after involvement in incidents at both Daytona and EchoPark Speedway to start the season.
New horsepower plus the same tire equaled a solid combination at Phoenix Raceway from NASCAR’s perspective.
During the latest episode of the “Hauler Talk” podcast, vice president of racing communications Mike Forde said NASCAR viewed the 2026 debut of the 750-horsepower package at the 1-mile oval as a “game-changer” because of the increased tire falloff.
“The overall speed for the full lap is not that different, but the high speeds are higher,” Forde said. “And what that means is that it’ll just eat up the tire much more, which leads to varying strategies and comers and goers and passing. And that’s exactly what we were hoping to happen. And that’s what a lot of the drivers were predicting to happen.”
Forde noted several teams were using sealed engines at Phoenix that carried over from last season.
The only difference was the addition of a tapered spacer with holes an eighth of an inch wider in diameter, increasing horsepower by allowing more airflow to the engine.
“A pretty minimal update to those engines created a maximum difference in the Phoenix race,” Forde said. “You saw lots of passing, where sometimes passing was very challenging in previous iterations of the Phoenix Raceway Cup race. So we’re very happy. Thumbs up from the NASCAR side.”
Goodyear supplied the same tire as the race weekend last November at Phoenix when several teams had issues. After a caution-free first stage Sunday, there were multiple incidents involving tires in the second stage at Phoenix, but Forde said NASCAR diagnosed this “as a debris problem, not a tire problem” after brake rotor parts were scattered on the track.
“Beyond that, it seemed like everyone minded their P’s and Q’s, and it didn’t become the story that it was during last Phoenix weekend,” Forde said. “Which is great because the higher horsepower was going to be a challenge on the tires.”
Other topics covered by Forde and senior director of racing communications Amanda Ellis during the 45th episode of “Hauler Talk,” which explores competition issues in NASCAR:
— The status of a Chase waiver for Alex Bowman.
— Revisiting the scenario in which a driver has a lug nut secured by another team’s pit crew.
— A statistical assessment of Ryan Blaney’s winning charge.
– Takeaways from the IndyCar-NASCAR doubleheader weekend.
Click on the embed below to listen or search for “Hauler Talk” wherever you download podcasts to hear it on your phone, tablet or mobile device.
Nate Ryan has written about NASCAR since 1996 while working at the San Bernardino Sun, Richmond Times-Dispatch, USA TODAY and for the past 10 years at NBC Sports Digital. He is a contributor to the “Hauler Talk” show on the NASCAR Podcast Network. He also has covered various other motorsports, including the IndyCar and IMSA series.
Goodyear officials indicated that a familiar tire setup will be in the hands of NASCAR Cup Series teams this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
The same tire that Cup Series teams used in last October’s postseason race will again be in stock for Sunday’s Pennzoil 400 (4 p.m. ET, FS1, HBO Max, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). The tire configuration debuted last September at Kansas Speedway and was also implemented for the similar 1.5-mile Las Vegas track two weeks later.
When the tire was introduced, the setup included a new construction of the right-side rubber, paired with left-side tires that appeared in six races last season.
“Teams will be able to lean on their data from October’s races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to refine their strategies for this weekend,” said Justin Fantozzi, Goodyear Director of Racing for the Americas. “The track surface at Las Vegas does not usually encourage much tire wear, so the setups we’ve brought this weekend are designed to shed rubber. That allows heat to dissipate through the tread, keeping the tires cooler and promoting fall-off over the course of a run.”
Each Cup Series team will have an allotment of 10 sets of tires for the race weekend — eight new sets for the race, one for practice, plus one set for qualifying that carries over to Sunday’s 400-miler.
Goodyear’s NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series tire setup for Saturday’s The LiUNA! (5:30 p.m. ET, The CW, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) will also be a carryover from last season. O’Reilly Series teams will be supplied with six sets — five new sets for the race, plus one from practice.
PHOENIX, Ariz. — One of the most appealing things about the NASCAR Cup Series is that the season takes the green flag in an ambitious schedule, featuring a wide variety of tracks that provide different challenges and reward different talent sets. And the championship standings reflect as much.
