Here we go again, amigos. After tearing up the asphalt at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the NASCAR Cup Series packs its bags and heads westward for a desert showdown at Phoenix Raceway this Sunday. The action kicks off at 3 p.m. ET, with coverage available on USA Network, HBO Max, MRN Radio, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
This desert battle marks the seventh round out of 10 in the Chase presented by Mobil 1 for the 2026 campaign, serving as the 33rd points-paying race overall. Listen, there is a strange shift in the air for this one: the 2026 Phoenix fall race holds the distinction of being the first time since 2019 that this 1-mile track will not host the grand season finale. But make no mistake, the stakes are still fiercely high, and Ryan Blaney rolls in as the defending fall winner.
Now, let us talk about the battle shaping up on the grid. Chase Briscoe arrives with some serious momentum after securing back-to-back Chase victories. The No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing pilot finds himself sitting 65 points behind the Chase leader, Kyle Larson. Briscoe is no stranger to the desert magic either, having claimed his very first career Cup win right here at Phoenix in the spring of 2022.
When the garage doors open, thirty-seven cars will be entered into this weekend's event, setting up a packed and tense field for the desert afternoon. It is time to see who can tame the 1-mile oval and keep their championship hopes alive.
