Just three races into the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season and the performances by the drivers and teams are a testament to the sustained close competition the fans have come to know and love about NASCAR. The Next Gen car is proving to bring the closest, most thrilling side-by-side racing in the world, and the numbers back it up.
- The 2024 season has produced an average Margin of Victory of 0.222-second through the first three races of the season; the fourth-closest average Margin of Victory through the first three Cup races of a season since the advent of electronic scoring in 1993; just behind the series record of 0.136-second set in 2022.
- At Atlanta Motor Speedway, fans witnessed the third-closest finish in NASCAR Cup Series history when Daniel Suárez captured his second NASCAR Cup Series victory, narrowly beating reigning champion Ryan Blaney to the finish line by .003 seconds. The historic three-wide photo finish included Suárez, Blaney and two-time series champion Kyle Busch, who finished .007 seconds behind Suárez – marking the closest final margin between first and third in NASCAR Cup Series history.
- The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season has produced 407 Green Flag Passes for the Lead – the most through the first three races of the year since the inception of the stat in 2005, surpassing the previous record of 302 Green Flag Passes for the Lead through the first three races set in 2022.
- This season the NASCAR Cup Series has produced 28 different lap leaders in the first three races of the year – the second-largest number of lap leaders through the first three races of a season in the Modern Era (1972-2024); behind only the 2011 season with 32 leaders.
- The NASCAR Cup Series is averaging 37.7 lead changes per race through the first three races of the 2024 season, the second-most in the Modern Era (1972-2024); behind only the 2011 season with 41.0 lead changes.
- The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season has produced 23,027 Total Green Flag Passes – the most through the first three races of the year since the inception of the stat in 2005, surpassing the previous record of 21,245 Green Flag Passes through the first three races set last season.
- The NASCAR Cup Series has produced three different point standings leaders in the first three races of the season for the first time since 2017.
- This is the 37th time in the Modern Era (1972-2024) the NASCAR Cup Series has opened the season with three different winners at the first three tracks on the schedule.
NASCAR Cup Series
Next Race: Shriners Children’s 500
The Place: Phoenix Raceway
The Date: Sunday, March 10
The Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
The Purse: $7,806,252
TV: FOX, 2:30 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 312 miles (312 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 60),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 185), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 312)
Kyle Larson adds his name to the Playoffs with Vegas victory
Hendrick Motorsports displayed their 1.5-mile package prowess by dominating the NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with Kyle Larson leading 181 of the 267 laps and becoming the third different driver to secure a spot in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. Larson joins his Hendrick Motorsports teammate and DAYTONA 500 winner William Byron and Atlanta Motor Speedway winner Trackhouse Racing’s Daniel Suárez. The Las Vegas win also jumped Larson to the point standings lead, up eight points on Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney, the 2023 Cup Series Champion.
Larson will look to keep the momentum going this weekend at Phoenix Raceway, the track that will play host to the Championship Race later this season. In 19 career Cup starts at Phoenix, Larson has put up two poles, one win (2021), eight top-five and 12 top-10 finishes. His average finish at the 1-mile track in Arizona is 11.263 – fourth-best among active drivers this weekend.
Legacy Motor Club off to fast start, both teams in series points top 16
Through three races of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season, Legacy Motor Club drivers Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek have been putting up some solid performances and as a result both are ranked inside the top 16 in the NASCAR Cup Series driver points standings heading into Phoenix this weekend.
Anchoring both driver’s early on success is their season-opening top-10 finishes at Daytona, with Nemechek finishing seventh and in his rearview mirror was Jones in eighth.
Looking ahead to Phoenix, both Legacy Motor Club drivers will be looking to build on their early season momentum. Jones has made 15 series starts at Phoenix Raceway posting one top-five and four top-10 finishes. His average finish at the 1-mile track is a 17.7. Nemechek has made three series starts at Phoenix, accumulating an average finish of 26.0.
Laying Down A Lap: Starting up front has its perks at Phoenix
Qualifying each week is important, and this week is no different, especially if you qualify for the first or third positions. A total of 23 different starting positions have produced wins, but the first and third starting positions are the two most proficient starting positions at Phoenix Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series, producing more winners (eight wins each) than any other positions on the starting grid (14.55% winning percentage) – including this race last season, when the winner William Byron started from third.
