The Starting Lineup for NASCAR Race Sunday at Phoenix Raceway
The starting lineup for nascar race sunday at Phoenix Raceway is officially set for the Straight Talk Wireless 500 on March 8, with Joey Logano earning pole position ahead of a stacked 37-car field.
Here’s a quick look at the top 10 starting positions:
| Pos | Driver | Car No. | Team | Make |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joey Logano | 22 | Team Penske | Ford |
| 2 | Kyle Larson | 5 | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 3 | Austin Cindric | 2 | Team Penske | Ford |
| 4 | Daniel Suarez | 99 | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 5 | Ryan Blaney | 12 | Team Penske | Ford |
| 6 | William Byron | 24 | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 7 | Carson Hocevar | 77 | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 8 | Tyler Reddick | 45 | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 9 | Christopher Bell | 20 | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 10 | Denny Hamlin | 11 | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
Key notes:
- Brad Keselowski starts 37th in a backup car after a practice tire failure
- Anthony Alfredo subs for injured Alex Bowman in the No. 48 Chevrolet, starting 31st
- Tyler Reddick seeks his fourth consecutive win of 2026 from 8th place
- Green flag drops at approximately 3:30 p.m. ET on FS1
I’m Faisal S. Chughtai, founder of ActiveX and a digital media specialist with deep experience tracking live sports data and breaking down the starting lineup for nascar race sunday for fans who need fast, reliable information. Read on for the full breakdown of every row, key substitutions, and how to watch Sunday’s race live.
Starting lineup for nascar race sunday definitions:
Joey Logano Claims Pole for Straight Talk Wireless 500
Joey Logano made a massive statement during qualifying at Phoenix Raceway, securing the top spot for Sunday’s event. Driving the No. 22 Team Penske Ford, Logano posted a blistering lap time of 26.561 seconds, reaching a top speed of 135.537 mph. This achievement marks the 34th career Cup Series pole for the two-time champion and his third at the Arizona mile-long oval.
Logano’s performance was particularly impressive as he managed to outpace 2025 Cup Series champion Kyle Larson by just over a tenth of a second. Earning the pole at Phoenix is often a harbinger of success, as track position is notoriously difficult to gain on this unique, low-banked tri-oval. For those looking for the latest updates on qualifying results, the NASCAR Official Home | Latest News, Schedule, & Results provides real-time data as the season progresses.
Team Penske Dominance in Phoenix
It wasn’t just Logano carrying the banner for the “Captain,” Roger Penske. Team Penske showed incredible organizational depth, placing three of their drivers within the top five starting spots. Austin Cindric will start 3rd, while the defending Phoenix winner, Ryan Blaney, will roll off from the 5th position.
This level of performance highlights the speed of the Ford camp early in the 2026 season. We have seen a significant shift in performance since the introduction of the latest body updates. For fans interested in the engineering behind these speeds, you can find more info about the 2026 Ford Mustang NASCAR debut which explains how the “Dark Horse” styling has translated to on-track aero advantages.
Official Starting Lineup for NASCAR Race Sunday
The grid for Sunday is a mix of veteran dominance and surprising runs from smaller organizations. While the front row features heavy hitters like Logano and Larson, the second row sees Daniel Suarez in the No. 99 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet starting 4th. Suarez’s performance, alongside teammate Carson Hocevar in 7th, signals that Spire Motorsports is becoming a legitimate threat on short tracks.
William Byron, a perennial contender at Phoenix, starts 6th, ensuring that Hendrick Motorsports has two cars in the top six to challenge the Penske trio. Further back, the Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas of Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top 10, showing that the manufacturer battle remains incredibly tight. You can stay up to date with all the movement on the grid through our NASCAR News and Updates section.
Who is on the starting lineup for NASCAR race sunday at Phoenix?
The full 37-car grid is organized into rows of two. Here is how the field will look when the green flag flies:
- Row 1: Joey Logano (1st), Kyle Larson (2nd)
- Row 2: Austin Cindric (3rd), Daniel Suarez (4th)
- Row 3: Ryan Blaney (5th), William Byron (6th)
- Row 4: Carson Hocevar (7th), Tyler Reddick (8th)
- Row 5: Christopher Bell (9th), Denny Hamlin (10th)
- Row 6: Chase Elliott (11th), Chase Briscoe (12th)
- Row 7: Ty Gibbs (13th), Bubba Wallace (14th)
- Row 16: Anthony Alfredo (31st), Harrison Burton (32nd)
- Row 19: Brad Keselowski (37th)
The starting lineup for nascar race sunday reflects a highly competitive qualifying session where the gap between the pole and the middle of the pack was less than half a second.
