The Cup Series returns to the site of the championship race with Sunday’s event at Phoenix Raceway.
When the series was last at this 1-mile speedway, Chase Elliott celebrated the win and his first Cup title. Can he win again? Or will it be Joey Logano? He won the March 2020 race at Phoenix. Elliott and Logano are among those who have yet to win a season that has seen Michael McDowell, Christopher Bell, William Byron and Kyle Larson in Victory Lane.
Sunday’s race marks the first event of the year on an oval 1 mile or less in length.
Details for Sunday’s Phoenix Cup race
(All times are Eastern)
START: Actor Jason Biggs will give the command to start engines at 3:38 p.m. … The green flag is scheduled to wave at 3:47 p.m.
PRERACE: Garage opens at 12:30 p.m. … Drivers report to their vehicles at 3:09 p.m. … Driver introductions are at 3:15 p.m. … Invocation by Ryan Nunez, lead pastor of Palm Valley Church in Goodyear and Buckeye, Arizona at 3:30 p.m. … National anthem performed by Phoenix Boys Choir at 3:31 p.m.
DISTANCE: The race is 312 laps (312 miles) on the 1-mile speedway.
STAGES: Stage 1 ends at Lap 75. Stage 2 ends at Lap 190.
TV/RADIO: Fox will broadcast the race at 3:30 p.m. Coverage begins at 2 p.m. on FS1 and continues on Fox at 3 p.m. … Motor Racing Network’s radio coverage begins at 2:30 p.m. and also will stream at mrn.com; SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will carry the broadcast.
STREAMING: Fox
FORECAST: The wunderground.com forecast calls for sunny skies with a high of 64 degrees and 0% chance of rain at race start.
LAST YEAR: Chase Elliott won in November to win the Cup championship. Brad Keselowski finished second. Joey Logano was third. Logano won at Phoenix in March. Kevin Harvick placed second. Kyle Busch was third.
TO THE REAR: Kyle Larson, William Byron and Cody Ware. Each will go to the rear after their cars failed inspection twice. Also going to the rear will be Chase Elliott and Quin Houff for unapproved adjustments after clearing inspection. Garrett Smithley also will go to the rear for a driver change from the entry list.
STARTING LINEUP: Phoenix Cup starting lineup
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