Veteran driver Ryan Newman (2002, 2003, 2004, 2008) and Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch (2006, 2012, 2016, 2019) lead the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Phoenix Raceway with four each. In total, 27 different drivers have won the Cup Series pole at Phoenix. Eleven of the 27 Phoenix Raceway pole winners are active this weekend.
| Active Phoenix Pole Winners | Poles | Seasons |
| Kyle Busch | 4 | 2019. 2016, 2012, 2006 |
| Ryan Blaney | 3 | 2022, 2019, 2017 |
| Kyle Larson | 2 | 2023, 2021 |
| Joey Logano | 2 | 2022, 2017 |
| Martin Truex Jr | 2 | 2018, 2009 |
| Denny Hamlin | 2 | 2014, 2005 |
| William Byron | 1 | 2023 |
| Chase Elliott | 1 | 2020 |
| Alex Bowman | 1 | 2016 |
| Brad Keselowski | 1 | 2014 |
| AJ Allmendinger | 1 | 2010 |
Kings of the competition in the desert
Phoenix Raceway has hosted 55 NASCAR Cup Series races prior to this weekend producing 27 different pole winners and 30 different race winners.
The recently retired Kevin Harvick leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Phoenix Raceway with nine victories. Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch (2005, 2018, 2019) and Team Penske’s Joey Logano (2016, 2020, 2022) lead all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Phoenix Raceway with three each.
Nine of the 30 NASCAR Cup Series Phoenix Raceway winners are active this weekend:
| Active Phoenix Winners | Wins | Seasons |
| Kyle Busch | 3 | 2019, 2018, 2005 |
| Joey Logano | 3 | 2022, 2020, 2016 |
| Denny Hamlin | 2 | 2019, 2012 |
| Ross Chastain | 1 | 2023 |
| William Byron | 1 | 2023 |
| Chase Briscoe | 1 | 2022 |
| Kyle Larson | 1 | 2021 |
| Martin Truex Jr | 1 | 2021 |
| Chase Elliott | 1 | 2020 |
Chastain looks to become the seventh driver to win consecutive races at Phoenix
Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain is the most recent winner at Phoenix Raceway, grabbing his first career win (2023 Championship Race) at the 1-mile track back in November. Now, the Watermelon famer turned driver returns to the desert to defend his win and become the seventh different driver to win consecutive NASCAR Cup Series races at Phoenix Raceway.
If Chastain accomplishes the feat, he will join Davey Allison (1991, 1992), Jeff Burton (200, 2001), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2003, 2004), Kevin Harvick (2006 sweep, then four straight from the 2013 Playoff race to the 2014 sweep to the 2015 spring race), Jimmie Johnson (Fall of 2007 and 2008 sweep) and Kyle Busch (2018, 2019).
NASCAR’s new package for short tracks and road courses to debut in Phoenix
Collaborating with drivers and teams over the offseason, NASCAR has announced the following changes to the Next Gen car short track and road course package – starting in 2024 the NASCAR Cup Series cars will run a simplified diffuser at a majority of tracks measuring one-mile or shorter, as well as all road courses. (Note: Bristol and Dover excluded.) The simplified diffuser was not used at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
The details of the components updated:
- 2023 short track/road course splitter stuffers
- No engine panel strakes
- 3-inch spoiler
- Simplified Diffuser
- Simplified Diffuser Strakes
Eric Jacuzzi, NASCAR Vice President, Vehicle Performance: “At the test (at Phoenix during the offseason), we noticed an improvement in traffic. The car did not lose rear downforce when it yawed, which is an issue we fight with the current car. The drivers would be able to slide around more on the short tracks and really have to be less careful about putting power down. We felt that would be a benefit, and that was the big takeaway from the driver feedback. At the test, they felt they could really tell that it was more forgiving. They felt they could slide the car.”
