The NASCAR Cup Series heads west for the final time this season.
The Freeway Insurance 500 on Oct. 18 at Phoenix Raceway is race No. 7 of 10 in the Chase.
Kyle Larson has a 49-point lead over Denny Hamlin with four races to go, with Hamlin's Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Christopher Bell and Chase Briscoe behind them.
Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano are among a group of a few drivers that are still within range in the points standings but need a win or two over the final four races. Blaney starts on the pole, with Logano in second.
Blaney has also won the last two Cup races at Phoenix, including in the spring earlier this year.
Follow along with the Tennessean's NASCAR race updates below:
PHOENIX RACE PICKS: NASCAR Phoenix predictions 2026, expert picks for Cup Series race
NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix live updates, highlights, live leaderboard for the Freeway Insurance 500
LIVE LEADERBOARD: Full field leaderboard of NASCAR Cup Series Freeway Insurance 500
Ryan Blaney on the pole; full NASCAR Cup Series Phoenix starting lineup
The top 10:
- Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford
- Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford
- Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
- Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
- Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
- Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota
- Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
- Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
- Josh Berry, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford
- William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Find the full starting lineup here.
NASCAR race radio coverage: How to listen to NASCAR Cup race at Phoenix
The Freeway Insurance 500 will be aired on the radio by the Motor Racing Network. MRN has affiliates all across the country, including 102.5-FM in Nashville, and their feed can also be streamed on NASCAR.com as well as the NASCAR app. The race can also be heard on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.
NASCAR Phoenix TV schedule, start time
- Green Flag Time: Approx. 2:05 p.m. CT on Sunday, Oct. 18
- Track: Phoenix Raceway (1-mile oval) in Avondale, Arizona
- Length: 312 laps, 312 miles
- Stages: 60 laps, 125 laps, 127 laps
- TV coverage: USA Network
- Radio: MRN (102.5-FM The Game in Nashville)
- Streaming: HBO MAX app for in-car cameras (subscription required); NASCAR.com and SiriusXM on Channel 90 for audio (subscription required)
The Freeway Insurance 500 will be broadcast nationally on USA Network. Other streaming options for the race include HBO MAX for in-car cameras for each driver.
Watch Sunday's NASCAR race live with Sling
Recent NASCAR Cup Series Phoenix winners
- 2026 spring: Ryan Blaney
- 2025 championship race: Ryan Blaney
- 2025 spring: Christopher Bell
- 2024 championship race: Joey Logano
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NASCAR Cup Series Phoenix race live updates, highlights, leaderboard for Freeway Insurance 500
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