After back-to-back drafting races followed by a road course to kick off the season, the NASCAR Cup Series heads to its first meat-and-potatoes track of the 2026 campaign in Phoenix Raceway for the Straight Talk Wireless 500.
Tyler Reddick hasn't minded the "gimmicky" start to the 2026 season, giving team owner Michael Jordan another three-peat, so to speak.
However, Reddick will not top my Straight Talk Wireless 500 predictions for Sunday, March 8. Find out why my free betting picks are targeting William Byron.
Odds to win 2026 Straight Talk Wireless 500
| Driver |  |
|---|---|
| Ryan Blaney | +500 |
| Denny Hamlin | +550 |
| Christopher Bell | +650 |
| Kyle Larson | +650 |
| William Byron | +750 |
| Tyler Reddick | +1000 |
| Joey Logano | +1200 |
| Chase Briscoe | +1200 |
| Chase Elliott | +1400 |
| Ross Chastain | +2000 |
| Chris Buescher | +2800 |
| Brad Keselowski | +2800 |
| Josh Berry | +2800 |
| Kyle Busch | +3000 |
| Carson Hocevar | +3000 |
| Connor Zilisch | +3500 |
| Bubba Wallace | +4000 |
| Austin Dillon | +5000 |
| Austin Cindric | +5500 |
| Ty Gibbs | +6000 |
Odds as of 3-7.
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Straight Talk Wireless 500 expert picks and predictions
Odds listed below courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook as of 3-7.
Straight Talk Wireless 500 pre-qualifying favorites
Ryan Blaney (+500)
Implied odds: 15.4%
Ryan Blaney took advantage of a late caution in last November's race here to score his first victory at Phoenix. He'd racked up four runner-ups in the previous seven trips to Avondale.
Blaney has gathered stage points in 21 of the last 22 stages here.
Denny Hamlin (+550)
Implied odds: 15.4%
Denny Hamlin ran too good to lose at Phoenix last November, leading 208 laps en route to a sixth-place finish. He faltered on the final restart and watched his first ever championship slip through his fingers.
Hamlin has led laps in four of his last five races on this course, and is a two-time winner here.
Christopher Bell (+650)
Implied odds: 13.3%
Christopher Bell has won each of the last two spring races held at Phoenix, leading a combined 298 laps over his last four trips.
Bell collected stage points in six of the eight stages held in that span, all while qualifying no better than seventh.
Straight Talk Wireless 500 sleepers
William Byron (+750)
Implied odds: 11.8%
A tire failure with only three laps remaining doomed William Byron to a 33rd-place finish here last November. However, he won Stage 1, placed third in Stage 2, and led 52 laps, so the result is not indicative of his overall performance.
Byron won at Phoenix in March of 2023 and has led laps in five of his last six appearances.
Josh Berry (+2800)
Implied odds: 3.4%
Josh Berry ran quite well here last season, picking up a fourth and a seventh. Only Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin can boast two Top-7 finishes at Phoenix last year.
Straight Talk Wireless 500 fade
Chase Briscoe (+1200)
Implied odds: 7.7%
Chase Briscoe shocked the NASCAR world when he won here as a triple-digit longshot in March of 2022. Since his win, in which he led 101 laps, he's only led 13 total laps and hit the Top 5 just once more from seven tries.
Briscoe ran 35th and 18th at Phoenix in 2025.
Phoenix Raceway track analysis
Phoenix Raceway is a mostly flat, one-mile oval located in Avondale, AZ. Its frontstretch "dogleg" adds an interesting element to the racing, especially on restarts, as drivers search up and down the course for all the speed they can find.
The championship race was held at Phoenix Raceway from 2020-2025, and it is expected to return as part of a rotation with Homestead-Miami and possible other to-be-announced venues.
Phoenix Raceway trend to know
Of the 59 NASCAR Cup Series races held at Phoenix Raceway, 20 of them (33.9%) have been won by cars qualifying in the Top 3.
How to watch the Straight Talk Wireless 500
| Location: | Phoenix Raceway, Avondale, AZ |
| Date: | Sunday, March 8, 2026 |
| Start time: | 3:30 p.m. ET |
| TV: | FS1 |
Straight Talk Wireless 500 weather
There is some cloud cover expected on a 78-degree day in Avondale, AZ. Sunday's forecast also calls for 10 mph winds and only a 20% chance of precipitation.
The track should not be all that hot or slick, and that should lead to qualifying results mattering more. Cooler temps and shade lead to less tire falloff and more grip, making it harder to pass.
Previous Straight Talk Wireless 500 winners
| Year | Winner | Manufacturer |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Christopher Bell | Toyota |
| 2024 | Christopher Bell | Toyota |
| 2023 | William Byron | Chevrolet |
| 2022 | Chase Briscoe | Ford |
| 2021 | Martin Truex Jr. | Toyota |
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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