Ryan Blaney finishes fourth with dominant car: ‘Shame we didn’t win’

Posted on March 13, 2022March 14, 2022 by Chase Wilhelm

AVONDALE, Ariz. — Ryan Blaney wasn’t able to close the deal on Sunday at Phoenix Raceway, but a top-five finish put his 2022 season back on track.

On Saturday, Blaney put the No. 12 Team Penske Ford on the pole for the first time this year. After leading the first 25 circuits leading up to the competition caution, a pit-road speeding penalty sent him to the back of the field. From there, he was able to work his way back up to the front for the Stage 2 victory. He also led a race-high 143 laps en route to a fourth-place result.

It was the ninth time in his career where he led more than 100 laps in a race but was unable to break into Victory Lane. Despite the disappointment of coming up short, Blaney was still satisfied after recent finishes of 17th and 36th at Auto Club Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway, respectively.

“Overall, very fast day with a solid car,” Blaney said. “A shame we didn’t get the win, but days like this you can’t complain too much about.”

RELATED: Official results

While the car showcased race-winning capable speed throughout the 312-lap race, Blaney fought a steering-wheel issue for the majority of it, chiming in on the radio multiple times to voice his concern about how substantially it was shaking.

“I can’t wait to get back to the race shop to tear it apart,” Blaney said. “About 25 laps into the second stage, I had massive … it felt like caster wobble, but in the corner at speed. You usually get caster wobble about 10 miles per hour or at pit-road speed. This was at speed, so I don’t know what was wrong. It was pretty bad to deal with. It was pretty significant and I think that hurt us a little bit.

“The second-to-last restart, I went to the apron and I don’t know if it bent, broke … it stopped vibrating like crazy and was just pulling to the right whenever I lifted. So I don’t know what happened to it, something in the steering system. I would love to look at it because my wheel was all bent out of shape and it was a mess. Luckily we didn’t go many more laps because I was just kind of hanging on.”

Including Sunday’s finish, Blaney now has four top fives and eight top 10s at the 1-mile Arizona oval, including four straight finishes of 10th or better. A favorite to compete for the title, the trend favors him when the series heads back to Phoenix for the Championship 4 race in November.

“I thought we had a shot today, but it just didn’t play out,” Blaney said. “We seem to qualify great here, we always qualify really good. Seem to race pretty decent, but just never seem to put a whole one together to try to win the race. Hopefully one of these days it would be nice.”

Posted on March 13, 2022March 14, 2022 by Holly Cain

There was no shortage of motivation as three drivers all vying for their first-career victory in the marquee NASCAR Cup Series decided the dramatic outcome at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday afternoon.

Stewart-Haas Racing’s Chase Briscoe had to hold off the field on not one, but two late-race restarts on the one-mile desert oval, including the final restart with three laps remaining to earn his first career NASCAR Cup Series win in the Ruoff Mortgage 500.

RELATED: Official Phoenix race results

The 27-year-old Briscoe is the 200th different winner in NASCAR’s premier series and last year’s Rookie of the Year earned the victory- by .771-seconds over Ross Chastain – in only his 40th start.

“It’s unbelievable,’’ said Briscoe, who drives the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford.

“I was crying the whole last lap. This is definitely a team win, but I’ve got to thank everybody that’s got me to this point. Just seven years ago I was sleeping on couches, volunteering at race shops and was literally driving home to give up.

“Unbelievable,’’ he continued, smiling. “So blessed to be here driving for this organization this team and this car that was my hero’s (NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart) growing up.

“To everybody that’s believed in me, it’s unbelievable.’’

Fast pit stops for Briscoe’s John Klausmeier-led crew helped all day. His 101 laps out front were second only to pole-winner Ryan Blaney’s 144 laps led. But Briscoe certainly had to earn this win on track holding off the field on those late-race restarts with cars sometimes fanning out seven-wide in the frenetic shuffle to the front.

