Advance to Victory Lane: Projected Phoenix winner and race results

Posted on March 12, 2023March 12, 2023 by Staff Report

It’s hard not to start with Kevin Harvick when discussing the NASCAR Cup Series coming to Phoenix Raceway. Harvick’s active streak of 19 straight top-10 finishes at the track is not only tops at Phoenix, but they’re also the best all-time for all tracks. (Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt each had a run of 18 consecutive top-10 finishes at North Wilkesboro Speedway, according to Racing Insights.)

Harvick also leads all drivers with nine career wins at Phoenix. However, despite having all of these gaudy numbers in his favor, Harvick isn’t the only driver to keep a close eye on for Sunday’s United Rentals Work United 500 (3:30 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Besides Harvick, the drivers who also finished in the top 10 in both Phoenix races last year in the Next Gen car were Ryan Blaney, Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, Chase Briscoe and Ross Chastain.

Briscoe won the spring race, while Logano took home the checkered flag in the fall race to clinch the 2022 Cup Series championship. So, what will happen this time in the second year of the Next Gen car at the always-exciting and always-picturesque jewel in the desert that is Phoenix Raceway?

That’s why we lean on our partners at Racing Insights for their expert analysis in the latest edition of Advance to Victory Lane, sponsored by Advance Auto Parts. Racing Insights’ advanced statistical formula includes current track, current track type, recent performance, team data and pit-crew data to arrive at a winner and full race results.

The projections were updated after a 50-minute practice on Friday and qualifying on Saturday.

RYAN BLANEY: Blaney had the most laps run in the top five in 2022 at Phoenix with 546. He also holds the second-longest streak of top-10 finishes at Phoenix with five.

JOEY LOGANO: Logano has three victories at Phoenix, which is tied for tops on his list of most wins at one track. He also spent 342 laps running in the top five last year at Phoenix.

KYLE LARSON: Larson is coming off a tough runner-up finish at Las Vegas, but he looks to have perhaps the top car at Phoenix. The Hendrick Motorsports driver paced practice Friday, then followed up with a Busch Light Pole Award run Saturday.

Projections as of Sunday, March 12:

RACING INSIGHTS’ PROJECTIONS FOR THE UNITED RENTALS WORK UNITED 500

Finish	Car No.	Driver
1	12	Ryan Blaney
2	22	Joey Logano
3	5	Kyle Larson
4	11	Denny Hamlin
5	4	Kevin Harvick
6	24	William Byron
7	1	Ross Chastain
8	19	Martin Truex Jr.
9	20	Christopher Bell
10	6	Brad Keselowski
11	8	Kyle Busch
12	14	Chase Briscoe
13	43	Erik Jones
14	2	Austin Cindric
15	10	Aric Almirola
16	45	Tyler Reddick
17	99	Daniel Suárez
18	48	Alex Bowman
19	23	Bubba Wallace
20	3	Austin Dillon
21	17	Chris Buescher
22	16	AJ Allmendinger
23	34	Michael McDowell
24	47	Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
25	31	Justin Haley
26	21	Harrison Burton
27	41	Ryan Preece
28	7	Corey LaJoie
29	77	Ty Dillon
30	38	Zane Smith
31	15	Todd Gilliland
32	9	Josh Berry
33	54	Ty Gibbs
34	78	BJ McLeod
35	51	Cody Ware
36	42	Noah Gragson

Posted on March 12, 2023 by Brandon White

LUCAMA, N.C. — Southern National Motorsports Park has long been a special place for veteran racer Deac McCaskill.

From his winning four championships at the facility to his having a section of grandstand named after him, the brief history of Southern National has been intertwined with McCaskill’s growth from a track regular into one of the best Late Model Stock competitors in the southeast.

Now 45, McCaskill put together one of his familiar driving performances at Southern National on Saturday by dominating the CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour opener for his 10^th career victory and his third with the series at the track.

The triumph carried extra significance for McCaskill, who knew he was still capable of winning at the track that shaped him as a driver despite a prolonged drought.

“Everybody calls [Southern National] my house, but we hadn’t won a race here since [they named the grandstand after me] in 2016,” McCaskill said. “There was a lot of pressure on me to come here and perform well, but we really showed them [on Saturday].”

McCaskill’s efficiency at Southern National has remained a constant while Late Model Stock racing has evolved around him.

