Larson looking to strengthen Chase lead

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, October 17, 2026

The NASCAR Cup Series Chase continues at Phoenix Raceway with defending champion Kyle Larson leading the standings by 49 points as the Freeway Insurance 500 kicks off a critical stretch with four races remaining. Team strategies and manufacturer alliances are intensifying, signaling that this race will heavily influence momentum heading into the rescheduled championship finale at Homestead-Miami.

The NASCAR Cup Series Chase heads to Phoenix Raceway on Sunday for the Freeway Insurance 500, with just four races remaining in the championship battle. Defending titleholder Kyle Larson enters the 312-lap race in Avondale, Arizona, holding a 49-point lead. The event will air at 3 p.m. ET on USA Network.

While Phoenix Raceway has traditionally served as the venue for determining the Cup Series champion from 2020 through 2025, this year it will play only a pivotal role, as the championship celebration has been rescheduled for next month at Homestead-Miami. The new playoff format, combined with stage points and bonus points accrued throughout the races, has introduced greater uncertainty in projecting the final outcome.

Larson, driving the No. 5 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, leads the standings ahead of a strong contingent from Joe Gibbs Racing, including Denny Hamlin (49 points behind), Christopher Bell (51 points behind), and Chase Briscoe (65 points behind). Larson has previous success at Phoenix, having clinched both of his prior Cup championships at the track—in 2021 by winning the race and in 2025 by finishing third while Hamlin finished sixth.

However, Larson expressed reservations about his team’s recent performance at Phoenix. “Phoenix is difficult for us lately, the last three or four races there,” he commented following a sixth-place finish at Charlotte last weekend.

Briscoe and Bell, both from Joe Gibbs Racing, appear optimistic. Briscoe, driving the No. 19 car, brings momentum from consecutive victories in the series despite averaging an 11.8 finish in Chase races. Bell also has favorable history at Phoenix, winning there in back-to-back seasons in 2024 and 2025. Speaking on Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s podcast, Briscoe noted that Joe Gibbs Racing has been competitive across various track types this season and expects strong performance in Arizona.

Meanwhile, Hamlin indicated on his own podcast that Ford, which supports fellow contenders Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano from Team Penske, might consolidate resources to aid the Penske drivers in their championship pursuits. Team Penske recently executed a crew swap by exchanging Austin Cindric’s struggling crew with Blaney’s prior to the start of the playoffs, a move likely aimed at improving results. Observers suggest Chevrolet might respond with similar support to Larson, despite Hendrick Motorsports’ second-best driver, Chase Elliott, being outside the top 10 in the standings.

“It’s all hands on deck for the 5 car,” Hamlin remarked, underscoring the collaborative efforts expected among manufacturers and teams as the playoff countdown proceeds. The Freeway Insurance 500 may thus prove critical as drivers and teams position themselves for the remaining events in the chase for the 2026 Cup Series title.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.