Chevrolet drivers Chastain and Tyler Reddick took Briscoe three-wide on the final restart – all fueled by the motivation of that first win, but Briscoe’s Ford was able to drive away leaving them to settle runner-up between themselves.

Chastain’s runner-up finish is his second consecutive top-three finish for the Trackhouse Racing organization. Richard Childress Racing’s Reddick placed third followed by pole-sitter, Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney and 23XI Racing’s Kurt Busch.

“That was so much fun to get to race like that at this level,’’ Chastain said, adding of the last lap competition, “That’s so cool to race with Tyler and Chase. That’s everything I’ve ever wanted.”

Briscoe’s veteran teammate Kevin Harvick finished sixth and that top-10 was good enough to tie a huge mark of success shared only by two NASCAR Hall of Famers. Harvick’s 18th consecutive top-10 at Phoenix matches an all-time NASCAR Cup Series record set by both Richard Petty and the late Dale Earnhardt at North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway.

Another former series champion, Kyle Busch finished seventh leading the Joe Gibbs Racing charge. Penske’s Joey Logano, Trackhouse Racing’s Daniel Suarez and Roush Fenway Keselowski driver Chris Buescher rounded out the top-10 respectively.

Reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson, who ran up front for much of the race, suffered a DNF – pitting with 74 laps remaining with what his crew diagnosed as a broken valve spring in his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Larson was officially scored 34th – the second sub-30th place finish of the season, including a crash at the Daytona 500 (32nd-place finish).

Larson already scored a victory at Auto Club Speedway this season, however, and is still ranked fourth in the championship, 10 points behind new leader Logano.

Both Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron and Penske’s Blaney earned their first Stage wins of the season. There were 14 lead changes among six drivers.

The NASCAR Cup Series next races at the newly-renovated Atlanta Motor Speedway in Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 (3 p.m. ET, FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Blaney is the defending race winner on the 1.5-mile high-banks which will now feature new pavement and progressive banking.

Note: Inspection in the Cup Series garage is complete with no issues, confirming Briscoe as the race winner. The Nos. 9, 8, 12 , 4 and 18 will be transported back to the R&D Center.

Posted on March 13, 2022March 18, 2022 by Staff Report

Which channels have NASCAR programming this week? We answer that and give the weekly NASCAR television listings here in the NASCAR TV schedule.

Note: All times are ET.

MORE: How to find FS1 | Get FOX Sports App | Watch on USA Network | Get the NBC Sports App | Watch on Peacock | FloRacing

Monday, March 14
4:30 a.m., NASCAR Cup Series Ruoff Mortgage 500 (re-air), FS1
11 a.m., NASCAR Xfinity Series United Rentals 200 (re-air), FS2
1 p.m., NASCAR Cup Series Ruoff Mortgage 500 (re-air), FS2
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
7 p.m., NASCAR Presents Beyond the Wheel (re-air), FS1

Tuesday, March 15
Midnight, NASCAR Cup Series Ruoff Mortgage 500 (re-air), FS1
3 a.m. NASCAR Race Hub: Best of Radioactive: Phoenix (re-air), FS1
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
7 p.m., Refuse to Lose: Jeff Gordon and the 1997 Daytona 500 (re-air), FS1

Wednesday, March 16
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
7 p.m., The Day, Atlanta 1992 (re-air), FS1

Thursday, March 17
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
7 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Best of Radioactive: Atlanta, FS1
11 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Best of Radioactive: Atlanta (re-air), FS2

Friday, March 18
3 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practice, FS1 CANCELED
4 p.m., NASCAR Xfinity Series practice, FS1 CANCELED
5 p.m., NASCAR Cup Series practice, FS1 CANCELED
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
7 p.m., NASCAR Auto Racing Classics, 2005 Golden Corral 500 (re-air), FS1
10 p.m., NASCAR Cup Series practice (re-air), FS1

