Home / Sports / Blaney Wins Phoenix, Denies Reddick 4-Peat
Blaney Wins Phoenix, Denies Reddick 4-Peat
9 Mar
Summary
- Ryan Blaney secured his 18th career Cup Series victory at Phoenix.
- Team Penske completed a dominant weekend sweep at Phoenix Raceway.
- Tyler Reddick's bid for a fourth consecutive win was halted.
Ryan Blaney triumphed at Phoenix Raceway, securing his 18th career NASCAR Cup Series win and thwarting Tyler Reddick's attempt at a record-setting fourth consecutive victory to open the season. Blaney, the race favorite, battled back from multiple tire problems, ultimately passing Ty Gibbs with 10 laps remaining.
The victory was a significant moment for Team Penske, capping their 60th season celebration with a complete sweep of the Phoenix "desert doubleheader." Josef Newgarden had won the preceding IndyCar race, while Joey Logano secured the Cup Series pole. Blaney's win also marked the first of the season for Ford.
Christopher Bell finished second, followed by Kyle Larson in third, and Gibbs dropped to fourth. Denny Hamlin took fifth, highlighting Joe Gibbs Racing's strong presence with three drivers in the top five. Bell dominated much of the race but a strategic pit call to take four tires, versus Blaney's two, proved detrimental.
Bell led 176 of the 312 laps and expressed disappointment but pride in his team's performance. Reddick, who entered the race with three straight wins, finished eighth, noting it was a solid points day despite not winning. The race featured a record-tying 12 cautions, many due to tire failures.
