{{Short description|NASCAR Cup Series race}} {{Infobox NASCAR race report | Type = NASCS | Race_No = 33 | Season_No = 36 | Year = 2026 | Race Name = Freeway Insurance 500 | Details ref =<ref>{{cite web |title=2026 schedule |url=https://www.jayski.com/nascar-cup-series/2026-nascar-cup-series-schedule/|website=Jayski.com|publisher=Jayski's Silly Season Site |accessdate=October 25, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Phoenix Raceway|url=https://www.jayski.com/nascar-tracks-news/phoenix-raceway/|website=Jayski.com|publisher=Jayski's Silly Season Site|access-date=March 3, 2024|date=March 3, 2024}}</ref><ref name="2026schedule">{{cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2025/08/20/nascar-releases-2026-schedule-adding-chicagoland-and-shifting-all-star-to-dover |title=NASCAR releases 2026 schedule, adding Chicagoland and shifting All-Star to Dover |website=NASCAR |date=August 20, 2025 |access-date=August 20, 2025 }}</ref><!---<ref>{{cite web|title=Entry List|url=|website=Jayski.com|publisher=Jayski's Silly Season Site|access-date=October 12, 2026|date=October 12, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Freeway Insurance 500 Results|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/2026_Freeway_Insurance_500/W/|publisher=Racing-Reference|access-date=October 18, 2026|date=October 18, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Points standings|url=|website=Jayski.com|publisher=Jayski's Silly Season Site|access-date=October 18, 2026|date=October 18, 2026}}</ref>---> | Fulldate = {{Start date|2025|10|18}} | Image = File:Phoenix Raceway 2024.svg | Caption = | Location = Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona | Course_mi = 1.000 | Course_km = 1.609 | Distance_laps = 312 | Distance_mi = 312 | Distance_km = 502.115 | Weather = | Avg = | Pole_Driver = | Pole_Team = | Pole_Time = | Most_Driver = | Most_Team = | Most_laps = | Fast_Driver = | Fast_Team = | Fast_Time = | Car = | First_Driver = | First_Team = | Network = USA | Announcers = Leigh Diffey, Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte | Ratings = | Radio = MRN | Booth_Ann = Alex Hayden, Mike Bagley, and Todd Gordon | Turn_Ann = Dan Hubbard (1 & 2) and Tim Catafalmo (3 & 4) }}
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 {{cvt|1.000|mi|km|abbr=on}} oval, it will be the 33rd race of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, and the seventh race of the NASCAR Chase. <!-- Fill this out once the race is complete and remove this message. --> <!-- [[]] won the race. [[]] finished 2nd, and [[]] finished 3rd. [[]] and [[]] rounded out the top five, and [[]], [[]], [[]], [[]], and [[]] rounded out the top ten. -->
==Report==
===Background=== [[File:Phoenix Raceway 2025.jpg|thumb|left|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.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://tobychristie.com/nascar/cup-series/freeway-insurance-named-premier-partner-of-nascar/ |title=Freeway Insurance Named Premier Partner of NASCAR |website=TobyChristie.com |last=Srigley |first=Joseph |date=October 31, 2025 |access-date=October 31, 2025}}</ref> {{clear}} ====Entry list==== * '''(R)''' denotes rookie driver. * '''(i)''' denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points. <!-- * '''(CC)''' denotes chase contender. -->
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" |- ! {{Tooltip|No.|Car number}} ! Driver ! Team ! Manufacturer |- | 1 || Ross Chastain || Trackhouse Racing || Chevrolet |- | 2 || Austin Cindric || Team Penske || Ford |- | 3 || Austin Dillon || Richard Childress Racing || Chevrolet |- | 4 || Noah Gragson || Front Row Motorsports || Ford |- | 5 || Kyle Larson || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet |- | 6 || Brad Keselowski || RFK Racing || Ford |- | 7 || Daniel Suárez || Spire Motorsports || Chevrolet |- | 9 || Chase Elliott || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet |- | 10 || Ty Dillon || Kaulig Racing || Chevrolet |- | 11 || Denny Hamlin || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota |- | 12 || Ryan Blaney || Team Penske || Ford |- | 16 || A. J. Allmendinger || Kaulig Racing || Chevrolet |- | 17 || Chris Buescher || RFK Racing || Ford |- | 19 || Chase Briscoe || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota |- | 20 || Christopher Bell || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota |- | 21 || Josh Berry || Wood Brothers Racing || Ford |- | 22 || Joey Logano || Team Penske || Ford |- | 23 || Bubba Wallace || 23XI Racing || Toyota |- | 24 || William Byron || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet |- | 33 || TBA || Richard Childress Racing || Chevrolet |- | 34 || Todd Gilliland || Front Row Motorsports || Ford |- | 35 || Riley Herbst || 23XI Racing || Toyota |- | 38 || Zane Smith || Front Row Motorsports || Ford |- | 41 || Cole Custer || Haas Factory Team || Chevrolet |- | 42 || John Hunter Nemechek || Legacy Motor Club || Toyota |- | 43 || Erik Jones || Legacy Motor Club || Toyota |- | 45 || Tyler Reddick || 23XI Racing || Toyota |- | 47 || Ricky Stenhouse Jr. || Hyak Motorsports || Chevrolet |- | 48 || Alex Bowman || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet |- | 51 || Cody Ware || Rick Ware Racing || Chevrolet |- | 54 || Ty Gibbs || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota |- | 60 || Ryan Preece || RFK Racing || Ford |- | 71 || Michael McDowell || Spire Motorsports || Chevrolet |- | 77 || Carson Hocevar || Spire Motorsports || Chevrolet |- | 88 || Connor Zilisch '''(R)''' || Trackhouse Racing || Chevrolet |- | 97 || Shane van Gisbergen || Trackhouse Racing || Chevrolet |- !colspan="4"|[ Official entry list] |} <!--- ==Qualifying== [[]] scored the pole for the race with a time of and a speed of {{Convert||mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|last=DeGroot|first=Nick|title=|url=|website=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|access-date=October 17, 2026|location=[[Avondale, Arizona]|date=October 17, 2026}}</ref>
===Qualifying results=== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" |- ! Pos ! {{Tooltip|No.|Car number}} ! Driver ! Team ! Manufacturer ! Time ! {{Tooltip|Speed|MPH}} |- ! 1 | || || || || || |- ! 2 | || || || || || |- ! 3 | || || || || || |- ! 4 | || || || || || |- ! 5 | || || || || || |- ! 6 | || || || || || |- ! 7 | || || || || || |- ! 8 | || || || || || |- ! 9 | || || || || || |- ! 10 | || || || || || |- ! 11 | || || || || || |- ! 12 | || || || || || |- ! 13 | || || || || || |- ! 14 | || || || || || |- ! 15 | || || || || || |- ! 16 | || || || || || |- ! 17 | || || || || || |- ! 18 | || || || || || |- ! 19 | || || || || || |- ! 20 | || || || || || |- ! 21 | || || || || || |- ! 22 | || || || || || |- ! 23 | || || || || || |- ! 24 | || || || || || |- ! 25 | || || || || || |- ! 26 | || || || || || |- ! 27 | || || || || || |- ! 28 | || || || || || |- ! 29 | || || || || || |- ! 30 | || || || || || |- ! 31 | || || || || || |- ! 32 | || || || || || |- ! 33 | || || || || || |- ! 34 | || || || || || |- ! 35 | || || || || || |- ! 36 | || || || || || |- ! 37 | || || || || || |- ! 38 | || || || || || |- ! colspan="7"|[ Official qualifying results] |}
==Race==
===Race results===
====Stage Results====
'''Stage One''' ''Laps:'' 60
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:98% |- ! Pos ! {{Tooltip|No|Car Number}} ! Driver ! Team ! Manufacturer ! Points |- |1 || || || || || 10 |- |2 || || || || || 9 |- |3 || || || || || 8 |- |4 || || || || || 7 |- |5 || || || || || 6 |- |6 || || || || || 5 |- |7 || || || || || 4 |- |8 || || || || || 3 |- |9 || || || || || 2 |- |10 || || || || || 1 |- !colspan="6"|[ Official stage one results] |}
'''Stage Two''' ''Laps:'' 100
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:98% |- ! Pos ! {{Tooltip|No|Car Number}} ! Driver ! Team ! Manufacturer ! Points |- |1 || || || || || 10 |- |2 || || || || || 9 |- |3 || || || || || 8 |- |4 || || || || || 7 |- |5 || || || || || 6 |- |6 || || || || || 5 |- |7 || || || || || 4 |- |8 || || || || || 3 |- |9 || || || || || 2 |- |10 || || || || || 1 |- !colspan="6"|[ Official stage two results] |}
===Final Stage Results===
'''Stage Three''' ''Laps:'' 100