Saturday, March 19
4 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Best of Radioactive: Atlanta (re-air), FS1
5 a.m., NASCAR Auto Racing Classics, 2005 Golden Corral 500 (re-air), FS1
8:30 a.m., The Day, Atlanta 1992 (re-air), FS2
9:30 a.m. NASCAR Cup Series practice (re-air), FS2
10:40 a.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practice, FS2 (moves to FS1 at 11 a.m.)
11 a.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practice, FS1
11:40 a.m., NASCAR Xfinity Series practice, FS1
12:40 p.m., NASCAR Cup Series practice, FS1
2 p.m., NASCAR RaceDay: NCWTS: Atlanta, FS1
2:30 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Fr8 208, FS1
3:30 p.m., IMSA Auto Racing: 12 Hours of Sebring, USA
4:30 p.m., NASCAR RaceDay: Xfinity: Atlanta, FS1
5 p.m., NASCAR Xfinity Series Nalley Cars 250, FS1 (Canada: TSN3)
7 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Fr8 208 (re-air), FS1
9 p.m., NASCAR Xfinity Series Nalley Cars 250 (re-air), FS1
11 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Fr8 208 (re-air), FS2

On MRN
2 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Fr8 208

On PRN
4:30 p.m., NASCAR Xfinity Series Nalley Cars 250

Sunday, March 20
1 a.m., NASCAR Cup Series qualifying (re-air), FS1
2:30 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Best of Radioactive: Atlanta (re-air), FS1
3 a.m., The Day, Atlanta 1992 (re-air), FS1
4 a.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Fr8 208 (re-air), FS1
6 a.m., NASCAR Xfinity Series Nalley Cars 250 (re-air), FS1
8 a.m., NASCAR Xfinity Series Nalley Cars 250 (re-air), FS2
1 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Best of Radioactive: Atlanta (re-air), FS1
1:30 p.m., NASCAR RaceDay: Atlanta, FS1
2:30 p.m., NASCAR RaceDay: Atlanta, FOX
3 p.m., NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500, FOX

On PRN
2 p.m., NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500

Posted on March 13, 2022March 13, 2022 by Track Release

PHOENIX — If the Phoenix Raceway grandstands look full today during the Ruoff Mortgage 500, there’s a good reason.

Phoenix Raceway announced Sunday that the grandstands are sold out for today’s NASCAR Cup Series showcase. This comes on the heels of last year’s NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race sellout and proof positive that the one-mile, doglegged oval is the place to be this weekend.

The green flag will fly for today’s Ruoff Mortgage 500 shortly after 3:30 p.m. ET and be shown live on FOX.

“There’s a palpable excitement in the air that is being generated by the tremendous start of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season,” said Phoenix Raceway President Julie Giese. “It’s also confirmation that our fans view Phoenix Raceway as a state-of-the-art sports and entertainment destination. From our campers who began arriving at 7 a.m. on Monday to the fans who visited us at the box office this morning, we’ve seen an amazing show of support and we’re grateful for the opportunity to provide them an unforgettable experience.”

Today marks the second NASCAR Cup Series sellout this season. The DAYTONA 500 sold out in February, while races at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Auto Club Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway featured strong crowds as well.

Fans can still upgrade their tickets today to include the FanShield Infield Experience, and a limited number of Hillside tickets remain and can be purchased on site. They should also act now to secure their seats for NASCAR Championship Weekend at Phoenix Raceway, Nov. 4-6.

Posted on March 13, 2022March 13, 2022 by PJ Walsh

The Action Network specializes in providing sports betting insights/analytics and is a content partner with NASCAR. Check out more NASCAR betting analysis here.

The NASCAR Cup Series season rolls on with Sunday’s Ruoff Mortgage 500 at Phoenix Raceway (3:30 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Following pack racing at Daytona, high-tire wear at the 2-mile Auto Club Speedway and a trip to the 1.5-mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway, today’s race will be the first for the Next Gen car on a 1-mile flat track like Phoenix.

Because the Next Gen car is still very new, I’m leaning heavily on Saturday’s practice to pinpoint my favorite NASCAR bet for the Ruoff Mortgage 500.

