The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series returns to the desert for two major race weekends at Phoenix Raceway. Phoenix Raceway is a one-mile oval located in Avondale, Arizona. It has long been one of NASCAR’s key tracks.
The schedule looks different this season. Phoenix will host a spring race and a playoff race. However, it will not serve as the championship finale. The 2026 championship race will return to Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida on November 8, 2026.
The spring race takes place early in the regular season. The fall event remains part of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. Both races are of great importance to teams and drivers. Fans will again see two Cup Series battles in the Arizona desert.
Phoenix Raceway hosts Straight Talk Wireless 500
The NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway takes place on Sunday, March 8. The event is the Straight Talk Wireless 500. The Straight Talk Wireless 500 begins at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
The race covers 312 laps at Phoenix Raceway. It serves as the fourth race of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season.
The broadcast airs live on FS1. Fans can also listen through MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Phoenix Raceway often produces strategy-driven races. Teams must manage tires during long green flag runs.
Passing can be difficult through the flat corners. Track position becomes critical late in the race. Restarts also play a key role during the final laps.
Practice And Qualifying Are Scheduled For Friday
Cup Series teams begin their on-track activity on Friday, March 6. Practice takes place at Phoenix Raceway that afternoon.
The practice session begins at noon Eastern Time. Teams will use the time to work on race setups.
Qualifying follows later in the day. The session begins at 1:10 p.m. Eastern Time.
Both sessions stream on Amazon Prime Video. The service carries Cup Series practice and qualifying during the first half of the season.
Fans can also follow coverage through MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Practice allows teams to test tire wear and balance. Qualifying then sets the starting order for Sunday’s race.
O’Reilly Auto Parts Series runs GOVX 200 Saturday night
The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series also races during the Phoenix weekend. The series holds the GOVX 200 on Saturday, March 7.
The race begins at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The broadcast airs on The CW.
Practice for the series takes place earlier that evening. The session starts at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Qualifying takes place later in the evening. The session begins at 8:05 p.m. Eastern Time.
Fans can stream both sessions through the CW App.
The GOVX 200 provides an important early-season test for drivers. Phoenix Raceway demands strong car control through the flat turns. Tire management and track position often decide the race result.
How to Watch NASCAR at Phoenix Raceway 2026: Schedule and TV Coverage