Phoenix 2026: 3 Drivers Who Could Dominate the Freeway Insurance 500 – and 1 Risky Pick

Farah Ben Gamra analyzes top contenders for the 2026 Freeway Insurance 500 at Phoenix Raceway, highlighting Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, and Denny Hamlin as likely frontrunners, while naming Chase Briscoe as a risky pick. The event marks the first time since 2019 that Phoenix's fall NASCAR Cup Series race will not serve as the championship decider, leaving four races remaining in the playoff hunt.

Blaney enters having won the past two Phoenix races, while Larson holds the standings lead alongside a track-best 10.0 average finish. Hamlin brings substantial experience with 23 career top-10 finishes at the oval. In contrast, despite winning consecutive races at Las Vegas and Charlotte, Briscoe is viewed by the writer as a risky selection due to an 18.4 average finish at Phoenix, including a 37th-place result in March 2026.