When he turned his first laps at Southern National as a 16-year-old in 1994, McCaskill immediately fell in love with what was then a brand-new facility. It would take time for the track to reciprocate those feelings, but McCaskill methodically perfected his craft over the ensuing years to become the hands-on favorite in every Southern National event.

The relentless dedication McCaskill showed rewarded him with a checkered flag in Southern National’s most prestigious race in the Thanksgiving All-Star Classic back in 2006, which McCaskill considers his own version of the Daytona 500.

While McCaskill enjoys every accomplishment he has accumulated at Southern National, he said the best aspects of the track come down to the moments shared with his family and the atmosphere created by track promoter Michael Diaz.

“It’s the memories [I enjoy the most],” McCaskill said. “My kids grew up watching me race here, and they used to play with Mason [Diaz] when he was little. It’s close to home, as well, so we can stay at the house and not buy any hotel rooms. All that makes it special.”

Among Deac McCaskill’s accomplishments at Southern National Motorsports Park include four track titles and a Thanksgiving Classic win in 2006. (Photo: Liz Porter/CARS Tour)

With the wins piling up for McCaskill at Southern National, it was only a matter of time before an opportunity arose that would allow him to take his talents elsewhere.

A one-race deal with Evernham Motorsports in the NASCAR Xfinity Series back in 2007 ultimately did not materialize into anything further, but McCaskill would get a chance to showcase his experience in Late Model Stocks with the formation of the CARS Tour in 2015.

It only took McCaskill four races before he earned his first CARS Tour win, which fittingly occurred at Southern National. Since then, McCaskill has tallied nine more victories in the Late Model Stock division and managed to win a series championship at the end of the 2016 season.

Maintaining success in the CARS Tour has been a far from an easy process for McCaskill. He has acted as a caretaker for his wife Sandy through a series of strokes dating back to 2018, all while simultaneously trying to keep his small operation competitive against big-budget teams like JR Motorsports.

Through every single obstacle, which included briefly shutting down his team in 2020 to re-evaluate the speed of his cars, McCaskill has remained steadfast both on and off the track. He also takes more time to enjoy the victories with Sandy and the rest of his family.

Saturday carried mixed emotions for McCaskill. He was elated to finally celebrate another win at Southern National, but he also was in disbelief reflecting on everything he endured to reach that moment.

Home Track. Home Win.

Four-time @SNM_Park champion @Deac08 defends his home turf with a @CARSTour Late Model Stock Car victory Saturday afternoon! pic.twitter.com/PeWMszkwL9

— NASCAR Roots (@NASCARRoots) March 11, 2023

“When I crossed the start-finish line [on Saturday], I didn’t get excited, because I couldn’t believe what had happened,” McCaskill said. “We’ve been through a lot with shutting the team down and Sandy going through her strokes, but we’re still digging and bringing fast cars to the track. Hopefully we can keep the momentum going.”

McCaskill firmly believes his car is strong enough to not only earn more victories in 2023, but also claim his second CARS Tour title. Despite the confidence, McCaskill expects the logistics of a 16-race schedule are going to place a tremendous amount of physical, mental and financial strain on him and his crew.

One component different from McCaskill’s title run in 2016 is a technical alliance with R&S Race Cars led by former NASCAR crew chief Marcus Richmond. He credits Richmond’s input for his team’s resurgence, but he still has some reservations about staying competitive through a whole year given the size of his team.

McCaskill has refused to let adversity hinder him at any point during his career and intends to keep that mindset moving forward as he pursues another championship.

Despite dealing with plenty of adversity, Deac McCaskill feels more confident than ever about his ability to excel on the track (Photo: Liz Porter/CARS Tour)

“A second championship would be really crazy, but this is a tough deal,” McCaskill said. “By going to all these different racetracks, you have to stay on top of your game, but we’ll see what happens. Another title would be really cool, but it’s going to take a lot of hard work.”

McCaskill added Sandy’s constant reminders to never give up were the main reason why he was in Victory Lane at Southern National on Saturday.

There were many times over the past several years where McCaskill could have voluntarily ended his career, but the motivation allowed him to create another positive memory at the track that defined him as a driver.

With plenty of confidence and determination on his side, McCaskill plans to create many more Southern National memories before his storied career concludes.