NASCAR Pick & Prediction for Phoenix

*Odds as of Sunday morning

Tyler Reddick (+300) to Win Group C

This number is simply an overreaction to qualifying results for the race. Christopher Bell is the favorite in this group at +185, which I have no problem with, but Alex Bowman at +225 and especially Brad Keselowski at +300 are a bit head-scratching to me.

Among these drivers, Tyler Reddick had the best 10- and 15-lap averages in practice and it wasn’t close. Reddick ranked sixth and fourth in those, respectively, compared to 20th and 14th for Bell and 18th and 13th for Keselowski.

Bowman never made a run of at least 10 laps, but he was just 17th fastest in five-lap average, while Reddick ranked fourth.

When it comes to practice speed, Reddick was by far the fastest driver of the group, yet he’s priced with Keselowski, who was clearly slower in race trim and will start six spots behind the No. 8 Chevy car.

Again, I don’t have a problem with Bell being the favorite of the group, but Reddick should be much closer to Bell’s +185 than Keselowski’s +300 odds.

I have a feeling this price will shorten between now and this afternoon’s green flag, so go ahead and lock in the +300 available at DraftKings Sportsbook.

Posted on March 13, 2022 by RJ Kraft

Race No. 4 of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season is here and it’s time to set those Fantasy Live lineups for Sunday’s Ruoff Mortgage 500 at Phoenix Raceway (3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). What six drivers should comprise your lineup?

RJ Kraft’s race-day lineup for Phoenix:
1-Ryan Blaney (used once)
2-Denny Hamlin
3-William Byron (used twice)
4-Aric Almirola
5-Kevin Harvick
Garage: Kyle Larson (used once)

Next in line: Joey Logano, Chase Briscoe, Austin Cindric, Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott

Analysis: I’ve added Blaney, Hamlin and Byron into my lineup. Blaney is on the pole, had the most points here last year and was second in 10-, 15-, 20- and 30-lap averages (h/t@P2Inc). Hamlin has a strong history at Phoenix and is bound to nab his first top 10 at one of his best tracks. Byron was atop the 10-lap average board and was in the top three for 15- and 20-lap averages (h/t@P2Inc).

Almirola has not finished outside the top six in the last five races dating back to last year and this has become a solid track for him. He also seems to have a car built for the long run based on practice times, yet he qualified really well. Harvick also has a car built for the long run with the fourth-best 20-lap average (h/t@P2Inc) and his record here is unmatched.

I debated bailing on Larson with the news from Hendrick Motorsports that he will be dropping to the rear but he started from the rear at Auto Club and won (and I bailed on him there). So I will not be doing that again.

Elliott and Truex didn’t qualify well and Elliott’s 10-lap times weren’t too impressive so I am electing to save the uses there. Logano and Cindric were solid considerations for me based on lap averages, but I like what I have now too much to make a switch.

Featured Matchup bonus picks
Denny Hamlin vs. Martin Truex Jr.: Both drivers have solid Phoenix records of late but I’m going to take Hamlin because I simply don’t think he will continue to be this snake-bitten this year at one of his best tracks. The pick: Hamlin

Kevin Harvick vs. Brad Keselowski: Harvick’s Phoenix track record is extremely hard to go against with nine wins and he’s never finished outside of the top nine here with Stewart-Haas Racing. Keselowski has nice desert numbers but I’m not picking against the “Cactus King.” The pick: Harvick.

Alex Bowman vs. Christopher Bell: Bell notched top 10s in both races here in 2021, while Bowman has one top 10 here from 2016 and no finish better than 13th since then at this track. The pick: Bell

Aric Almirola vs. Ross Chastain: Almirola has steadily worked his way through the field for top-six finishes in all three races to start the season and he has five top-six finishes in a row dating back to last season. Chastain had a really nice third-place run last week at Las Vegas but I just think Almirola is the more consistent driver. The pick: Almirola

Posted on March 12, 2022March 13, 2022 by Terrin Waack

AVONDALE, Ariz. — The results sheet alone makes it look like Trevor Bayne had a clean race Saturday at Phoenix Raceway.

