Freeway Insurance 500
The next NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway is the Freeway Insurance 500 on Sunday, October 18, 2026 at 3:00 PM ET, broadcast on USA.
About Phoenix Raceway
Phoenix Raceway opened in 1964 and has hosted Cup Series racing since 1988. The 1-mile, low-banked oval in Avondale, Arizona, is unique in NASCAR for its asymmetric layout. The track's two ends have different radii and banking, producing a distinctive 'D-shape' that requires drivers to adapt their driving line for each turn. Phoenix has been the Cup Series championship-deciding venue since 2020, hosting the season-ending Championship 4 race where the four playoff-finalist drivers compete head-to-head for the title. The track's combination of short-track-like cornering and intermediate-track straights produces strategy-rich racing where tire management, pit stops, and clean-air aerodynamics all play significant roles.
Phoenix has been the Cup Series championship-deciding venue since 2020. The four playoff finalists compete head-to-head at Phoenix for the title every November.
Top Performers at Phoenix
| Rank | Driver | Starts | Wins | Top 5 | Top 10 | Avg Fin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kyle Larson | 24 | 1 | 12 | 16 | 10.0 |
| 2 | Ryan Blaney | 21 | 2 | 11 | 15 | 10.4 |
| 3 | Denny Hamlin | 42 | 2 | 18 | 25 | 10.4 |
| 4 | Kyle Busch | 42 | 3 | 13 | 28 | 11.4 |
| 5 | William Byron | 17 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 11.9 |
| 6 | Christopher Bell | 13 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 12.1 |
| 7 | Chase Elliott | 20 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 12.7 |
| 8 | Joey Logano | 35 | 4 | 10 | 18 | 13.3 |
| 9 | Brad Keselowski | 34 | 0 | 10 | 15 | 13.9 |
| 10 | Ross Chastain | 16 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 16.8 |
Recent Winners at Phoenix
Intermediate Context
Phoenix is one of 16 intermediates on the 2026 Cup schedule. Historically, Kyle Larson leads all Cup drivers at this venue with a 10.0 average finish across 24 starts. Drivers who excel on intermediates tend to carry that form here. Check their track type stats in S-EDGE™.
Scorzia Edge™ Preview — Phoenix
Loading Scorzia Edge…