Joey Logano seized his first Busch Light Pole Award of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season at Phoenix Raceway on Saturday, March 7, launching Team Penske and Ford into a strong position for the Straight Talk Wireless 500. This marks another milestone for Logano at the famed desert venue, as he secured the prime starting spot with a determined effort in a critical qualifying session for competitors, including key names like Kyle Larson and Daniel Suarez.
Logano Dominates Qualifying With Fastest Lap
All 37 Cup Series entrants participated in a solo-run qualifying format, each aiming for a single, swift lap to claim the Phoenix pole. Joey Logano, who had only ranked 19th in the earlier practice rounds and contended with tricky, slippery track conditions, managed to post an impressive time of 26.561 seconds, reaching a speed of 135.537 mph. This performance earned Logano, Team Penske, and Ford their first pole of the 2026 season.
The pole position at Phoenix is Logano’s third at this circuit and his 34th in Cup Series history, moving him up to 18th on the all-time list for Cup poles. His most recent pole before Phoenix came at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in September 2025, underlining his knack for showing up strong on big qualifying days.
Reflections From the Pole Winner
Reflecting on his qualifying result, Logano highlighted the car’s capabilities as well as the significance of this weekend for the entire Penske operation during their 60th anniversary celebrations. He expressed pride not only in his own achievement but also in fellow Penske driver David Malukas, who earned the IndyCar pole at Phoenix during the same weekend:
“Obviously, [the car] was good for qualifying,”
Logano said on Prime.
“I thought we were pretty good on the long run, too. A really special weekend for Team Penske, celebrating our 60th [anniversary]. Cool for Team Penske. [David] Malukas got the IndyCar pole [for Saturday’s Phoenix race], so we were able to sweep the poles at least here so far. Hopefully, we can do it more in the race. It matters a lot more then.”
— Joey Logano, Driver
Main Contenders and Notable Qualifying Efforts
Kyle Larson will line up alongside Logano after firing off the second-fastest lap time in the session, crossing the line in 26.678 seconds at 134.943 mph. Austin Cindric, another Penske competitor, posted a strong effort to qualify third with a 26.731-second, 134.675-mph lap.
Daniel Suarez, who led the practice session, secured the fourth spot, maintaining his momentum into qualifying. Ryan Blaney, another of Logano’s Penske teammates, ensured that three Penske cars occupied the top five, turning in a 26.747-second, 134.595-mph run. Ross Chastain, Carson Hocevar, Tyler Reddick, William Byron, and Josh Berry rounded out the top 10 starting positions, creating a highly competitive front of the field for Sunday’s main event.
Difficulties in Qualifying: Injuries and Incidents
Several participants faced challenging circumstances on qualifying day. Anthony Alfredo, substituting for Alex Bowman in the No. 48 Ally/Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, managed a lap of 132.900 mph, placing him in 31st. Bowman, an established competitor, remains sidelined as he continues to recover from a diagnosis of vertigo, with no set return date.
Among those experiencing adversity, Brad Keselowski suffered misfortune in practice. A cut right-front tire led him to crash into the Turn 3 wall, damaging his primary car and leaving him unable to record a qualifying time. Teammate Chris Buescher and Riley Herbst also encountered tire problems in practice, but both managed to recover, qualifying 17th and 22nd, respectively. Ultimately, with 37 participants fighting for as many places on the grid, every driver advanced to the main event.
Anticipation Builds for the Main Event
The Straight Talk Wireless 500 at Phoenix Raceway is scheduled for Sunday, March 8, with the green flag set to drop at 3:30 p.m. ET. Fans can watch the race on FS1 or listen on MRN, SiriusXM, and HBO Max. The field is set for an intense battle, and with Joey Logano on the Phoenix pole position, eyes will be on both Team Penske and their chief rivals as the race unfolds. The outcome promises to impact the early tone of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season and may set momentum for many of the circuit’s top stars, including William Byron, Ross Chastain, and Ryan Blaney, as they all chase early success.