From the superspeedway in Daytona to the Atlanta 1.5-miler that races like a superspeedway, to Austin’s famed road course to Sunday’s fast and furious Phoenix one-miler before hitting the Las Vegas 1.5 miler this week — a track that represents so much of the overall schedule — all the early variation typically provides a good test before sorting out which driver and which team will be making that championship run deep into the season.
Phoenix contributed another vivid chapter after the big ovals and a road course to open the season. Ryan Blaney’s inspired win over a hard-charging Christopher Bell on Sunday was a great sample of some big moves in the championship points standings as the series heads to Las Vegas for Sunday’s Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube (4 p.m. ET, FS1, HBO Max, FOX One, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
The good news for the season’s established front-runner Tyler Reddick is that the 23XI Racing driver still proved himself a contender even when he’s not hoisting a trophy. After a history-making 3-for-3 streak to open the year with wins in the Daytona 500, at Atlanta’s EchoPark Speedway and then Austin’s Circuit of The Americas road course, Reddick earned a top-10 at Phoenix even as his win streak halted. And it’s given him a substantial 60-point edge over the field as the series continues its Western roll.
Only now, the points standings beyond him look a little different. Blaney’s victory and stage win at Phoenix vaulted him into second place in the standings, 12 points up on Reddick’s 23XI Racing teammate Bubba Wallace. It comes after a three-race run when Reddick and Wallace had widely separated themselves from the rest of the field.
It was especially rewarding for Blaney, who had to overcome two pit road issues and still managed to rally for the win — exactly the kind of determination and effort that helped him to the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series championship and has again served as a reminder that he is a perennial title contender.
“Perseverance,” Blaney said. “Definitely a long day, but really proud of everybody for keeping their heads down. It’s easy to beat yourself up over that stuff and kind of take yourself out of the game. But those guys just don’t do that. Those guys’ mentality is unbelievable, and on this 12-group is where it needs to be. Mainly proud of the effort for all those guys for fighting back like they did.”
Not only did Blaney establish himself in the elite part of the standings, but Bell’s runner-up showing Sunday delivered a dramatic jump in the standings for him as well. He skyrocketed 18 positions from 24th to sixth.
Similarly, Bell’s Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin finished fifth at Phoenix — his first top five of the year — and moved up 11 positions in the standings to 12th place. Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson, the reigning series champion, jumped up five positions in the standings to 10th. Sunday’s third-place showing was his best finish and first top- five of the season.
“We definitely have a lot of work to do here,” Larson said, “but excited to get to Vegas next week, see what we have on a mile-and-a-half. Go to work.
“But happy to put together two solid finishes in a row here. Just continue to build on it.”
And perhaps one of the most telling signs of year-over-year improvement comes from Trackhouse Racing’s Shane Van Gisbergen. Although he won a rookie record five races last season, all the trophies came on road courses where the former Australian Supercars Champion is so masterful.
This year he’s purposely and successfully raised his oval game, scoring a career best sixth-place at Atlanta and answering with arguably an even more impressive 11th-place at Phoenix — considering he had to overcome a tire issue and was collected in a multicar accident. Van Gisbergen has led laps in three of the first four races and is now ranked fifth in the championship standings — a career high for him.
“Excellent result for the crazy day we had,” the New Zealander said. “My Safety Culture Chevy had a lot of speed, but just had those two spins that reset our progress each time. Passed a lot of cars and had a good points day. Headed to Vegas next weekend with a lot of momentum.”
A one-hour practice for the Pennzoil 400 is Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET, followed by Busch Light Pole Qualifying at 3:40 p.m. ET (Prime Video, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Wood Brothers Racing’s Josh Berry is the defending race winner.
SOPHIA, N.C. — Caraway Speedway held its traditional Sunday afternoon season opener on March 8. The event was the first for the track since the facility rejoined the NASCAR Local Racing Series Powered by O’Reilly Auto Parts in the offseason.
