Polesitter Logano Crashes Out of Phoenix NASCAR Race

Multi-car wreck ends Logano's day early in Stage 3 of the Straight Talk Wireless 500

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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Joey Logano, the polesitter for the NASCAR race at Phoenix Raceway, was involved in a multi-car crash in Stage 3 that destroyed his car and ended his day. The incident occurred with less than 60 laps remaining when Logano moved up the track and cut off A.J. Allmendinger, sending Logano sideways and into the path of other cars.

Why it matters

Logano was the polesitter and one of the favorites to win the race, so his early exit was a major blow to his chances of victory. The crash also impacted other top drivers like Chase Elliott and A.J. Allmendinger, shaking up the running order and championship standings.

The details

Logano's crash started when he moved up the track and cut off Allmendinger, who got into the right rear of Logano's car. This sent Logano spinning up the track, where he was then hit hard by Josh Berry, who had nowhere to go to avoid the wreck. Logano's No. 22 Team Penske Ford was destroyed in the incident.

  • The crash occurred on Lap 254 with 59 laps remaining in the Straight Talk Wireless 500 at Phoenix Raceway.

The players

Joey Logano

The polesitter and one of the favorites to win the NASCAR race at Phoenix Raceway.

A.J. Allmendinger

A NASCAR driver who was involved in the multi-car crash that took out Logano.

Josh Berry

A NASCAR driver who had no way to avoid hitting Logano's car after the initial crash.

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What they’re saying

“I just ran out of space going into (Turn) 1.”

— Joey Logano (tennessean.com)

“Wrong place, wrong time.”

— Josh Berry (tennessean.com)

What’s next

Logano and his team will need to assess the damage to his car and determine if they can repair it in time for the next race. NASCAR officials will also review the incident to see if any penalties are warranted.

The takeaway

This crash highlights the unpredictable nature of NASCAR racing, where even the top drivers can be taken out of contention due to incidents beyond their control. It also shows the importance of maintaining position and situational awareness on the track to avoid being caught up in multi-car wrecks.