Ryan Blaney Completes Team Penske Sweep at Phoenix, Ends Reddick’s Historic Streak

AVONDALE, Ariz. – Ryan Blaney secured his first NASCAR Cup Series victory of the 2026 season at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday, completing a dominant weekend for Team Penske and halting Tyler Reddick’s impressive streak of three consecutive wins to start the year. ESPN and Phoenix Raceway reported on the exciting finish.

Blaney Overcomes Early Challenges

Despite being the race favorite after winning the November 2025 season finale at Phoenix, Blaney faced multiple setbacks early in the race, including at least three tire problems that cost him track position. He demonstrated resilience, battling back through the field and ultimately passing Ty Gibbs with just 10 laps remaining to take the lead and claim 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.”

Penske Dominates Desert Doubleheader

The victory capped off a perfect weekend for Team Penske at Phoenix, which also included a win in the IndyCar race on Saturday. Josef Newgarden won the IndyCar race following a pole win by David Malukas. Joey Logano secured the pole for the Cup Series race, setting the stage for Blaney’s triumph. “Really proud of everybody at Team Penske,” Blaney added. “We swept the weekend, Newgarden winning yesterday, us winning today. Can’t wait to see Roger [Penske].”

Reddick’s Streak Ends, Remains Championship Leader

While Reddick’s bid for a record-breaking fourth consecutive win was denied, he still maintains the championship lead, 60 points ahead of Blaney. Bubba Wallace sits in third place in the standings. Despite the loss, 23XI Racing showcased its strength with both Reddick and Wallace finishing in the top ten, securing eighth and sixth place respectively.

Other Notable Performances

Christopher Bell finished second in a Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, while reigning Cup champion Kyle Larson secured third place in a Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. Ty Gibbs finished fourth. Denny Hamlin rounded out the top five. Shane van Gisbergen, despite spinning twice, achieved an 11th-place finish and remains fifth in the championship standings.

Challenges for Other Drivers

Joey Logano experienced a difficult race, involved in two major wrecks and finishing 31st. Daniel Suarez, who qualified fourth and led in practice, also faced misfortune, getting caught in a late-race crash. Chase Briscoe continues to struggle early in the season, sitting 33rd in the championship standings. Connor Zilisch, the rookie of the year contender, faced further challenges with tire failures and a blown rotor, currently holding 34th position.

Goodyear and Tire Strategy

The race saw a total of 12 cautions, matching a record for the series at Phoenix. Despite concerns following tire issues in the November 2025 championship race, Goodyear allowed teams to make their own tire pressure decisions, promoting tire wear and passing opportunities. Motorsport.com highlighted Goodyear’s decision not to overreact to previous issues.