Dylan Ward outran a strong field of cars to take the win in the feature NASCAR Limited Late Model division. Ward qualified on the pole for the 75 lapper and kept Michael Fose, Clint King, Cam Thomas one the rest of the field in his rear view mirror.
Lanie Buice was second quick in qualifying but had to move to the back of the field due to a tire change just prior to the start. Buice came from the back of the pack to finish second ahead of Austin Harris, King and Fose. Brian Rose, Stacy Puryear, Thomas, Joshua Horniman and Hunter Deshautelle rounded out the top-10. Nicholas Bulkeley, Bryson Brinkley, David Thomas and Donnie Apple completed the rundown.
Issac Harris took the measure of the field in a wild 35-lap race for the Charger division that saw a brief rain delay and a rash of crashes before Harris prevailed ahead of Dakota Walls, Matthew Smith, Joseph Ciszek and Hason Poole. Tyler Bush was sixth ahead of Issac Johnson, Brian Melville Jr., Jeffrey Beck, Corey Wilson, Jackson Sparks, Tony Housman, Greg Story and Ben Banker.
Ryan Flores bested the 602 Modified field to take the win ahead of David Creed, Dustin Coonfield, Corey Luetjen and Cole Mizo.
A.J. Sanders came from the back of the pack to win the Mini Stock feature and earn pivotal passing points towards the NASCAR Local Racing Series Powered by O’Reilly Auto Parts national championship. Brandon Crotts finished runner-up to Sanders and Jason Gallimore was third overall and winner in the Front Wheel Drive division. Jason Garwood finished fourth ahead of Matt Alley, Jamison Whittington, Mason Troxler, Steven Hedrick and Grayson Lee.
The crowd favorite UCAR division got off to a rousing start with a field of 22 on hand. Tony Price held off a determined Ron Mock to take the win. Josh Phillips, Justin Smith and Mason Vance completed the top five. Skyler Hughes, Jamie Vance, David Edwards, Brayden Cline and Robbie Welch followed to round out the top 10.
Brandon Mock bested Christian Morris to win the Crown Vic feature. They were followed by T.J. Gibson, Corey Wyatt and Adrien Thompson.
Hunter Jordan claimed the win in the INEX Legends feature ahead of Anthony Freedel. Jhett Johnson took third spot followed by Gary Smith, Mike Wolfe, Jason Meadows, Collin Vanasse, Ethan Jaques and Charlie Parker.
Mason Williams took the top spot in the INEX Bandolero feature, with Ava Boyd finishing second and Jordyn Whitford third.
March 14 marks the first Big 4 Modified Challenge of 2026 at Caraway Speedway. Some of the best Modified drivers in the region are expected to chase the $5,000 winner’s check as well as the $10,000 in bonus money posted for the four Modified events at the track this season. Joining the Tour Type Modifieds will be the Carolina Crate Modifieds and Pro Late Models along with the regular Caraway divisions for a 4 p.m. ET start.
NASCAR.com’s Pat DeCola ranks the top 20 Cup Series drivers competing for the 2026 championship after Ryan Blaney’s win at Phoenix Raceway — his second in a row at the 1-mile desert oval — and before Sunday’s Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (4 p.m. ET, FS1, HBO Max, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Wood Brothers Racing driver Josh Berry enters as the defending winner.
Analysis: An “ordinary” eighth-place run for Reddick feels like a quiet week, which is a pretty absurd statement, but there’s nowhere to go but down when you get accustomed to winning every week. He mentioned on pit road after the race how focused his No. 45 team is on points and with top 10s in half of his 12 Vegas starts, he should cash in for some more this weekend.
Analysis: Not that we needed one, but Phoenix was a reminder that Blaney remains one of the sport’s best closers, passers, grinders, rebounders, you name it, especially when a race has a way of throwing an extra heap of chaos at him, which it, for whatever reason, often seems to. This upcoming weekend feels like the spot it finally all clicks together for him at Vegas, where he shockingly has yet to win, and Reddick’s early standings strangle could wind up loosening in shorter order than we thought, unfurled meticulously by Mr. Mustachio.