Posted on March 12, 2023 by Brandon White

LUCAMA, N.C. — The first race under the Solid Rock Carriers CARS Tour’s new ownership group provided plenty of thrills for both drivers and fans.

Southern National Motorsports Park’s abrasive surface turned Saturday’s Puryear Tank Lines 225 into a tire-conservation race, which forced drivers both experienced and inexperienced to be patient and methodical with their strategies in order to progress through the running order.

Two veteran racers ultimately emerged victorious on the afternoon, with 2016 CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour champion taking home a win in front of his hometown crowd, while Mike Hopkins claimed a Pro Late Model Tour feature that was dominated by several on-track incidents.

Deac McCaskill returns to victory in a CARS Tour race at Southern National

One of the most successful drivers in the history of Southern National has been Deac McCaskill.

A four-time track champion, McCaskill put together a vintage performance in a brand new black and white livery for the 2023 season. After conserving his tires, McCaskill took the lead from Ryan Millington on a late restart and never looked back to claim his 10^th career CARS LMSC Tour victory.

“This is awesome,” McCaskill said. “I’m 45 years old, so being able to run with these kids is really special. There are a lot of great teams up and down pit road, but we have great help on our side. It was one of those days where everything worked out good for us.”

McCaskill is no stranger to efficient runs at Southern National in the CARS Tour.

During the inaugural LMSC Tour race at the facility in 2015, McCaskill dominated the entire evening before he was passed for the win by Todd Gilliland with three laps remaining. McCaskill brushed off that frustration a couple months later by leading every single lap at Southern National for his first win in the series.

Only one more of McCaskill’s LMSC Tour victories had occurred at Southern National prior to his triumph in Saturday’s Puryear Tank Lines 225, but the seasoned veteran was determined to show a stacked field of 32 cars that he could still hang with the best at the .400-mile oval in Lucama, North Carolina.

McCaskill is optimistic his win at Southern National will give him some momentum as he pursues a second LMSC Tour title, but expects the next event at Florence Motor Speedway to be more of a challenge given his relative inexperience at the facility.

“Florence is not one of my best tracks,” McCaskill said. “I’m going to have a lot of pressure on me after winning [at Southern National], but hopefully we can pull another win off or at least have a good run. We’re a lot better than I was when we went down there a couple of years ago, so I’m excited to see what we got.”

Carson Kvapil starts title defense with second-place finish

Unlike 2022, Carson Kvapil was not able to start his year on Saturday evening with another big-money victory.

Despite this, the defending CARS LMSC Tour champion still had plenty to enjoy at the end of the 125-lap feature at Southern National, as he brought his car home in second place after starting on the pole, which provided him an ideal start in his pursuit of a second consecutive title.

“I’m happy with how we ran,” Kvapil said. “I honestly thought we were a little better than Deac [McCaskill] at the end, but couldn’t get around [Ryan Millington] fast enough and couldn’t work lapped traffic like he could. We were just looking to have a good run and kick off the season with some confidence, which we did.”

Kvapil intentionally let both Millington and McCaskill past him in the opening stages of Puryear Tank Lines 225, specifically to save tires and get himself in an ideal situation on restarts.

Without the assistance of a second groove up top, Kvapil did everything possible to keep his car glued to the bottom to maintain solid track position. He managed to climb back into the second position but ultimately ran out of laps to challenge McCaskill for the win.

Although he would have preferred a victory, Kvapil emphasized the importance of a strong points day in a field that consists of nearly 20 full-time entries. He added every single mistake is going to prove costly, but trusts himself and JR Motorsports to put together plenty of full weekends just like they did in 2022.

“It’s going to be about having days like this,” Kvapil said. “I got an extra point for winning the pole and leading a lap. You can’t have any races where you wreck out, so you’ve got to have consistent good finishes. If you can do that, it’ll show at the end of the year.”

Mike Hopkins adds CARS PLM Tour win to stellar resume

Among the tracks Mike Hopkins has won at during his career include Richmond Raceway, Seekonk Speedway and Jennerstown Speedway.

The Hermon, Maine native added a CARS PLM Tour win at Southern National to that list of accomplishments on Saturday afternoon. He took the lead from Justin Crider on Lap 43 of the 100-lap feature before surviving a chaotic finish to park his car in Victory Lane.