NASCAR has also announced drivers will have additional track time to adjust to these new components, making Phoenix Raceway an ‘extended practice’ weekend. A 50-minute practice has been added, scheduled for Friday from 3:05 p.m. to 3:55 p.m. local time and can be viewed on FS1 from 5 – 6 p.m. ET.
Busch Light Pole Qualifying will be held on Saturday, March 9 at 2 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Spinning The Tires: Former champs Logano and Keselowski needing to rebound at Phoenix
Two former NASCAR Cup Series Champions, Team Penske’s Joey Logano (24th in points) and RFK Racing’s Brad Keselowski (28th in points) find themselves buried in the point standings after the first three races of the 2024 season. Now, the former champs head back to Phoenix Raceway, a track both have run-well at previously, looking to rebound and right their seasons.
Joey Logano has made 30 career Cup starts at Phoenix collecting three wins, eight top fives and 16 top 10s.
Brad Keselowski has made 29 Cup starts at Phoenix putting up eight top fives and 13 top 10s.
Breaking through under the sun in Phoenix
When it comes to first-time winners in the NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix Raceway, only three of the 30 different series winners earned their first career Cup Series win at 1-mile track.
The first driver and probably the most famous to accomplish the feat of earning his first career win at Phoenix Raceway was NASCAR Hall of Famer Alan Kulwicki in 1988. Not only was accomplishment huge for himself and his organization AK Racing but it was also the first time Kulwicki introduced his famous ‘Polish Victory Lap’ where he would drive the track clockwise (or backwards), so that he could wave to the fans in his victory lap.
Bobby Hamilton’s first career Cup win at Phoenix Raceway, came while driving for the famous Petty Enterprises in 1996. It was one of the last few wins Petty Enterprises would produce. Hamilton would win once more for the Pettys in 1997 at Rockingham and then John Andretti would bring home the organization’s final win at Martinsville Speedway in 1999. Petty Enterprises reached 268 wins in total in the series – second-most all-time.
The third and final first-time Cup winner at Phoenix, was Stewart-Haas’s Chase Briscoe in 2022. It was Briscoe first and only win to this day. Briscoe has made six starts at Phoenix posting one win, two top fives and three top 10s.
NASCAR Cup Series, Etc.
Sunoco Rookie Class Update: Hocevar takes rookie standings lead – Spire Motorsport’s Carson Hocevar has leaped to the NASCAR Cup Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings lead for the first time this season. Heading into Phoenix Raceway this weekend, Hocevar has an 11 point lead over second place Josh Berry, 16 points up on third place Zane Smith and 18 points up on fourth place Kaz Grala.
Bowman, McDowell are heading back home – The NASCAR fans from Arizona will have two drivers from their home state to root for this weekend at Phoenix Raceway in the Shriners Children’s 500 (March 10 at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
A total of 34 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Arizona. Of the 34 Arizona drivers, only two drivers have won a NASCAR national series race – Alex Bowman (eight wins) and Michael McDowell (two wins). Most notably, McDowell won the 2021 DAYTONA 500.
| Arizona NASCAR Winners | Cup | Xfinity | Truck | Combined |
| Alex Bowman | 7 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| Michael McDowell | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Totals | 9 | 2 | 0 | 11 |
Bowman has made 17 series starts at Phoenix collecting two top-10 finishes.
McDowell has made 26 series starts at Phoenix without a win, the second most starts at by an active driver without a win at Phoenix behind Brad Keselowski at 29. McDowell’s best finish at his home track is ninth in the race last November (2023).
Chevrolet off to a fast start winning first three races of 2024 – The first three races of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season has seen only one manufacturer in Victory Lane – Chevrolet.
In the Modern Era (1972-2023), a manufacturer has only swept a season’s first three races six times and Chevrolet drivers are responsible for five of them – Chevrolet (1995, 2001, 2010, 2023, 2024) and Ford (1992).
This season, William Byron won the DAYTONA 500, Daniel Suarez won Atlanta Motor Speedway and Kyle Larson won last weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
A manufacturer has only swept the first four races of a NASCAR Cup Series season in the Modern Era three times – Chevrolet (1995, 2001) and Ford (1992).
