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AVONDALE, ARIZONA – NOVEMBER 09: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, looks on in his car during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway on November 09, 2024 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
Joey Logano’s strong start at Phoenix Raceway ended in frustration during the NASCAR Cup Series Straight Talk Wireless 500 on March 8, 2026. The Team Penske driver showed speed early in the race after starting from the pole and leading laps, but his afternoon unraveled through two separate incidents. The first came during a tense restart that triggered a multicar crash involving Ross Chastain and several other drivers.
Later in the race, Joey Logano’s own day ended in another wreck while racing three wide entering Turn 1. Despite the outcome, Logano said the team brought fast cars to begin the season and showed a competitive pace again at Phoenix.
Joey Logano Reflects on His Race-Ending Wreck
Joey Logano addressed reporters outside the infield care center after his race ended in a crash late in the event. The incident happened on Lap 254 as drivers battled for position entering Turn 1.
“I’m not really 100% sure what happened there. I guess I didn’t realize we were three-wide, but it still seemed like there was some room there. Just ran out of space into (Turn) 1. Just seemed like racing, I guess. It is what it is.”
Logano also explained that the team had executed many parts of the race well before the crash ended their day.
“We got points in both stages and were in desperate need of a race finish without a crash, and we did not get that today. It’s a shame because I felt like we did all the right things throughout the afternoon, so that’s racing. I’m not discouraged by any means. It’s a long season. My team has brought me four fast race cars to start the year.”
NASCAR Cup Restart Contact With Ross Chastain Triggers Crash
Earlier in the race, Logano was involved in another major incident during a restart with fewer than 100 laps remaining. Strategy played a role in how the field lined up. Some teams stayed out on older tires while others took fresh rubber.
Logano restarted seventh after taking four new tires. Ross Chastain lined up directly ahead of him in the No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet.
When the green flag waved around Lap 217, Logano gained momentum through the dogleg past the start-finish line. As he closed in on Chastain, the two cars made contact. The bump unsettled Chastain’s Chevrolet and caused it to fishtail before spinning up the track.
The spin collected several other drivers. Anthony Alfredo, who was driving the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in place of Alex Bowman, was also caught up in the crash. Austin Cindric slammed the No. 2 Team Penske Ford into the outside wall during the crash. Bubba Wallace’s No. 23 Toyota also suffered heavy left side damage.
The incident added to a caution-heavy race that tied Phoenix Raceway’s record for yellow flags.
Ryan Blaney Wins Chaotic Phoenix Race
While Logano’s race ended early, the event finished with a comeback victory by his Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney. Blaney faced problems earlier in the race, including loose wheels and penalties that dropped him deep in the field.
He recovered during the second half of the race and worked through traffic. In the closing laps, he passed Ty Gibbs to take the lead and held the position to win.
The victory marked Blaney’s first win of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season and the 18th of his career.
Dogli Wilberforce is a sports writer who covers NASCAR, Formula 1 and IndyCar Series for Heavy Sports. With bylines at Total Apex Sports and Last Word on Sports, Wilberforce has built a reputation for delivering timely, engaging coverage that blends sharp analysis with accessible storytelling. Wilberforce has covered everything from major football transfers to fight-night drama, bringing readers the insight and context behind the headlines. More about Dogli Wilberforce
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