The 2026 Freeway Insurance 500 is an upcoming NASCAR Cup Series race that will be held on October 18, 2026, at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. Contested over 312 laps on the 1.000mi (1.609km) oval, it will be the 33rd race of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, and the seventh race of the NASCAR Chase.

Report

Background

Phoenix Raceway, the track where the race will be.

Phoenix Raceway is a 1-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona, near Phoenix. The motorsport track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually including the final championship race since 2020. Phoenix Raceway has also hosted the CART, IndyCar Series, USAC and the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The raceway is currently owned and operated by NASCAR.

Freeway Insurance was announced as the title sponsor.

Entry list

  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
  • (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
No.DriverTeamManufacturer
1Ross ChastainTrackhouse RacingChevrolet
2Austin CindricTeam PenskeFord
3Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
4Noah GragsonFront Row MotorsportsFord
5Kyle LarsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
6Brad KeselowskiRFK RacingFord
7Daniel SuárezSpire MotorsportsChevrolet
9Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
10Ty DillonKaulig RacingChevrolet
11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
12Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord
16A. J. AllmendingerKaulig RacingChevrolet
17Chris BuescherRFK RacingFord
19Chase BriscoeJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
20Christopher BellJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
21Josh BerryWood Brothers RacingFord
22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord
23Bubba Wallace23XI RacingToyota
24William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
33Austin Hill (i)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet
34Todd GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord
35Riley Herbst23XI RacingToyota
38Zane SmithFront Row MotorsportsFord
41Cole CusterHaas Factory TeamChevrolet
42John Hunter NemechekLegacy Motor ClubToyota
43Erik JonesLegacy Motor ClubToyota
45Tyler Reddick23XI RacingToyota
47Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Hyak MotorsportsChevrolet
48Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
51Cody WareRick Ware RacingChevrolet
54Ty GibbsJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
60Ryan PreeceRFK RacingFord
71Michael McDowellSpire MotorsportsChevrolet
77Carson HocevarSpire MotorsportsChevrolet
88Connor Zilisch (R)Trackhouse RacingChevrolet
97Shane van GisbergenTrackhouse RacingChevrolet
[ Official entry list]

Media

Television

USA Sports will cover the race on the television side. Leigh Diffey, Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte will call the race from the broadcast booth. Reporters TBA will handle the pit road duties from pit lane.

USA
Booth announcersPit reporters
Lap-by-lap: Leigh Diffey Color-commentator: Jeff Burton Color-commentator: Steve LetarteTBA

Radio

MRN will cover the radio action for the race which will also be simulcasted on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Alex Hayden, Mike Bagley, and former crew chief Todd Gordon will call the race when the field races past the start/finish line. Dan Hubbard will call the action from turns 1 & 2, and Tim Catafalmo will call the action from turns 3 & 4. Pit lane will be manned by Lead MRN Pit Reporter Steve Post, Chris Wilner, and Jacklyn Drake.

MRN
Booth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters
Lead announcer: Alex Hayden Announcer: Mike Bagley Announcer: Todd GordonTurns 1 & 2: Dan Hubbard Turns 3 & 4: Tim CatafalmoSteve Post Chris Wilner Jacklyn Drake
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