“This place is phenomenal,” Hopkins said. “It’s fun, it’s racy and there’s a good class of cars. [Michael Diaz] does a phenomenal job along with the CARS Tour. This is only my third CARS Tour race, but winning never gets old, especially when you race part-time like myself.”

Hopkins’ goal for the Puryear Tank Lines 225 was to be smart, as he admitted to losing several races during his career by being too aggressive early.

Even after effectively conserving his tires and pulling away from the field, a rash of late-race cautions forced Hopkins to fend off drivers like Gavan Boschele and Katie Hettinger for the win. He withstood every challenge that came his way and commended the young competitors for racing his cleanly during the restarts.

Hopkins does not know how many more PLM Tour races he will run in 2023 as he competes for several different sanctioning bodies, but he believes his performance at Southern National on Saturday is a sign that he will be competitive on a consistent basis.

“[My confidence] is pretty high,” Hopkins said. “We want to win [as many as we can], but we’re at least starting off with a bang.”

——-

The CARS Tour heads from abrasive track to another in Florence Motor Speedway on March 25. Only the LMSC Tour is running during the weekend, as the PLM Tour will not return to action until Hickory Motor Speedway on April 22.

For more information on the CARS Late Model Stock Tour and the CARS Pro Late Model Tour, visit www.carsracingtour.com. Be sure to stay active and social with the tour by liking “CARS Tour” on Facebook, following @CARSTour on Twitter and scrolling through photos on Instagram cars_tour.

Additional series information can be obtained by calling the CARS Tour series office, located in
Mooresville, NC, at 704.662.9212.

LMSC Results:

08 Deac McCaskill
8 Carson Kvapil
10 Kaden Honeycutt
77 Connor Hall
15 Ryan Millington
95 Jacob Heafner
03 Brenden Queen
24 Mason Diaz
8B Chase Burrow
6 Bobby McCarty
16 Chad McCumbee
14 Jared Fryar
1 Andrew Grady
2 Brandon Pierce
0 Landon Pembelton
04 Ronnie Bassett Jr.
8F Tate Fogleman
67 Cameron Bolin -1
22 Cale Gale -1
32 Zack Miracle -1
4F Jonathan Findley -1
81 Mini Tyrrell -1
4 Dylon Wilson -1
59 Blake Lothian -1
42 Carson Brown -1
97A Jason Kitzmiller -1
20 Joshua Dickens -1
00 Jody Measamer -2
2W Ryan Wilson – OUT
55 Isabella Robusto – OUT
29 Brian Obiedzenski – OUT
19 Jessica Cann – OUT

PLM Results:

15 Mike Hopkins
19 Bryan Kruczek
49M Luke Morey
7C Justin Crider
81 Katie Hettinger
28 Isabella Robusto
9 Ashton Higgins
96 Caden Kvapil
15 Brett Suggs
77 Logan Jones
13 Austin MacDonald
43 Nick Loden
03 Kyle Campbell
6 George Phillips
24 Carter Langley – OUT
5B Gavan Boschele – OUT
8 Rusty Skewes -1
43H Joshua Horniman -1
44 Justin Whitaker -1
5 Zac Fowler -2
97 Dylan Garner -7
48 Jeff Batten – OUT
29 Logan Boyett – OUT
7 Tristan McKee – OUT

Posted on March 11, 2023March 11, 2023 by Cameron Richardson

AVONDALE, Ariz. — A whirlwind Saturday affair at Phoenix Raceway in the NASCAR Xfinity Series saw an array of drivers running up front in contention to snag the victory.

When the checkered flag flew, it was Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Sammy Smith and Ryan Truex nabbing the top-two results respectively. The 18-year-old Smith became the youngest winner in the Xfinity Series at the 1-mile Arizona track, but Truex’s runner-up finish marked a pivotal moment for the 30-year-old journeyman as Saturday was one of six starts he’ll make in the No. 19 Toyota Supra during the 2023 season.

RELATED: Race results | At-track photos

“Practice went really well. I thought we were probably the best car here,” Truex said after the race. “Really good on the long run. Missed a little bit on the fire off. He [Smith] was the class of the field today for sure. Man, I don’t know if I just misread the track or what but midway through the race I was pretty terrible and I was feeling pretty bad about it. We were running like 15th. Just couldn’t get out of my own way.

