PHOENIX -- This is the fourth race of the 2026 season. Let's hope we get a winner picker this week. We'll get three if Ryan Blaney pulls off the win, as he appears to be the favorite.
Should be fun to watch
Standings are based on the number of wins with points breaking any ties. The top three advance to our Chase Segment.
Phoenix Predictions
- Craig Simundza - 0 wins, 110 points - Kyle Larson - He clinched the '21 and '25 crowns here and has consistently finished in the top 5. He is skilled at late race re-starts.
- Jim Rezendes - 0 wins, 88 points - Ryan Blaney - Strong at short tracks with Next Gen car. Has the best 4-year average finish of 5.8 at Phoenix. Currently 4th in points.
- Pete Zaagman - 0 wins, 73 points - Ryan Blaney - Ranked the best driver of the Next Gen era at this track, he won the 2025 Fall Race with a last lap pass.
- Larry Palermini - 0 wins, 53 points - William Byron - He has averaged four Cup wins in the last three consecutive years. With a crash free run this veteran can do it.
- Bob Woodsford - 0 wins, 39 points - Kyle Busch - He has had five top five finishes at Phoenix. His last win was in 2019 with Joe Gibbs Racing.
- Bob Patterson - 0 wins, 22 points - Ryan Blaney - He won a championship here in 2023 and finished in the top 5 seven out of the last eight races.
Click on the PREDICTION ROW tab at the top of this page so you can keep up with the competition from race to race. Check the notes at the bottom for an explanation of scoring.