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:98% |- ! Pos ! Grid ! {{Tooltip|No|Car Number}} ! Driver ! Team ! Manufacturer ! Laps ! Points |- |1 || || || || || || || |- |2 || || || || || || || |- |3 || || || || || || || |- |4 || || || || || || || |- |5 || || || || || || || |- |6 || || || || || || || |- |7 || || || || || || || |- |8 || || || || || || || |- |9 || || || || || || || |- |10 || || || || || || || |- |11 || || || || || || || |- |12 || || || || || || || |- |13 || || || || || || || |- |14 || || || || || || || |- |15 || || || || || || || |- |16 || || || || || || || |- |17 || || || || || || || |- |18 || || || || || || || |- |19 || || || || || || || |- |20 || || || || || || || |- |21 || || || || || || || |- |22 || || || || || || || |- |23 || || || || || || || |- |24 || || || || || || || |- |25 || || || || || || || |- |26 || || || || || || || |- |27 || || || || || || || |- |28 || || || || || || || |- |29 || || || || || || || |- |30 || || || || || || || |- |31 || || || || || || || |- |32 || || || || || || || |- |33 || || || || || || || |- |34 || || || || || || || |- |35 || || || || || || || |- |36 || || || || || || || |- |37 || || || || || || || |- !colspan="8"|[ Official race results] |}
===Race statistics=== * Lead changes: among different drivers * Cautions/Laps: * Red flags: * Time of race: hours, minutes and seconds * Average speed: {{convert||mph|km/h}} --->
==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.
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%" |- !colspan="2"|USA |- !Booth announcers!!Pit reporters |- | '''Lap-by-lap:''' Leigh Diffey<br />'''Color-commentator:''' Jeff Burton<br />'''Color-commentator:''' Steve Letarte || TBA |}
===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.
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%" |- !colspan="3"|MRN |- !Booth announcers!!Turn announcers!!Pit reporters |- | '''Lead announcer:''' Alex Hayden<br />'''Announcer:''' Mike Bagley<br />'''Announcer:''' Todd Gordon || '''Turns 1 & 2:''' Dan Hubbard<br />'''Turns 3 & 4:''' Tim Catafalmo || Steve Post<br />Chris Wilner<br />Jacklyn Drake |} <!--- ==Standings after the race== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} ;Drivers' Championship standings {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" |- ! ! Pos ! Driver ! Points |- |align="left"| | style="text-align:center;"| 1 | | style="text-align:center;"| |- |align="left"| | style="text-align:center;"| 2 | | style="text-align:center;"| |- |align="left"| | style="text-align:center;"| 3 | | style="text-align:center;"| |- |align="left"| | style="text-align:center;"| 4 | | style="text-align:center;"| |- |align="left"| | style="text-align:center;"| 5 | | style="text-align:center;"| |- |align="left"| | style="text-align:center;"| 6 | | style="text-align:center;"| |- |align="left"| | style="text-align:center;"| 7 | | style="text-align:center;"| |- |align="left"| | style="text-align:center;"| 8 | | style="text-align:center;"| |- |align="left"| | style="text-align:center;"| 9 | | style="text-align:center;"| |- |align="left"| | style="text-align:center;"| 10 | | style="text-align:center;"| |- |align="left"| | style="text-align:center;"| 11 | | style="text-align:center;"| |- |align="left"| | style="text-align:center;"| 12 | | style="text-align:center;"| |- |align="left"| | style="text-align:center;"| 13 | | style="text-align:center;"| |- |align="left"| | style="text-align:center;"| 14 | | style="text-align:center;"| |- |align="left"| | style="text-align:center;"| 15 | | style="text-align:center;"| |- |align="left"| | style="text-align:center;"| 16 | | style="text-align:center;"| |- class="sortbottom" !colspan="9"|[ Official driver's standings] |} {{col-2}}
;Manufacturers' Championship standings {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" |- ! ! Pos ! Manufacturer ! Points |- |align="left"| | style="text-align:center;"| 1 | | style="text-align:center;"| |- |align="left"| | style="text-align:center;"| 2 | | style="text-align:center;"| |- |align="left"| | style="text-align:center;"| 3 | | style="text-align:center;"| |- class="sortbottom" |}
*<small>'''Note''': Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings.</small> {{col-end}} --->
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
{{NASCAR next race | Series = NASCAR Cup Series | Monsteryear = 2026 | Previous_race = 2026 Bank of America 400 | Next_race = 2026 YellaWood 500 }}
{{2026 NASCAR Cup}}
Freeway Insurance 500 Freeway Insurance 500 Category:NASCAR races at Phoenix Raceway Freeway Insurance 500