“But [crew chief] Jason Ratcliff made really good adjustments on it. Gave me what I needed at the end there and luckily had a good restart. I was struggling on restarts a little bit all day and kept working on them and kept working on them and finally got it at the end there.”

This season, Ratcliff calls the shots atop the box for a rotation of drivers who will pilot the No. 19 and was paired with Truex for five races last season.

He said he’s confident that Truex can get the job done when he’s got a fast car.

“To come out and have a showing like that builds some confidence and will hopefully build some momentum for the next five or six [races],” Ratcliff told NASCAR.com. “This has been a good track for us, for our group, for our organization. I wish we would’ve had a few more laps there at the end I think he could’ve gotten it done.

“It’s tough behind the wheel especially when you’re only running a few races a year. You want to go out and do well obviously but to get a setback in the middle of the race and overcome that and not lose hope and keep fighting at the end and have a good showing means a lot I think for a driver. I think it shows what kinda strength he has behind the wheel.”

Sixty-nine of the 200 laps were run under the yellow flag, which hindered drivers’ abilities to find a rhythm. Pit stops shook up the field and created hectic restarts that sometimes saw drivers go four-wide and jumble up the field.

Truex said he found it tough throughout the day but got better as the laps wound down.

WATCH: See the final laps at Phoenix

“My car changed so much during the race,” Truex said. “I was pretty happy at the beginning and then the stages the way they worked, they jumbled everything up and I just kept struggling on restarts to make my track position up and after the stage caution, I’d just be way back in traffic. For whatever reason, the set of tires where we ran 80 laps or whatever it was, I was just terrible. No rear grip. Chattering the front tires.

“In that last adjustment, Jason made the right moves and gave me a good set of tires. The rest was up to me. Being aggressive on the restarts and basically being all four [tires] on the apron in [Turns] 3 and 4 every lap, that’s what got me to second place and I did everything I could to catch Sammy but his car was just a little too good there.”

With a limited schedule last year, Truex hasn’t competed in a NASCAR national series event since Atlanta Motor Speedway last July where he finished third in the same car. His second-place result at Phoenix is his best effort since a runner-up finish at the same track in 2019.

Despite not competing on a regular basis, the New Jersey native added that Saturday was a validation for himself that he can come out and compete for wins in the Xfinity Series.

“Man, second again. Sucks, but at least I’m here.”

Posted on March 11, 2023March 11, 2023 by Reid Spencer

AVONDALE, Ariz. — High-school senior Sammy Smith made the most of the fastest car in Saturday’s United Rentals 200, becoming the youngest NASCAR Xfinity Series winner at Phoenix Raceway at age 18.

In a race that featured 11 cautions for 69 laps, Smith held off teammate Ryan Truex after a restart with 15 of 200 laps left to give Joe Gibbs Racing its 16th victory at the 1-mile track.

Smith led a race-high 92 laps, including the last 52, taking the lead from all-time series wins leader Kyle Busch on Lap 149. To secure his first victory in the series in his 13th start, Smith had to survive restarts on Laps 157, 177 and 186.

RELATED: Race results | At-track photos: Phoenix

“That was tough with all of those restarts — and going against some of the best,” said Smith, who takes his high school classes online. “I just have to thank everybody on Pilot/Flying J, Toyota, JGR guys and everybody on this 18 team for giving me an awesome car. This is awesome.

“This is a dream come true, and I did know that at some point this was coming. It took a lot of hard work and a lot of great people around me. Without all of these guys, I wouldn’t be here.”

In a part-time role with JGR, Truex matched his career-best finish after restarting seventh on Lap 186.

“That was a good restart at the end,” Truex said. “I thought I could at least try to make it exciting. Congrats to Sammy — he was the class of the field all day. His car was so good. He could really kind of do whatever he wanted.

“Sammy was just a little bit faster, but I’ll try again next time.”

WATCH: Truex’s full post-race interview

Sheldon Creed ran a miraculous third after spinning and losing track position on Lap 148 to cause the ninth caution. Creed got help from Kaulig Racing teammates Busch and Chandler Smith, who tangled on the last lap while racing for fourth. Smith got the better of the exchange, finishing fifth to Busch’s ninth.

