Blaney ends Reddick's streak to
give Team Penske a Phoenix weekend sweep
[March 09, 2026]
By JENNA FRYER
AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Ryan Blaney completed a Team Penske sweep at
Phoenix Raceway by winning the Cup Series race Sunday — a victory
that denied Tyler Reddick a fourth consecutive win to start the
NASCAR season.
Blaney was the race favorite after winning last November in the
season-finale on the mile oval but he had to overcome at least three
tire problems that cost him track position. He chased down Ty Gibbs
— the 49th car he passed Sunday — to take the lead with 10 laps
remaining and seal his 18th career victory.
“Just perseverance,” Blaney said. “We had a couple mistakes that we
learned from, got better, had to come from the back a couple times.
It’s cool to win, especially after a day like that. Can’t say enough
about the (team) for keeping their head down and doing what they
do.”
As he celebrated on the frontstretch, his parked Ford began to roll
away and Blaney had to chase after it to ensure it was in park.
The victory came during a weekend celebration of Team Penske's 60th
season of competition and during a “desert doubleheader” that
bundled IndyCar and NASCAR together at Phoenix. David Malukas won
the IndyCar pole for Roger Penske and then Josef Newgarden won
Saturday's race; Joey Logano won the pole for the Cup race and then
Blaney completed the sweep.
“Really proud of everybody at Team Penske,” Blaney said. “We swept
the weekend, Newgarden winning yesterday, us winning today. Can’t
wait to see Roger.”
The win was the first this season for Ford after Reddick — in a
Michael Jordan-owned Toyota for 23XI Racing — set a NASCAR record by
winning the first three races of the season.
Christopher Bell finished second in a Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing,
reigning Cup champion Kyle Larson was third in a Chevrolet for
Hendrick Motorsports and Gibbs dropped to fourth.
Denny Hamlin, who lost the championship last November at this track,
was fifth as JGR drivers took three of the top five positions. Bell
dominated the race the same way Hamlin did in November and, just
like Hamlin, lost because of the wrong pit strategy.
Hamlin in November took four tires on the final stop and was beat
for the championship by Larson, who took two tires. On Sunday,
Blaney took two tires while Bell and Hamlin each took four.
“You win some, you lose some,” said Bell, who led 176 of the 312
laps. “This one stings, but on the positive side, I’m really proud
of our entire team. It’s something to build on. It was a day that we
needed.”
Bubba Wallace was sixth for 23XI, William Byron was seventh for
Hendrick, and Reddick was eighth. Toyota drivers took six of the top
10 spots.
“It would have been nice to make it four,” Reddick said. “Scored the
fourth-most amount of points on the day... solid day. If we’re not
going to win, these are the kind of days we need to have.”
[to top of second column] |
Ryan Blaney (12) does a burnout after winning a NASCAR Cup Series
auto race at Phoenix Raceway, Sunday, March 8, 2026, in Avondale,
Ariz. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
The race was slowed by a record-tying 12 cautions, most caused by a
rash of tire failures.
Gibbs responds
Ty Gibbs has chosen not to comment on the federal lawsuit his
grandfather's race team filed against its former competition
director, even after court declarations from Chris Gabehart claimed
he left Joe Gibbs Racing in part because of the young driver.
Ty Gibbs said ahead of the race Sunday he'd let his performance on
track speak for him and then delivered with his second consecutive
fourth-place finish.
“Very happy with my team. All the guys, I’m with the right guys.
That makes a difference,” Gibbs said. “So we’re running good because
of that. It shows.”
Ty Gibbs is in his fourth full Cup season driving for his
grandfather. Ty Gibbs was successful in NASCAR’s second-level
series, where he won 12 races and the 2022 championship by winning
the finale at Phoenix. His father, Coy, was found dead in his
Phoenix hotel room the morning after the championship.
Ty Gibbs moved to the Cup Series in 2023 and is winless in 127
starts. The 23-year-old finished a career-best 15th in the 2024 Cup
standings.
Alfredo out early
Contact between Joey Logano and Ross Chastain caused a multi-car
crash with under 100 laps remaining that ruined Anthony Aldredo's
season debut.
Alfredo got the call this week from Hendrick Motorsports to drive
the No. 48 Chevrolet after Alex Bowman was ruled out with vertigo.
Alfredo has spent hundreds of hours over the past four years inside
a racing simulator doing test work for Hendrick and Sunday's start
was the best opportunity of his career.
Phoenix marked Alfredo’s first Cup start of the season — he
qualified for the Daytona 500 driving for tiny Beard Motorsports,
but his car was disqualified and kicked out of the field. Alfredo
has 43 career Cup starts for smaller teams. The crash caused him to
finish 33rd in his first race with NASCAR's winningest team.
Up next
The Cup Series races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday. Josh
Berry is the defending race winner and Denny Hamlin won last fall.
All contents © copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved
 |
