Tyler Reddick Wins NASCAR Cup Series Phoenix Race After Late Restart
Tyler Reddick won the NASCAR Cup Series Chase race at Phoenix Raceway after taking two tires during a late caution with 30 laps remaining and climbing four positions on the final restart, according to NASCAR.com. The victory marks Reddick’s series-leading sixth win of the 2026 season and leaves him 56 points behind the series leader with three postseason events left in The Chase presented by Mobil 1.
Late-Race Caution Shapes Phoenix Finish
Reddick capitalized on a late-race yellow flag triggered when Kyle Larson crashed hard into the wall in Turns 1 and 2 following a tire issue with 30 laps to go. Larson, who entered the weekend leading the series standings, sustained heavy damage and drove his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet behind the wall, ending his race prematurely. During the ensuing caution, leaders Chase Briscoe, Chase Elliott, and Ty Gibbs stayed on track, while Reddick, Joey Logano, and Ryan Blaney opted for two fresh tires. Bubba Wallace took four tires and exited pit road sixth, but a speeding penalty on entry forced him to the rear for the restart. Reddick used his fresh right-side rubber to rocket up four spots when the green flag waved, securing his first trip to Victory Lane since Kansas Speedway earlier in the year.
Logano Sweeps Opening Stages Before Mid-Race Shouts
Joey Logano dominated the early segments of the 312-lap desert event, capturing maximum points by winning both Stage 1 and Stage 2 in his No. 22 Team Penske Ford. Logano held off challenges throughout the afternoon, including a fierce battle with Christopher Bell, who briefly took the lead on Lap 69 of Stage 2 before cycling back through pit stops. Denny Hamlin also ran near the front for Joe Gibbs Racing until a flat right-rear tire on Lap 221 forced an unscheduled pit stop. Hamlin lost a lap during the emergency service, and a subsequent pit road speeding penalty under the resulting caution dashed any hopes of a free pass, relegating him to a 28th-place finish.
Championship Standings After Phoenix Raceway
The 312-lap event reshuffled the postseason grid with only three races remaining in the Chase calendar. Unofficial standings place Kyle Larson at the top of the points table with a narrow five-point advantage over Christopher Bell. Chase Briscoe trails by 24 points, Denny Hamlin sits 31 points back, Ryan Blaney is 40 behind, and Joey Logano is 44 arrears. Tyler Reddick rounds out the group in seventh place, trailing the lead by 56 markers as the series heads toward the championship conclusion.