Busch and Chandler Smith weren’t the only teammates who traded paint on Saturday. JR Motorsports’ Josh Berry spun off the bumper of Sam Mayer on Lap 84 but fought back to finish eighth.

Justin Allgaier, who won the race’s first two stages, crashed hard on Lap 178 after contact from JR Motorsports teammate Brandon Jones and Sam Hunt Racing’s Kaz Grala. The accident eliminated Allgaier and set up Smith’s triumphant run to the checkered flag.

Riley Herbst ran fourth. John Hunter Nemechek recovered from a restart penalty — dipping below the yellow line on the apron before the start/finish line — to come home sixth.

Austin Hill was seventh, followed by Berry, Busch and Daniel Hemric. Mayer finished 11th and pole winner Cole Custer 12th.

Heading to his home state of Georgia, Hill leads the series standings by 30 points over second-place Nemechek. The Xfinity Series returns to action Saturday, March 18 at Atlanta Motor Speedway (5 p.m. ET, FS1, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) for the Raptor King of Tough 250.

Note: Post-race inspection concluded with no issues following the NASCAR Xfinity Series race, confirming Sammy Smith as the race winner.

Contributing: Staff report

Posted on March 11, 2023 by Dustin Albino

Hendrick Motorsports was the class of the field last weekend at Las Vegas in the middle race of the three-week West Coast swing. Kyle Larson’s No. 5 team has brought similar speed to Phoenix Raceway this weekend, as he’s had the quickest car in all metrics. Larson was quickest in practice, fastest on 10-lap average, led Group B qualifying by nearly three-tenths of a second and won the pole.

MORE: Full Phoenix lineup | Phoenix race odds

Dustin Albino’s race-day lineup:
Starter 1: Kyle Larson
Starter 2: Denny Hamlin
Starter 3: Ryan Blaney
Starter 4: Kevin Harvick
Starter 5: Martin Truex Jr.
Garage pick: Alex Bowman

NEXT IN LINE: Kyle Busch, Christopher Bell, Joey Logano, Ross Chastain

RISING: Three qualifying sessions into the new season – keep in mind there was a washout at Auto Club Speedway – and RFK Racing continues to impress. Specifically Keselowski, who has consecutive top-10 starting positions, with his fourth-place effort for Sunday. The No. 6 car was the best of the Fords for the majority of the race last weekend, until a late pit-road miscue sent Keselowski to the hornet’s nest. When the green flag drops Sunday, he will have the best track position of all Ford drivers.

Given Hamlin has multiple wins in the desert, it shouldn’t be a surprise that the No. 11 Toyota unloaded fast this weekend. The Virginia native was ecstatic about his long-run speed, as he ranked second on the 10-lap average in Friday’s practice.

FALLING: It’s been a tough go for Chase Briscoe recently, as he enters Phoenix with a best finish of 20th in the first trio of races in 2023. The defending Phoenix winner showed speed in practice, but will start a mediocre 24th. Certainly, he could maneuver his way through the field, but it’s not the start he was looking for.

The same thing could be said for Briscoe’s teammate Ryan Preece. Based on how strong the No. 41 Ford was at the Busch Light Clash – and how solid Preece is on short tracks – one would think some of those characteristics could translate to Phoenix, despite a new rules package. He was 32nd in both single-car speed and 10-lap average, however. Preece will also take the green flag from 25th position.

FEATURED MATCHUPS:
Chase Briscoe vs. William Byron
Hendrick Motorsports looks to be the team to beat for the second consecutive week, so this is a layup. Even with Briscoe showing speed in practice, the No. 24 car was a skosh quicker on the long run. Phoenix is known for long runs, which gives the upper hand to Byron.

Ryan Blaney vs. Martin Truex Jr.
As you can see, I expect big days from both drivers by having them in my starting lineup. However, Blaney was a threat to win the first two races in a Next Gen car at Phoenix last season, leading more than 40% of the laps. Truex is a recent winner at the track (2021) but go with Blaney here.

Christopher Bell vs. Ross Chastain
Bell is one of two Cup drivers to have multiple top-five finishes in the first three races, and it shouldn’t surprise anyone if he adds a third on Sunday. Chastain will likely be strong too, entering the race as the regular season championship leader. You could go either way with this one (they were fifth and sixth in practice), but my gut tells me the No. 20 team – and Toyota – will have a strong day.