Analysis: Larson didn’t leave Phoenix with another trophy, but he did leave it looking like the same weekly threat he’s been whenever this series unloads on a non-drafting track. Vegas, of course, is one of his playgrounds: three wins, nine top fives, 14 top 10s and a staggering 819 laps led in 19 Cup starts there, plus wins in two of the last five races. After jumping five spots in the standings at Phoenix, he could do it again on Sunday.
Analysis: Hamlin’s year still feels a little quieter than it should, but Phoenix at least looked like the beginning of a stabilizing ramp-up rather than treading water out of the gate. Vegas is one of the places where that can turn into something bigger for him, given Hamlin’s two wins there and 15 top 10s in 28 starts. He can continue to build, but this could also be a conversion week, and that could go a long way for a team still likely ruminating in the back of their minds about what could’ve been just a handful of months ago.
Analysis: Wallace has now made enough noise early in the year that this is not some feel-good blip — there’s little reason to view him as anything other than a title contender at the moment. He sits third in points through four races, and, like Phoenix, Vegas offers a chance to prove himself after he’s amassed just two top 10s there in 16 career starts for a 22.6 average finish. And no reason to think he won’t clear that bar right now.
Analysis: Elliott’s Phoenix finish is the sort of result that can make a week look worse than it really was, running second at one point but getting derailed in a pileup not of his doing that eventually saddled him with a P23. But points are points. Vegas is not one of his absolute signature venues, but he’s found the front of the field enough there that he doesn’t feel quite “due,” but he does feel close.
Analysis: Byron still hasn’t fully erupted in 2026 the way we’ve grown accustomed to seeing him do early in seasons, but that could all be about to change this weekend. The spring 2023 Vegas race winner owns eight top 10s, four top fives and 337 laps led in 16 Cup starts there, and this feels like a weekend where he and Hendrick Motorsports as a whole could establish some 2026 dominance.
Analysis: There’s no denying Bell was the driver to beat on Sunday — and unfortunately for him, he was — but it was still an extremely encouraging sign for the No. 20 team and a clear signal to the field that more days like that are ahead, perhaps as soon as Sunday. Though he’s yet to win at Vegas, he’s certainly capable of doing so and finished inside the top five in each of the past three fall races there.
Analysis: Logano is not exactly leaving Phoenix with momentum in the traditional sense, but the speed — he and Blaney were arguably the only cars capable of matching Bell — matters more than the finish at this stage. Vegas history makes that even easier to move past the desert disappointment with four wins in Nevada already on his resume and a fifth a strong possibility on Sunday.
Analysis: If SVG can keep turning in runs like Phoenix and maximizing his days on road courses and superspeedways, we’re looking at what appears to be at minimum a Chase contender with a ceiling that will only continue to elevate. And now we get to see if he’s actually progressed from a year ago, because his first three Vegas starts have been quite rough, with a 32.0 average finish and a pair of crashes.
Analysis: Briscoe’s season remains one of the trickier reads in the field because we know the highs are coming, but boy, have these lows been costly. Las Vegas doesn’t offer the most respite as results have been mixed for him in Cup, but his broader resume matters to a degree, too, and he’s a two-time O’Reilly Auto Parts Series winner there.
Analysis: Buescher didn’t light the race on fire, but he did put together a composed 14th-place run with Stage 2 points, continuing to remain in the conversation throughout races, but yet to fully land a defining finish in 2026 so far. Ford did win the Vegas race last year, but this probably won’t be the weekend it all materializes for him with just two top 10s across 18 starts there.
Analysis: Chastain’s weekly ceiling remains high, but Phoenix was just a messy race, and he’s now — with the caveat that we’re only four races in — on pace for his worst average finish in a full-time Cup season since 2019. Vegas gives him a decent place to steady things, though, with six top 10s, five top fives and 167 laps led in 15 Cup starts there.