Key Drivers and Substitutions to Watch
One of the biggest storylines heading into Sunday is Tyler Reddick. The 23XI Racing driver has been on an absolute tear, winning the first three races of the 2026 season. Starting from 8th, Reddick is aiming for a historic fourth consecutive victory. While he wasn’t the fastest in qualifying, his long-run speed in practice suggests he will be a factor by the end of Stage 1.
Another major story involves the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team. Alex Bowman is currently sidelined as he deals with vertigo symptoms. We have been following the update on Alex Bowman’s health in 2026 closely. In his absence, Anthony Alfredo has stepped into the Chevrolet Camaro. Alfredo qualified 31st, but his primary goal will be to keep the car clean and earn valuable owner points for the Hendrick organization.
How to track the starting lineup for NASCAR race sunday in real-time?
For fans who want to follow every lap, we recommend using a live leaderboard. During the race, the starting lineup for nascar race sunday will constantly shift based on pit strategy and “the dogleg” passes at Phoenix. Keep an eye on pit stall assignments, as the top qualifiers like Logano and Larson have the best stalls near the pit exit, which can be the difference between winning and losing a race under caution.
Also, keep an eye on rookie Carson Hocevar. Starting 7th, he is the highest-qualifying rookie in the field. Other young talents like Connor Zilisch are also making waves in the lower series, but the Cup field remains the ultimate test of talent and patience.
Brad Keselowski Moves to the Rear
It was a difficult Saturday for Brad Keselowski and the No. 6 RFK Racing team. During the practice session, Keselowski suffered a catastrophic right-front tire failure that sent him hard into the outside wall. The damage to the primary car was too extensive to repair, forcing the team to unload a backup Ford Mustang.
Because he switched to a backup car after the qualifying order was established, Keselowski was not allowed to post a qualifying time and will officially start 37th—the very last position on the grid. He will have his work cut out for him to navigate through the field on a track where passing is notoriously difficult.
Race Day Schedule and Broadcast Information
The Straight Talk Wireless 500 is scheduled for Sunday afternoon. The race consists of 312 laps on the 1-mile oval, totaling 312 miles. NASCAR has broken the race into three stages to ensure intense racing throughout the day:
- Stage 1: 60 Laps
- Stage 2: 125 Laps
- Final Stage: 127 Laps
The green flag is expected to wave at approximately 3:30 p.m. ET. Television coverage will be provided by FS1. For those without cable, you can Watch FREE on Fubo Streaming through their trial period.
Viewing Options and Radio Coverage
If you aren’t near a TV, there are several ways to keep up with the starting lineup for nascar race sunday as it evolves. MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90) will provide live turn-by-turn coverage. Additionally, the FOX Sports App and HBO Max (for in-car cameras) offer digital streaming options for subscribers. For fans who enjoy learning about the venues, our guide on the Daytona 500 Stadium Location 101 offers a deep dive into NASCAR’s most famous track, though Phoenix offers a very different style of “desert duel.”
Frequently Asked Questions about the Starting Lineup for NASCAR Race Sunday
Who won the pole position for the race at Phoenix?
Joey Logano won the pole for the Straight Talk Wireless 500. He drove his No. 22 Team Penske Ford to a lap of 26.561 seconds at a speed of 135.537 mph. He will be joined on the front row by Kyle Larson.
Why is Brad Keselowski starting at the back of the pack?
Keselowski is starting 37th because of a practice crash caused by a tire failure. Since the team had to move to a backup car, he forfeited his qualifying position and must start at the rear of the field.
Who is substituting for Alex Bowman in the No. 48 car?
Anthony Alfredo is the substitute driver for Alex Bowman this weekend. Bowman is currently recovering from vertigo symptoms. Alfredo will start the race from the 31st position.
Conclusion
The starting lineup for nascar race sunday sets the stage for an incredible battle in the desert. With Joey Logano leading the field and Tyler Reddick hunting for a fourth straight win, the strategy and speed at Phoenix Raceway will be top-tier. At Apex Observer News, we are committed to bringing you the most accurate, real-time updates for every race on the calendar.
Whether you are tracking the championship points or just looking for the latest Sports News and Aggregation, we have you covered. Be sure to tune in to FS1 this Sunday to see if Logano can convert his pole position into a trip to Victory Lane!
