Ryan Blaney Targets Phoenix Sweep in NASCAR Cup Race

Phoenix Raceway hosts NASCAR’s second 2026 visit to Avondale, Arizona, from October 16-18, with Cup, O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and Craftsman Truck Series races as championship contenders chase crucial results before the season’s final four events.

According to Ford Racing, Ryan Blaney enters the Phoenix Cup Series event seeking a season sweep after winning the track’s earlier 2026 race and the 2025 season finale there.

Blaney is fifth in the standings, 85 points behind leader Kyle Larson, while Joey Logano sits sixth at 92 points back, Austin Cindric is eighth at 145 points behind, Chris Buescher is 15th at 216 points back, and Ryan Preece is 16th at 227 points behind, according to Ford Racing.

Ford Racing reported that Blaney took the lead from Ty Gibbs with 10 laps remaining in the first Phoenix Cup race of 2026. The victory marked Ford’s first Cup Series win of the season and Blaney’s second consecutive Phoenix win.

The earlier Phoenix race was decided after a late restart, with Blaney moving into second when Kyle Larson moved high entering Turn 1 before passing Gibbs for the lead, according to Ford Racing. A Phoenix sweep has not been achieved since Kevin Harvick won both races at the track in 2014.

Joey Logano arrives with a strong Phoenix record despite finishing 31st in the spring race after an accident. Ford Racing reported that Logano has made 35 Cup Series starts at Phoenix, recording four wins, 10 top-five finishes, and 18 top-10 finishes.

The weekend schedule begins with the Craftsman Truck Series race on Friday, October 16, followed by the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series event on Saturday, October 17, and the Cup Series race on Sunday, October 18, according to Ford Racing and The Racing Experts.

The Racing Experts reported that the Cup Series race will feature 37 entered drivers, while the Truck Series field includes 36 entries for 36 available positions. The Cup race is scheduled for 312 laps with stage breaks at laps 60, 185, and 312.

Weather forecasts from Daily Downforce showed Phoenix Raceway conditions expected to remain dry throughout the weekend, with temperatures reaching the low 80s Fahrenheit during daytime activities and race conditions.

Ford’s Truck Series championship contenders include Layne Riggs, Chandler Smith, Ty Majeski, and Ben Rhodes. Ford Racing reported that Riggs has seven victories in 2026, helping the manufacturer reach at least 10 Truck Series wins in a season for the first time since 2000.