Analysis: McDowell and Spire continue to build themselves into weekly players, and it’s fair to say we’ve essentially arrived at that point. The defending Vegas pole winner just needs to maintain this steady level of returns to make The Chase, and though he’s never finished in the top 10 at Vegas over a whopping 24 starts, would you be surprised if he still found a way to maximize his day and walk away with a decent points haul?
Analysis: Gibbs is driving with plenty of motivation, and he nearly got the better of the best at Phoenix to score his first career Cup win on Sunday, settling for a strong fourth. It still feels very much like a matter of “when,” not “if,” and the former O’Reilly Series winner at Vegas could back it up this week and quiet a lot of chatter by getting the job done in Sin City and positioning himself as a legitimate Chase contender.
Analysis: The Cook Out Clash winner had a nice recovery at Phoenix after an in-race spin, but it went a bit under the radar, where Preece still finished outside the top 10. Vegas is not a historical comfort zone for him, with one top five, two top 10s and a 21.4 average finish in 12 starts, so this week is more about sustaining the baseline than expecting fireworks.
Analysis: A steadily progressive day at Phoenix from the back was a respectable race for Keselowski, who did what he needed to do, knowing a win was a long shot, with a potential victory spot around the corner. The 2012 champ’s Vegas resume features three wins, nine top fives, 14 top 10s, 361 laps led and if RFK brings enough speed, he’s one of the easier sleepers to spot this week.
Analysis: Phoenix was a bit of a mess for Allmendinger, who had a hand in the big multicar crash with Joey Logano before recovering slightly to finish 19th. Vegas, meanwhile, has historically been pretty ordinary for him at the Cup level — 15 starts, three top 10s, no top fives and a 19.7 average finish — though he does own O’Reilly wins there, including one as recently as 2024.
Analysis: Suárez’s final result was ugly, but it was not empty, as he scored stage points and looked like a contender all weekend before getting caught in the Turn 1 pileup and finishing 30th. Suárez now gets a track where his Cup history is better than people might assume — in 17 Vegas starts, he has four top 10s, two top fives and 168 laps led. If Spire has real speed again, this is a credible rebound week rather than a hopeful one.
Analysis: Hocevar is still in the phase where the speed flashes are outrunning the weekly polish, as he clearly had the pace to contend as late as Stage 2 but couldn’t navigate the final stage chaos and wound up 20th. He still needs a fair degree of refinement at Vegas as well, with an average finish of 27.2 and both finishes last year being 30th or worse, but we know the ceiling is still very high for Hocevar.
Ryan Blaney surged to victory for the second straight time at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday, becoming the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series’ first winner not named Tyler Reddick. Behind him, though, the running order saw its fair share of fluctuations in an eventful — and sometimes chaotic — 312 laps around the Arizona desert.
Here, we take a look at three drivers who left the year’s first traditional oval race with high spirits and three who already have their eyes forward to test their luck at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday (4 p.m. ET, FS1, HBO Max, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
What happened: An early pit-road speeding penalty and a near-disaster on the race track didn’t detract from Wallace’s best Phoenix performance yet. Wallace carved through the field multiple times Sunday — first from a poor starting position and later while recovering from a Lap 97 speeding penalty. Wallace has finished inside the top 10 in three of the year’s opening four races, now boasting the series’ second-best average finish (8.8), trailing only his teammate, Tyler Reddick (2.8).
What’s next: Wallace has just one top five and two top 10s at Las Vegas in 16 starts, with no top 10s in his last five Vegas appearances. But Wallace did drive the No. 23 Toyota into the lead for 28 laps there last spring before getting collected in an on-track incident.
Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Digital Media
2. Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
Started: 32nd
Finished: 10th
What happened: Erik Jones notched a much-needed top 10 at Phoenix Sunday, marking his first of the season and the opportunity to break out the smiles again on social media. After battling an illness at Circuit of The Americas en route to a 34th-place finish and two finishes outside the top 20 to start the season, Jones and his No. 43 team executed a penalty-free and incident-free Sunday after an inauspicious qualifying effort. By surviving the carnage that put 10 cars out of the race, Jones capitalized on his first top 10 since the 2025 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway in September.
