Joey Logano will lead the field to the green flag in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway. The driver of the No. 22 qualified on the pole for the Straight Talk Wireless 500, which is scheduled for 312 laps.
Starting alongside Logano in second is Kyle Larson, who won the 2025 Cup Series championship in the title race at Phoenix last year. Starting third is Austin Cindric, followed by fourth place Daniel Suarez, and fifth place Ryan Blaney.
Team Penske swept the poles in the Cup Series and the IndyCar Series at Phoenix, with David Malukas on the pole for the IndyCar event. On top of that, all three of Team Penske Cup drivers (Logano, Cindric, Blaney) qualified in the top five.
Team Penske continues Phoenix dominance in Cup qualifying
Under the former elimination-style playoff format, Team Penske dominated the championship race at Phoenix. The organization won three straight titles with Logano in 2022, Blaney in 2023, and Logano again in 2024.
Formerly the season-finale track, all of them had to navigate Phoenix Raceway to leave with the trophy.
When speaking to the media after Cup qualifying on Saturday, Logano said he wouldn’t consider Phoenix a “home track” for Team Penske.
However, the three-time Cup Series champion couldn’t overlook the success they’ve had at the 1.0-mile track over the years.
“It’s a place that everybody enjoys coming to. … It’s definitely a special place,” Logano said.
Logano has won four times at Phoenix in the Cup Series, last coming in November 2024 when he captured his third Cup title. In that race, Logano led 107 of 312 laps and held off Blaney for a Penske 1-2 finish.
In November 2022, Logano wheeled his No. 22 Ford to victory at Phoenix in the title race, earning what was his second Cup title at the time. The Connecticut native led 187 of 312 laps en route to victory.
Chase Elliott and other notable starters outside the top 20 at Phoenix
Qualifying sixth for Sunday’s race at Phoenix was Ross Chastain, followed by seventh place Carson Hocevar, eighth place Tyler Reddick, ninth place William Byron, and Josh Berry rounding out the top 10.
Not everyone was as fortunate as the top-10 starters for Sunday’s race. Chase Elliott, who enters Sunday third in the Cup Series points, qualified 26th in his No. 9 car.
Bubba Wallace, who sits second in the Cup standings, qualified 28th in the No. 23 machine. Kyle Busch starts right behind Wallace in the 29th spot. The driver of the No. 8 hasn’t won a Cup race since June 2023.
Starting at the rear of the field is Brad Keselowski in the No. 6 car. The 2012 Cup Series champion was forced to go to a backup car after crashing in Saturday’s sole practice session.
Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin will start Sunday’s race from 11th, followed by Christopher Bell in 12th, Ryan Preece in 13th, Ty Gibbs in 14th, and John Hunter Nemechek in 15th.
The Straight Talk Wireless 500 is scheduled for 312 laps and 312 miles around the 1.0-mile oval. The race can be watched on FS1 or listened to on the Motor Racing Network.
Joey Logano Paces NASCAR Cup Qualifying at Phoenix