Bayne started from the pole position, won Stage 1 on Lap 45, crossed fourth as Stage 2 concluded on Lap 90 and ultimately finished fourth when the checkered flag waved come Lap 200.

In reality, Bayne managed to overcome a pass-through penalty that put him at the back of the pack after getting caught speeding on pit road before the final stage even went live.

“I’m sick in my stomach that I didn’t win with that race car,” Bayne said. “That was by far the best race car I’ve ever been in. Drove from dead last to fourth in a 100-lap green-flag run. Never got a caution to really recover. We were hoping for it. I was screaming about debris, making it up as I went, trying to get a caution so we could restart. Because I felt like we have by far the best car.

“But man, it’s a weird thing to come back and be disappointed with fourth. I’m kind of like trying to remind myself to be thankful to be here. But when you have a car that good, you want to be where Noah is right now.”

PHOENIX: Official Xfinity race results | Noah Gragson wins | At-track gallery

That would be in Victory Lane. Noah Gragson won the United Rentals 200, his first victory of 2022.

Brandon Jones was runner-up, with Josh Berry in third. John Hunter Nemechek turned out fifth.

“We’re gonna clean up pit road,” Bayne said, “and our cars are definitely race-winning cars.”

Bayne is working in a part-time role with Joe Gibbs Racing. The deal began two weeks ago at Auto Club Speedway, where he also placed fourth. It originally included seven races but now stands at eight, as Bayne confirmed Atlanta Motor Speedway has been added to the mix.

That’s next Saturday already — the Nalley Cars 250, 5 p.m. ET on FS1, PRN and SiriusXM.

“In December, I didn’t know if I’d ever race again,” Bayne said. “To get these eight races is like extra innings. Man, I feel like I’m getting to do something I love again and I haven’t really thought past that because I want to make the best of these eight races.”

Posted on March 12, 2022March 13, 2022 by Zach Sturniolo

Noah Gragson started the year so close to winning but kept falling short.

He was third at Daytona before consecutive runner-up finishes at Auto Club Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The No. 9 Chevrolet was finally able to burn it down in Phoenix — literally.

Gragson led a race-high 114 of 200 laps to clinch his first win of the NASCAR Xfinity Series season at Phoenix Raceway on Saturday afternoon.

Gragson, now a six-time Xfinity Series winner, made the final pass for the lead with 14 laps to go after rallying past Brandon Jones after the final round of green-flag pit stops and remains the series points leader.

MORE: Official results | Phoenix at-track photos

In typical Gragson fashion, the celebration was one for the ages. The 23-year-old ripped donuts around Phoenix’s front stretch, sending smoke and rubber flying through the Arizona air. One tire chunk caught fire while Gragson was celebrating. Always the entertainer, Gragson used the makeshift campfire to warm his hands before climbing the catch fence with his JR Motorsports crew members.

“Caught the track on fire, which was awesome,” Gragson told FOX Sports. “But the pit crew executed great. This team has been on a roll so far this year, all top-three finishes in the first four races. I can’t thank everybody enough for all their hard work and try and keep it going.”

The final 100 laps of Saturday’s race went green, forcing green-flag pit stops to begin with roughly 40 laps to go. Jones short-pitted, coming to the attention of his crew two laps prior to Gragson in an attempt to leap-frog the leader. The strategy worked to perfection and he jumped out to a 1.2-second lead after trailing Gragson by over two seconds.

Gragson, though, tracked down the No. 19 Toyota and made the winning pass at Lap 187.

Only two cautions were displayed for on-track incidents Saturday. The first flew at Lap 22 when Riley Herbst lost brakes entering Turn 3. His brake pedal went to the floor and the No. 98 Ford snapped around, backing hard into the outside wall and ending the team’s day.