What’s next: Jones’ track record at Las Vegas has been rocky, with four top 10s in 17 starts and all four occurring between 2018 and 2022. But Jones qualified fifth for the spring race there one year ago and notched a respectable 15th-place finish at Las Vegas in the fall.
Sean Gardner | Getty Images
3. Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Started: 18th
Finished: 11th
What happened: Two spins and a multitude of issues weren’t enough to thwart an impressive day for van Gisbergen, who rebounded from bounds of adversity to nab an 11th-place finish at Phoenix. While still looking for his first win of the season, the first four races of 2026 might as well be considered a victory for the New Zealand native. Through two drafting-style races, one road course (which he surprisingly did not win) and a 1-mile oval, van Gisbergen sits fifth in the Cup Series standings, currently bettering veterans like Christopher Bell, Joey Logano, Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin, among many others.
What’s next: A real test of van Gisbergen’s oval strengths lies ahead at Las Vegas, where he crashed out of both races in 2025 and finished 29th in the 2024 fall race. SVG has proven his oval prowess can improve and is improving, so perhaps the next step will come next weekend in Nevada.
Meg Oliphant | Getty Images
THREE DOWN ⬇️
1. Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford
Started: 1st
Finished: 31st
What happened: While his teammate Blaney went on to celebrate a victory, Logano was left wondering what could have been. The polesitter ultimately made two uncharacteristic mistakes Sunday that led to crashes, the second of which put him out of the race. The first came at Lap 217 when contact from Logano to Ross Chastain sent Chastain’s No. 1 Chevrolet crashing into Anthony Alfredo and Austin Cindric on a restart. His second misstep came at Lap 254, when he merged from the dogleg apron into the side of AJ Allmendinger’s car, spinning Logano into traffic and destroying his No. 22 Ford, along with others. Those incidents derailed what was set to be a strong day for the three-time Cup Series champion, who led 73 laps and earned third-place finishes in both of Sunday’s opening stages with an average running position of 8.29.
What’s next: Logano could be set for a strong rebound as he bounces back to Las Vegas. Logano is a four-time winner at the 1.5-mile oval with one win and three top 10s in his last four Vegas starts. He earned victories in the spring of 2019 and 2020 as well as during the postseason in 2022 and 2024, with both of his latter triumphs propelling him to eventual championships.
Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Digital Media
2. Daniel Suárez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Started: 4th
Finished: 30th
What happened: A weekend that started wonderfully ended miserably for Suárez in Arizona. The newest Spire driver turned a fourth-place qualifying effort into four points in Stage 1 with a seventh-place showing, but Suárez was collected when Logano slid directly in front of Suárez’s nose, destroying the front of the No. 7 Chevrolet and ending his day early.
What’s next: Vegas has been a strong site for Suárez in recent years, producing two top fives and three top 10s in his last six starts there — including a runner-up finish last spring. His tenure at Spire has started well, with three qualifying efforts inside the top 15 and two such results (13th at Daytona, seventh at EchoPark).
Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Digital Media
3. Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford
Started: 3rd
Finished: 34th
What happened: Another victim of the on-track carnage was Cindric, who had an excellent showing in progress before crashing at Lap 217. Cindric was an innocent bystander atop the high line of the track exiting the dogleg — until Chastain collided with Alfredo, who launched into Cindric, who then pounded the SAFER barrier. He finished sixth in both stages Sunday to earn some points to cushion a 34th-place finish, but Sunday marked his third finish outside the top 30 in the opening four races with a best finish so far of 26th (EchoPark).
What’s next: A bright spot for Cindric is that despite his dismal results, his No. 2 Ford has been in the mix often. His 17.04 average running position ranks 15th-best in the NASCAR Cup Series, showing he has been running well before getting collected in on-track incidents. His Las Vegas results have been a mixed bag, but they were good in 2025: Cindric finished sixth in the spring and 11th in the fall last year, leading 47 laps last March.