Austin Cindric vs. Tyler Reddick
Going with the logic above, Reddick, driving a Toyota, should have a much-needed strong run come Sunday. He was quicker than Cindric in practice on the short and long run, and out-qualified the No. 2 car. Cindric will start near the center of the field in 20th.

MORE: Set your lineups on NASCAR Fantasy Live

Posted on March 11, 2023March 11, 2023 by Cameron Richardson

AVONDALE, Ariz. — As NASCAR continues to leap forward in the second year of the Next Gen car and introduce new tracks to the Cup Series circuit, one driver has remained on top of his game.

Team Penske’s Joey Logano has developed a knack for being the top dog when faced with change.

Two seasons ago, he scored the victory in the inaugural event on the dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway. More impressively, Logano was the Pied Piper of the Next Gen era, winning the first race with the car at the Busch Light Clash inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. That win at the Clash evolved into Logano grabbing the checkered flag in the first Cup race at World Wide Technology and closing out 2022 as the first Cup champion with the Next Gen vehicle.

Logano credits his No. 22 team for the ability to adapt so well.

“It’s a lot of the team if I’m being honest,” Logano, the two-time Cup Series champion, said. “As a team, I think we’re able to have a lot of different discussions around things and even during the race we can adapt as we see things. For whatever reason, change has been good for us.”

Sunday’s United Rentals Work United 500 (3:30 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) will see a change to how the cars race as the spoiler was reduced from 4 inches to 2 inches as well as updates underneath the car to reduce downforce by around 30%. With a new challenge for drivers, it’s no surprise that Logano is a co-favorite to win at Phoenix Raceway.

MORE: See changes to car ahead of Sunday

Kyle Larson, the 2021 Cup Series champion, is no stranger to succeeding in new environments. He dominated in his first season with Hendrick Motorsports, winning 10 races en route to his first title including the inaugural Cup race at Nashville Superspeedway.

While not discussed formally among the team, Larson has kept his eye on Logano’s success with change.

“I’ve noticed that. I mean he wins the first race in the Next Gen car, he won the first race at Gateway. Like when there’s a new something, whether it be aero package or track, he’s usually winning or contending,” Larson said. “I think it shows … not just him … I think, yes, he beats his teammates so like he’s doing a better job but even the team [Penske] has done a good job in the past of pairing for something new. It takes a combination of things and Joey’s an extremely great race car driver and Penske’s an extremely team too across all forms of racing.”

Wood Brothers Racing driver Harrison Burton has been challenged at the beginning of his Cup Series career. Burton’s said he’s had to learn on the fly when his team deliberates entering weeks that are new to Cup drivers. He said it’s made him more comfortable in uncomfortable situations, and having a technical alliance with Penske, he’s been able to learn from Logano.

Meg Oliphant | Getty Images

“I watch him pretty closely to see how he prepares for these things,” Burton said. “I think he treats it like any other weekend and he’s a really confident driver as he should be, he’s a two-time Cup champion. The biggest thing is I think he shows up and is prepared and is one of the hardest-working guys I’ve been around for sure. You add that with confidence and talent and good things happen.”

Logano’s teammate Austin Cindric won the Daytona 500 last year to open his rookie campaign in the Cup Series. He credited the prep work done by both Penske and Logano as to why they perform at their best with unknowns.

“Obviously Joey’s track record on new experiences and new challenges is pretty unparalleled,” Cindric, the second-year Cup driver, said. “You have to have the right homework on the car side just as much on the driver side. I think between Team Penske and the work that Joey does that’s a pretty hard combination to beat.

“More than anything else if you give Joey a chance to win the race, he’s probably gonna do it. When you look at the times we’ve been dominant as a company, coming to races last year, he was the guy to win the race because I feel like when he tastes blood he goes for it.”

Posted on March 11, 2023 by Staff Report

See where your favorite driver will start in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series United Rentals Work United 500 at Phoenix Raceway (3:30 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Posted on March 11, 2023March 11, 2023 by Reid Spencer

Put Joe Gibbs Racing driver Christopher Bell in the camp of competitors who favor the new lower-downforce competition package NASCAR has introduced for Sunday’s United Rentals Work United 500 at Phoenix Raceway (3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Though Bell’s No. 20 Toyota was 24th fastest in Friday’s 50-minute practice session, he was enthusiastic about the way his Camry performed in traffic.