The second came at Lap 56 when Ty Gibbs was the recipient of left-rear contact from Josh Berry, sending the No. 54 Toyota sideways and spinning in front of traffic to start Stage 2. The field avoided Gibbs, and he rallied to finish sixth.

Stage 1 ended with a rousing photo finish between Gragson and polesitter Trevor Bayne. Gragson maintained the lead exiting Turn 2, but Bayne got a strong run and dove to Gragson’s left entering Turn 3. Bayne’s No. 18 fired into the corner and got just the run he needed to beat Gragson to the line by 0.008 seconds for the stage win, his second of 2022.

The finish of Stage 2 was far less dramatic — at least for the stage victory. As Gragson stormed away with the advantage, Jones and Justin Allgaier battled side-by-side with Bayne hot on their heels for second place. In the outside lane, Allgaier found the right momentum through the resin and edged Jones by 0.03 seconds for the spot.

Allgaier, who qualified 24th, was one of three JR Motorsports cars that started from the rear after making unapproved adjustments following qualifying, joining teammates Berry and Sam Mayer. Allgaier rocketed through the field, finishing sixth in the first stage and second in Stage 2.

Heading into the final round of pit stops, Allgaier was well inside the top five. But a pit-road penalty at Lap 165 for removing equipment from his stall forced the No. 7 car back to the pits for a pass-through penalty. The infraction destroyed his opportunity to win the race, but Allgaier did manage to hold on for a 10th-place finish, his 16th consecutive finish inside the top 10.

Behind Gragson and Jones were Berry, Bayne and John Hunter Nemechek. Rounding out the top 10 — and lead-lap drivers — were Gibbs, AJ Allmendinger, Daniel Hemric, Landon Cassill and Allgaier.

Note: Inspection is complete in the Xfinity Series garage, confirming Noah Gragson as the race winner. The Nos. 18 and 19 each had one lug nut not safe and secure. There were no other issues.

Posted on March 12, 2022March 13, 2022 by Terrin Waack

AVONDALE, Ariz. — Austin Cindric has gotten a good feel for the Next Gen car, figuratively and literally.

The Cup Series rookie won the brand-new whip’s first race of the season at Daytona International Speedway. He then earned the pole award at Auto Club Speedway for the second race. And on Saturday, he topped the practice leaderboard at Phoenix Raceway in preparation for the fourth race.

As for the third race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, well, proof of this feeling isn’t stats-based.

“My right butt cheek was on fire after like two (practice) laps because I don’t have the muscle memory for this car,” Cindric said. “The reason I say that is because Xfinity (Series) cars or the previous generation car had more side force and more yaw in the corner, and your body is in a different position and you are bracing yourself in a different position. Things that are just easy muscle memory are now orientated much differently. It is like if you were to put your seat in a different spot.

“Those things are becoming more normal and that will continue to progress.”

PHOENIX: Weekend schedule | Paint schemes | Betting odds

That’s where the literal feel comes into play.

Cindric has finished first, 12th and 19th in the three races so far. Sunday’s Ruoff Mortgage 500 is set for 3:30 p.m. ET (FOX, MRN and SiriusXM). It’ll be Cindric’s first Cup Series race at the 1-mile Arizona track.

But at the Xfinity Series level, where he’ll forever be known as champion, Cindric has two victories in eight career starts. He claimed his championship in overtime at Phoenix during the 2020 season finale, leading 72 of the 206 laps. He then returned in March the next year and won again, this time owning the front spot for a race-high 199 of 200 regulation laps. Cindric came 0.03 seconds short of defending his title in 2021, falling second to Daniel Hemric in the last showdown. Even then, Cindric held P1 for a race-best 113 of 204 laps.

“That is pretty important to me this weekend,” Cindric said. “I am a big believer that we are still just driving cars on a race track. There are a lot of differences with the car and on the aero side, but it is still the same race track. Track-prep wise, it has perhaps evolved in a different way from the last time we were here and will continue to do so, but it is still the same race track. So, I am trying to subjugate the things that I have learned about this car versus the things I already know about the track.”

