With NASCAR in the Arizona desert this weekend, we’ll likely have a bit of a change of pace from the last two races, which were both on high-banked intermediate tracks.
Phoenix is a shorter, flatter oval that drives much differently, and this is how the field will line up for Sunday’s event.
Kyle Larson paced qualifying by having the fastest lap in both rounds, and for that, he has to be considered the favorite. Larson previously won at Phoenix in the fall of 2021 but has never won the track’s spring event, but if the No. 5 team can keep up with track conditions, that could change.
Joining Larson in the top five will be Denny Hamlin, William Byron, Brad Keselowski, and Christopher Bell. Byron appears to be fast again after his dominant win in Las Vegas last weekend, while the others also look to continue strong starts to their seasons.
Based on recent history at Phoenix, Joey Logano would also be a safe bet to compete at the front. He’s won three times at Phoenix — including the most recent race last fall — and led at least 60 laps in five of the past seven races at the track. He starts 16th, but should have no trouble moving through the field.
Logano’s Penske Racing teammate Ryan Blaney starts a bit closer to the front, in 8th. Blaney is also very good at Phoenix, where he has never won but led a combined 252 laps in the two races a year ago. He’s also finished in the top five in each of his last three Phoenix starts.
Starting a bit further back in 24th will be Chase Briscoe, winner of last year’s spring Phoenix event. Briscoe is off to a rough start this season, but Sunday should be a prime opportunity for him to turn it around.
Meanwhile, Josh Berry now has a full week under his belt as Chase Elliott’s substitute in the No. 9 car, and showed with a 17th place qualifying run that he figures to be more competitive than at Las Vegas. If he can hover around the top 15, that could turn some heads.
Larson will lead the field to the green at 3:30 p.m. EST on Sunday. The race will be televised by FOX.
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