“I don’t know if I’m biased towards it because I really like it, but I made passes in practice that I know that I absolutely wouldn’t have with the old package,” Bell said. “I don’t know. I’m happy. I hope the other drivers feel the same way…

“I felt like I could pass a little easier and I felt like I could maintain my position easier when I was following guys, but we will know more on Sunday.”

Bell, who felt his car lacked short-run speed, was 0.485 seconds off the pace of Kyle Larson, who topped the speed chart at 131.258 mph (27.427 seconds).

However, the No. 20 team made solid adjustments and had a stronger showing in Saturday’s multi-round qualifying session. Bell posted a final-round time of 27.827 seconds and will roll off fifth in the premier series race, the second-fastest Toyota behind teammate Denny Hamlin.

MORE: Full qualifying recap

Contributing: Staff Report

Posted on March 11, 2023March 11, 2023 by Staff Report

Kyle Larson won the Busch Light Pole Award for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway in Saturday’s qualifying session.

Larson wheeled his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet to a pole speed of 130.237 mph, besting Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin for the top spot on the starting grid by just 0.065 seconds.

Larson’s teammate William Byron will start third with a lap average speed of 129.922 mph alongside RFK Racing co-owner and driver Brad Keselowski in fourth at 129.762 mph. JGR’s Christopher Bell rounded out the top five at 129.580 mph.

The pole award is Larson’s first of the season, with his most recent quick time coming at Martinsville Speedway last October. His last Phoenix pole came in November 2021, when he piloted the No. 5 team to the NASCAR Cup Series championship.

“It means a lot. Qualifying is really important here,” said Larson, who was also quickest in Friday’s practice session. “We got the pole in 2021 and that really helped us win the championship race. Joey [Logano] had an extremely fast car in the fall last year, but he got the pole as well and won. So I think that number one pit stall means a lot.

“Happy to be quick this weekend; quick in practice and have it translate to qualifying.”

Completing the top 10 in the starting grid were Ross Chastain, Michael McDowell, Ryan Blaney, Kyle Busch and Erik Jones.

The quick times posted by Larson and Byron came despite some trouble for Hendrick Motorsports cars on Friday. NASCAR officials confiscated the hood louvers from each of the four Hendrick entries, including those from Alex Bowman and Josh Berry. The sanctioning body will bring those back to the NASCAR Research & Development Center in Concord, North Carolina, for further evaluation but the team was levied no penalty yet.

NASCAR also announced that the No. 31 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet driven by Justin Haley had its louvers confiscated during pre-qualifying inspection on Saturday. Similarly to the Hendrick situation, no penalty was announced.

Cup teams are debuting a new rules package configuration at Phoenix on Sunday (3:30 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), featuring a 30% reduction in downforce. Larson credited his team, led by crew chief Cliff Daniels, with the homework done to prepare for this weekend’s 312-lap contest.

In the first round of qualifying, Larson was over two-tenths of a second quicker than the next-fastest vehicle, but the gap shrunk notably in the pole round.

“Looking at SMT, I felt like my ability to roll some center-corner speed in (turns) one and two kind of gave me a little bit of an advantage,” Larson said. “There’s definitely some cars that are better than me in (turns) three and four, but we’re all so competitive over there too. I feel like there’s a lot of room behind the wheel to get a lot better in three and four. I think my car is fine. I think I just need to do some things different and get even better in three and four and then we should be really good.”

MORE: Recap Friday’s practice session | Phoenix schedule

Daniel Suárez will start 11th in the No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, failing to advance to the pole round by just 0.004 seconds to teammate Chastain. The Fords of Team Penske and Stewart-Haas Racing were fast in Friday’s 50-minute practice session, but only one of those seven entries — Ryan Blaney — advanced to the top 10 in Saturday’s qualifying session.

Kevin Harvick of SHR was the quickest of the remaining six in 15th place with Penske’s Joey Logano 16th. Harvick is eyeing his 20th consecutive top-10 finish at Phoenix, which would extend the Cup Series record he holds of most consecutive top 10s at one track.

Chase Briscoe, Harvick’s teammate at SHR, will roll off from the 24th position on Sunday. Briscoe scored his first career Cup victory in March 2022 at Phoenix.