PHOENIX: Practice results | Starting lineup

Cindric will fire off eighth Sunday, his fourth straight start within the top 10. The No. 2 Team Penske Ford turned the second-fastest lap in Round 1 of qualifying — 27.359 seconds at 131.584 mph — and was a tick faster in Round 2 – 27.299 seconds at 131.873 mph. Teammate Ryan Blaney took the pole, 0.0582 seconds quicker than Cindric.

Qualifying came after practice, as the two sessions return in 2022 after a COVID-19 hiatus, and Cindric was the fastest in the tune-up laps. He circled in 27.462 seconds at 131.09 mph. That was 0.009 seconds quicker than Blaney, who was second.

“Every weekend I have been peaking in qualifying,” Cindric said, “so hopefully I didn’t peak in practice this week.”

Posted on March 12, 2022March 13, 2022 by Terrin Waack

AVONDALE, Ariz. — The importance of Sunday’s race at Phoenix Raceway isn’t misplaced. It has just been slightly redirected due to the Next Gen car.

Phoenix is still NASCAR’s championship site, and that’s still an important detail. It’s just, that’s also 32 race weekends away. Sunday’s race (3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) is only the fourth event on the schedule, and drivers are treating it as such.

“I obviously want to come back and have a purpose in November,” said Austin Cindric, who topped Saturday’s practice leaderboard. “But it is also the first short-track race we are going to.”

PHOENIX: Weekend schedule | Paint schemes | Betting odds

Cindric, from Team Penske, is one of three drivers already locked into the 2022 NASCAR Playoffs by virtue of a win (Daytona International Speedway). Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson (Auto Club Speedway) and Alex Bowman (Las Vegas Motor Speedway) join him.

Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Digital Media

And Cindric has a point: Phoenix is indeed the first short track, at exactly a mile in length. Daytona was 2.5 miles, Auto Club was 2 miles, and Las Vegas was 1.5 miles. That means superspeedway and intermediate have been checked off the Next Gen to-do list, as the brand-new car slowly but surely continues to make its debut at each venue.

“It is really early,” said teammate Ryan Blaney, who earned the Busch Light Pole Award on Saturday. “My bigger concern is just trying to figure out this new car. It is really the first short track we’ve been to. The (Clash at the) Coliseum was kind of its own thing. This is a place you will be using the brakes pretty hard and things like that.”

PHOENIX: Practice results | Starting lineup

Said Cindric: “There will be a balance between what we learn this weekend and how much we are going to evolve as a sport and race teams by the time November comes around. All those things are in my head, and I think this is certainly a solid foundation for your notebook to start the year.”

The next short track on tap is Richmond Raceway (0.75 miles) immediately followed by another with Martinsville Speedway (0.526 miles) and Bristol Motor Speedway (0.533 miles), albeit the latter will be covered in dirt.

After Sunday, NASCAR won’t return to Phoenix until Nov. 6. It’s not the only repeat — Richmond and Martinsville are among the tracks that will be visited again — but it is the only place where a champion will be crowned.

The sport’s previous title location — Homestead-Miami Speedway for 18 years — didn’t have a regular-season show. Its sole race was the finale.

“We think about it, and I think about it for sure,” Joe Gibbs Racing pilot Denny Hamlin said. “I just make sure I do my part and give them the feedback they need to make the car better for when we come back.”

PHOENIX: Can Denny Hamlin turn 2022 around Sunday?

Hamlin placed third in both Phoenix visits in 2021.

In fact, eight of the top-10 finishers in this first Phoenix race also finished top 10 in the second. Three of the top five were also top five, too. Three drivers, including Hamlin, actually matched their two runs — Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott with fifth and Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell with ninth.

Unless the Next Gen car really does shake things up, Sunday’s results may sound familiar come season’s end in November.

“This is an important race,” Hamlin said. “Even though it’s early in the season, it’s the first real short track that we are going to. It’s going to create a big data point for us when we go to set up our cars for other race tracks, so it’s very, very important.”