Freeway Insurance 500
Avondale, Arizona – October 18, 2026
AUSTIN CINDRIC No. 2 DISCOUNT TIRE FORD MUSTANG DARK HORSE
START: 15TH STAGE 1: 16TH STAGE 2: 19TH FINISH: 19TH POINTS: 8TH
RACE RUNDOWN: Austin Cindric and the No. 2 Discount Tire Ford Mustang Dark Horse team battled handling challenges throughout Sunday’s Freeway Insurance 500 at Phoenix Raceway, ultimately finishing 19th in the NASCAR Cup Series’ final visit to the one-mile oval of the 2026 season. Cindric started the 312-mile event from the 15th position and made early progress through the field, advancing inside the top 10 despite reporting a tight-handling condition on the initial run. He was scored eighth when the caution flag waved on Lap 44, prompting a four-tire stop under yellow. After restarting 12th with 10 laps remaining in Stage 1, Cindric slipped to 16th by the conclusion of the opening segment as the No. 2 Ford continued to struggle with its balance. The team made an air pressure adjustment during the ensuing pit stop in an effort to improve the car’s ability to turn through the corners. Cindric continued to work with crew chief Brian Wilson and the No. 2 team to improve the handling throughout Stage 2. Following a green-flag pit stop on Lap 125, Cindric was running 10th when the caution flag waved on Lap 157. A two-tire strategy call positioned the Discount Tire Ford inside the top five for the ensuing restart, but persistent tight-handling conditions hindered Cindric’s ability to maintain track position. He ultimately finished Stage 2 in 19th before returning to pit road for four tires and fuel. The No. 2 team continued making adjustments during the final stage, with Cindric restarting 14th following a caution-period pit stop on Lap 222. After another green-flag stop with 44 laps remaining, Cindric was scored 16th when the caution came out on Lap 282. The team opted for sticker left-side tires and scuffed right-side tires for the final run, with Cindric restarting 19th with fewer than 20 laps remaining. He maintained that position through the checkered flag to secure a 19th-place finish. With three races remaining in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, Cindric and the No. 2 team turn their attention to Talladega Superspeedway next weekend.
CINDRIC’S THOUGHTS: “For us and our Discount Tire Ford, it was a frustrating day. I felt like we had glimpses of good performance, especially on the longer run. We made up some spots over the course of Stage 1, but we were never able to get it right on all phases from an execution standpoint. There’s some things I could clean up as well, but just a frustrating day and a missed opportunity for us to gain more points and put ourselves in the conversation to move further up the standings.”
RYAN BLANEY No. 12 MENARDS/RICHMOND FORD MUSTANG DARK HORSE
START: 1ST STAGE 1: 4TH STAGE 2: 6TH FINISH: 2ND POINTS: 5TH
RACE RUNDOWN: Ryan Blaney and the No. 12 Menards/Richmond Ford Mustang Dark Horse team continued their strong Phoenix Raceway form Sunday, turning a pole position start into a runner-up finish in the 312-lap event. The defending race winner led the field to green from the pole and immediately showcased one of the fastest cars in the field, controlling the opening portion of the race and remaining a factor near the front throughout the afternoon. While changing track conditions challenged the handling of the No. 12 Ford through the middle stages, Blaney still collected stage points in both stages and kept himself in contention. After restarting outside the top 15 to begin the final stage, Blaney methodically worked his way forward, putting together a series of impressive restarts and capitalizing on late-race adjustments from crew chief Jonathan Hassler to climb back into contention. A caution inside the final 30 laps set up a sprint to the finish, and Blaney charged from outside the top five to second in the closing laps, finishing just short of race winner Tyler Reddick. The runner-up result marked Blaney’s fourth consecutive top-five finish and continued the No. 12 team’s recent success at Phoenix Raceway, where Blaney has now recorded back-to-back top-two finishes.
BLANEY’S THOUGHTS: “I thought the first run of the race we were pretty good. Had the yellow there, lost some track position, then I didn’t seem as good after that…We worked on our car really hard through the day to get better. That was great. So proud of the effort from everyone sticking with it all day, fighting it out, and giving us a shot to win at the end. Didn’t quite have enough to chase down the 45. Overall really proud of the effort. Appreciate Menards and Richmond and Ford Racing for what they do. A lot of points today. Hard to be upset about that. Try to go the next two weeks and do the same.”
JOEY LOGANO No. 22 HUNT BROTHERS PIZZA FORD MUSTANG DARK HORSE
START: 2ND STAGE 1: 1ST STAGE 2: 1ST FINISH: 6TH POINTS: 6TH
RACE RUNDOWN: Joey Logano put together a solid points day at Phoenix Raceway, making up ground in the NASCAR Cup Series standings with a sixth-place finish in the No. 22 Hunt Brothers Pizza Ford Mustang Dark Horse. Logano started on the outside of the front row alongside teammate Ryan Blaney, running solidly inside the top five for much of the opening stage before moving through the field and taking the lead from Blaney with seven laps remaining. He went on to capture the Stage 1 victory and 10 valuable stage points. Stage 2 followed a similar script, with the No. 22 team capitalizing on a pit stop under a late caution to get Logano back to the front, where he went on to secure his second stage victory of the afternoon. The stage sweep marked the third time Logano has accomplished the feat in his career and his first since 2020. Logano remained inside the top six throughout the final stage and ultimately brought the No. 22 Ford Mustang Dark Horse home in sixth following a series of late cautions and a green-flag pit stop cycle. The result, coupled with a sweep of both stages and 20 additional stage points, moved Logano to sixth in the Cup Series standings, just 44 points behind the championship leader with three races remaining in the 2026 season.
LOGANO’S THOUGHTS: “It was good and bad, I guess. The good part is that we were fast and led a bunch of laps and won two stages. The bad part is we were unable to come away with a win. That part hurts a little bit, but I guess we made up close to 50 points to the leader, so you can’t be too mad about it. I wish we had it back.”
The NASCAR Cup Series Chase for the Championship continues next weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. Catch coverage of the YellaWood 500 on Sunday, Oct. 25, beginning at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
