Ryan Blaney Wins at Phoenix, Restoring NASCAR Order

Team Penske sweeps the weekend in NASCAR and IndyCar races

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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In the NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix, Ryan Blaney took the victory, restoring order after a pair of plate-races and a road course. Blaney's win was no surprise, as he was the pre-race favorite. The top three pre-race favorites finished in the top five, showing the dominance of the top teams and drivers. Team Penske had a successful weekend, winning the pole and the race in both IndyCar and NASCAR, cementing Roger Penske's status as a titan of American motorsports.

Why it matters

The Phoenix race marked the start of a six-week run of "normal" oval tracks for NASCAR's Cup Series, which is expected to provide a clearer picture of the championship contenders. Blaney's win and the strong performances of other top drivers like Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace suggest the established teams and drivers are regaining control after the unpredictability of the early season.

The details

Ryan Blaney won the NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix, leading a strong performance by Team Penske. Blaney's win came after he finished 27th at Daytona, but then had finishes of 10th and 8th in the next two races. He is now second in the standings, 60 points behind leader Tyler Reddick. Reddick's 23XI teammate Bubba Wallace also had a strong race, finishing sixth and moving up to fourth in the standings.

  • The Phoenix race marked the start of a six-week run of "normal" oval tracks for NASCAR's Cup Series.
  • The next race is scheduled for Las Vegas on March 17, 2026.

The players

Ryan Blaney

A NASCAR Cup Series driver who won the race at Phoenix, restoring order after a pair of plate-races and a road course.

Roger Penske

The titan of American motorsports and business, whose Team Penske won the pole and the race in both IndyCar and NASCAR at Phoenix.

Tyler Reddick

The current NASCAR Cup Series points leader, who finished eighth at Phoenix and maintains a 60-point lead over Blaney.

Bubba Wallace

The 23XI Racing driver who finished sixth at Phoenix and is fourth in the NASCAR Cup Series standings.

Christopher Bell

The NASCAR driver who finished second at Phoenix, vaulting him 18 spots in the standings from 24th to sixth.

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What they’re saying

“I'm very happy with my team … I'm with the right guys, and that makes a difference.”

— Ty Gibbs (NASCAR broadcast)

What’s next

The next NASCAR Cup Series race is scheduled for Las Vegas on March 17, 2026.

The takeaway

This race at Phoenix marked the start of a six-week run of "normal" oval tracks for NASCAR's Cup Series, which is expected to provide a clearer picture of the championship contenders. The strong performances of top drivers like Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick, and Bubba Wallace suggest the established teams and drivers are regaining control after the unpredictability of the early season.