Daniel Suarez paced a chaotic NASCAR Cup Series practice at Phoenix Raceway on Saturday, putting up the fastest lap as multiple accidents and tire failures disrupted preparations for Sunday’s Straight Talk Wireless 500. The Daniel Suarez Phoenix practice session drew attention not just for Suarez’s speed, but also for a series of incidents involving several contenders.
Suarez Sets the Pace as Teammates Dominate
Suarez, who previously claimed victories at the one-mile Phoenix oval in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and NASCAR Mexico Series, topped the charts in his No. 7 Freeway Insurance Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. Clocking a lap of 26.877 seconds at 133.944 mph, he edged out teammate Carson Hocevar of Spire Motorsports, who was second-fastest as he continues seeking his first career Cup Series victory. Practice divided drivers into two 25-minute groups, adding a strategic element to the session.
The top five were filled out by Chase Briscoe, Ross Chastain, and Austin Cindric. Cindric, piloting the No. 2 Ford Mustang for Team Penske—a team with a strong track record at Phoenix—set the pace for longer run averages at 10, 15, 20, and 25 laps. Ty Gibbs finished sixth overall, leading the drivers who ran in the second group. The rest of the top ten included Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell, Tyler Reddick, and Michael McDowell.
Incidents and Tire Issues Impact Several Drivers
Repeating a key theme from the most recent Phoenix event, tire problems surfaced as a major concern. Chris Buescher and Riley Herbst suffered flats but escaped with only minor car damage. In contrast, Brad Keselowski experienced much worse luck. His No. 6 RFK Racing Ford Mustang suffered significant damage after a right-front tire failure sent him into the wall at Turn 3.
“There are more practice problems! This time, it’s @keselowski! pic.twitter.com/JNPknAy874”
— NASCAR (@NASCAR)
Not long after, Tyler Reddick—who recently made history at Circuit of The Americas by winning three consecutive Cup races to start the season—spun out coming off Turn 4, adding to the list of on-track incidents.
“That car looks extremely …” — @ClintBowyer
Practice Session Sets the Field Order
The highly competitive session was split into two groups, giving both veterans and up-and-comers a stage to show speed while also leading to a slippery, unpredictable event. Daniel Suarez and Carson Hocevar’s times stood tall as the teams shifted focus toward qualifying. NASCAR Cup Series qualifying was scheduled to begin after a short break, providing little time for teams to repair any damage sustained during the intense practice.
Full Results from the Straight Talk Wireless 500 Practice
1. #7 – Daniel Suarez
2. #77 – Carson Hocevar
3. #19 – Chase Briscoe
4. #1 – Ross Chastain
5. #2 – Austin Cindric
6. #54 – Ty Gibbs
7. #12 – Ryan Blaney
8. #20 – Christopher Bell
9. #45 – Tyler Reddick
10. #71 – Michael McDowell
11. #17 – Chris Buescher
12. #88 – Connor Zilisch
13. #43 – Erik Jones
14. #9 – Chase Elliott
15. #11 – Denny Hamlin
16. #23 – Bubba Wallace
17. #8 – Kyle Busch
18. #5 – Kyle Larson
19. #22 – Joey Logano
20. #51 – Cody Ware
21. #24 – William Byron
22. #3 – Austin Cindric
23. #34 – Todd Gilliland
24. #47 – Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.
25. #38 – Zane Smith
26. #35 – Riley Herbst
27. #60 – Ryan Preece
28. #33 – Austin Hill
29. #48 – Anthony Alfredo
30. #10 – Ty Dillon
31. #97 – Shane Van Gisbergen
32. #16 – AJ Allmendinger
33. #21 – Josh Berry
34. #6 – Brad Keselowski
35. #42 – John Hunter Nemechek
36. #4 – Noah Gragson
37. #41 – Cole Custer
What’s Next for Phoenix and the Cup Series?
With Daniel Suarez leading practice and tire woes once again front and center, the mood heading into the Phoenix race is tense and anticipatory. Teams must quickly assess any remaining issues before the all-important qualifying round. Drivers who encountered trouble—including Brad Keselowski, Tyler Reddick, Chris Buescher, and Riley Herbst—face tough choices for Sunday’s race setup. As the NASCAR Cup Series rolls into race day, fans will watch to see if tire durability remains a deciding factor and whether Suarez can turn his practice dominance into a race win at Phoenix Raceway.
There are more practice problems!
This time, it's @keselowski! pic.twitter.com/JNPknAy874
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 7, 2026
"That car looks extremely …" @ClintBowyer saw that coming. pic.twitter.com/StYTQQB6GN
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 7, 2026
