As the NASCAR season evolves, all eyes now turn to Phoenix Raceway, a place that is neither a traditional short track nor an intermediate one. This 1-mile high-speed racing arena stands as the fourth race of the season, carrying a significance that many drivers and teams may overlook. One seasoned veteran, however, believes that the Phoenix Raceway is a snapshot of the entire season, a testing ground that sets the pace for the races to come.
The question on everyone’s lips is whether Team Penske, yet to hit their stride, might use Phoenix as a strategic platform. Some suggest that Roger Penske’s team may underperform deliberately at Phoenix, keeping the competition’s expectations low, only to shock everyone with a surge of skill and speed later on in the season. A clever move, if indeed it were to happen, reminiscent of the surprise twist in the last season.
Who can forget how a driver with only four top 5 finishes in the regular season was crowned champion? This was a tactic employed by Team Penske last year, and it begs the question of whether they will repeat this strategy in 2024.
NASCAR veteran and race expert Kyle Petty shares his insights on Phoenix Raceway strategy. In an interview on PRN live, he described Phoenix as the “grind race” where the basics of racing come into play. “Phoenix is where the real engineering, the real driving, and the real cars hit the road,” he said, emphasizing the importance of this race in the early part of the year.
Looking back at the spring race at Phoenix last year, Christopher Bell, driving the No. 20 Car, emerged victorious, while Team Penske’s top drivers Ryan Blaney (No. 12 car) and Joey Logano (No. 22 car) ended in 5th place and Did Not Finish (DNF) respectively. Despite this, Team Penske had a championship-winning season, with Ryan Blaney finishing second, right behind his teammate in the final season standings.
Penske’s performance in the regular season and the playoffs was markedly different, leading some to speculate a well-planned performance by Team Penske. Perhaps the entire regular season was a bluff to keep their competitors off guard.
In 2024, Joey Logano took the checkered flag at the North Wilkesboro All-star race, marking the first win for Team Penske. While this did not count due to it being an all-star race, it was followed by wins by Austin Cindric at the World Wide Technology Raceway, Blaney at Iowa, and Logano’s first points win in Nashville.
Despite it all, Kyle Petty’s warning stands – don’t underestimate Team Penske based on their performance at Phoenix. If the No. 20 car, driven by Bell, wins again this year, it doesn’t necessarily mean he will make the final 4 in 2025. The Phoenix race is a measure of race prowess, a test of how well drivers can navigate that tricky dogleg at the track.
In the run-up to the Shriners Children’s 500, all focus is on the defending champion Joey Logano. He has a solid track record at Phoenix, with four career wins at the track. However, Christopher Bell is seen as a significant threat this year. Logano believes that the winner will ultimately be determined by who did the most work in the off-season.
The race will also hinge on tire strategy. Teams will be given 6 sets of primary tires and 2 sets of option tires. The team that uses their tires most effectively will likely emerge victorious. Logano almost won the 2024 Richmond Summer Race using this strategy, before Austin Dillon spun him at the last moment.
Will Logano triumph at Phoenix? Only time will tell. The only certainty is that Phoenix Raceway promises high-speed thrills, strategic gameplay, and a snapshot of what’s to come in the NASCAR season.