Wood Brothers Racing – Race Week Briefing: Phoenix Raceway

Event: Straight Talk Wireless 500
Date/Time: Sunday, March 8, 2026, 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Phoenix Raceway, Avondale, Arizona
Layout: 1-Mile Oval
TV/Radio: FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Josh Berry and Wood Brothers Racing head to one of Berry’s strongest tracks this weekend as the NASCAR Cup Series visits Phoenix Raceway for Sunday’s Straight Talk Wireless 500.

This weekend also marks the first time the eero colors will adorn the No. 21 Ford Mustang Dark Horse in 2026, featuring a slightly refreshed look for the new season.

Berry delivered two strong performances at the one-mile, relatively flat oval in the Sonoran Desert last season, finishing fourth in the spring race and seventh in the season finale.

In five career Cup Series starts at Phoenix, Berry owns an average finish of 14.2 with three top-10 results, including a 10th-place finish in his first Cup race there in 2023.

“Phoenix has been a good track for me,” Berry said. “We’ve had some solid runs there, including two top-10 finishes last season, so that definitely gives us confidence going back.

“It’s a place where track position and execution really matter. If we can qualify well and keep ourselves in position, I think we can put ourselves in position for another strong day.”

Practice for the Straight Talk Wireless 500 is scheduled for Saturday at 12 p.m. ET, followed by qualifying at 1:10 p.m. ET. Coverage of the on-track activity will be provided on Prime Video.

Sunday’s 312-mile race is scheduled to get the green flag just after 3:30 p.m. ET, with broadcast coverage on FS1. Stage breaks are planned for Lap 60 and Lap 185.

Josh Berry
Age: 35 (Oct. 22, 1990)
Hometown: Hendersonville, Tennessee
Crew Chief: Miles Stanley
IG: @joshberry88
X: @joshberry

About eero
eero was founded to make wifi and networking the way they should be—fast, reliable, secure, and, most importantly, easy to use. After introducing the first home mesh wifi system with a high-quality design that blends into its environment and technology that intuitively works behind the scenes, eero became known for sweating every single detail and delivering award-winning hardware and software for homes, businesses, communities, and service providers. Founded and headquartered in San Francisco in 2014, eero is an Amazon company. For more information, visit eero.com.

Are you a die-hard NASCAR fan? Follow every lap, every pit stop, every storyline? We're looking for fellow enthusiasts to share insights, race recaps, hot takes, or behind-the-scenes knowledge with our readers. Click Here to apply!

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SpeedwayMedia.com

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Latest articles

Taylor Emerges From Chaos To Earn First Career Win at Arlington

In a thrilling race that blended chaos and excitement in equal measure, Max Taylor earned his first INDY NXT by Firestone victory Sunday in the inaugural Grand Prix of Arlington.

Kyle Larson motors to O’Reilly victory at Las Vegas

The reigning two-time Cup Series champion from Elk Grove, California, went from seventh to first during a 47-lap dash that enabled him to achieve his first NASCAR victory of the 2026 season in Sin City.

TOYOTA RACING – NOAPS Las Vegas Post-Race Report – 03.14.26

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Chase Briscoe fought through wall contact and a tire failure to finish second in his lone scheduled NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

TEAM CHEVY INDYCAR QUALIFYING REPORT – O’Ward grabs 3rd starting spot

Pato O'Ward, in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, will start the inaugural Java House Grand Prix of Arlington from the inside of the second row, after turning a lap of 94.8453 seconds during the Firestone Fast Six.

Best New Zealand Online Casinos