The 2007 Coca-Cola 600 champion from Bakersfield, California, will be driving the No. 66 Garage 66 Ford entry for his first start in NASCAR's premier series since the 2019 Daytona 500.
Joe Gibbs Racing's Nos. 18 and 20 Toyota teams were levied a $5,000 fine apiece due to an improper lug nut installed on their respective entries following Saturday's Xfinity event at Phoenix.
The 2024 Coca-Cola 600 champion from Norman, Oklahoma, led a race-high 105 of 312-scheduled laps and edged teammate Denny Hamlin by 0.049 seconds to notch his third consecutive Cup victory in recent weeks in the desert state.
The 40-year-old Almirola from Tampa, Florida, led 25 of 208 over-scheduled laps and edged Alex Bowman by 0.045 seconds during an overtime shootout to score his first Xfinity victory of the 2025 season.
The two-time Daytona 500 champion from Charlotte, North Carolina, posted a pole-winning lap at 132.120 mph in 27.248 seconds for his first Cup pole award of the 2025 season.
The three-time Daytona 500 pole winner from Tucson, Arizona, clocked in a pole-winning lap at 131.984 mph in 27.276 seconds for his first Xfinity pole in nine years and at his home track in Phoenix.
The NASCAR Cup Series heads to the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, for the DuraMAX Texas Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne this Sunday, March 1, at 3:30 p.m. ET.
In the five NASCAR Cup Series events at COTA, Hendrick Motorsports leads all teams in wins (two), poles (two), top fives (10), top 10s (12) and laps led (83).