The record for the most consecutive wins by a manufacturer to start at NASCAR Cup Series season in the Modern Era is nine straight victories by Ford during the 1992 season.
The most consecutive victories to start a Cup Series season by Chevrolet was seven straight wins in the 1995 season – second-most in the Modern Era.
Upcoming Cup Series Milestones: Phoenix Raceway – Below are a list of the upcoming milestones to watch for in the NASCAR Cup Series:
Starts
- Joey Logano will be making his 400th NASCAR Cup Series start with Team Penske this weekend at Phoenix.
- Tyler Reddick will be making his 150th NASCAR Cup Series career start at Phoenix Raceway this weekend.
- Bubba Wallace will be making his 225th NASCAR Cup Series career start at Circuit of The Americas in a few weeks.
- Christopher Bell will be making his 150th NASCAR Cup Series career start at Circuit of The Americas in a few weeks.
- Joey Logano is expected to make his 550th NASCAR Cup Series career start at Richmond Raceway. He will become the 39th different driver to reach 550 or more Cup Series starts.
- Chris Buescher is expected to make his 300th NASCAR Cup Series career start at Richmond Raceway.
Wins
- If Jimmie Johnson wins this season, he will tie NASCAR Hall of Famers Darrell Waltrip and Bobby Allison for fourth on the NASCAR Cup Series all-time wins list. Currently Johnson is tied with Cale Yarborough in sixth.
- If Kyle Busch wins seven races this season, he will reach 70 career wins and become the eighth different driver to accomplish the feat of 70 or more wins in the series.
- If Denny Hamlin wins three races this season, he will tie NASCAR Hall of Famer Lee Petty for 12th on all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins list with 54 wins.
- If Brad Keselowski wins two races this season, he will tie Bobby Isaac for 23rd on the all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins list with 37 wins.
- If Martin Truex Jr. wins a race this season, he will tie Brad Keselowski for 24th on the all-time Cup Series wins list with 35 wins.
- If Kyle Larson wins another race this season, he will reach 25 career wins, becoming the 36th different driver all-time in the NASCAR Cup Series to reach 25 victories.
- If the Wood Brothers Racing organization wins this season, it will their 100th NASCAR Cup Series victory, they currently have 99 wins in the series.
Laps Led
Three NASCAR Cup Series drivers can reach milestones in laps led this weekend:
| Lap Leaders | Laps Led | Next Milestone | Laps Led Needed |
| Erik Jones | 827 | 1,000 | 173 |
| Kyle Larson | 7,761 | 8,000 | 239 |
| Ryan Blaney | 3,746 | 4,000 | 254 |
Viva La Fiesta set for Phoenix Raceway Midway During March 8-10 NASCAR Weekend – Phoenix Raceway announced that Viva La Fiesta will be its newest attraction in the Phoenix Raceway Midway located near Gate 5. The Hispanic-themed exhibition will be on full display throughout the Shriners Children’s 500 NASCAR Weekend, March 8-10, and is FREE to all ticket holders.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to introduce Viva La Fiesta to all of our fans this spring,” said Phoenix Raceway President Latasha Causey. “This addition to our midway brings a whole new element of fun to Phoenix Raceway, and we hope everyone enjoys it as much as we do.”
Through a partnership with Mexican beer brand Estrella Jalisco, fans can experience a variety of fun activities and displays throughout the weekend. The main stage will feature musical and dance performances from acts such as DJ J Medina, Mariachi Alas de Arizona, Ballet Folklorico Esparanza, and much more.
In addition, there will be Q&A sessions with Mexican-born NASCAR Cup Series driver and recent winner of the Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway Daniel Suarez along with players from Phoenix Rising FC. Fans can also get their picture taken with the trophy Suarez won at the King Taco LA Batalla en El Coliseo, the historic NASCAR Mexico Series race that took place Feb. 3 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
There will also be Lucha Libre Wrestling in the Viva La Fiesta Zone, with matches taking place from 1:30 to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 9, and 9 to 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 to 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 10. Fans can additionally find Sophisticated Few Low Riders, local food/drink trucks, and many more things to do at Viva La Fiesta all through the race weekend.
