If fans were hoping for an exciting race at Phoenix Raceway, they might have been left feeling uncertain after Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series event. While there were some intriguing moments, the use of an alternate tire was the most compelling aspect.
Despite the added element of the red-walled tires, the racing at Phoenix still felt dull at times. The most thrilling part of the Shriners Children’s 500 came when a handful of drivers opted for the alternate tires early, allowing them to gain positions quickly.
As the race progressed and tire advantages evened out, Christopher Bell ultimately took control, having the strongest car regardless of strategy.
Ryan Preece’s decision to switch to the alternate tires early and charge from 33rd to the front was a highlight. That’s how tire strategy should work—when wear plays a meaningful role. NASCAR project manager Mark Keto was pleased with how the tires performed on Sunday.
While it’s great that the tire strategy added some excitement, it doesn’t fix the larger issue with racing at Phoenix. In the Next Gen era, shorter tracks and road courses have often led to uneventful races unless a late caution shakes things up, which was the case on Sunday.
The late-race battle between Bell, Denny Hamlin, and Kyle Larson provided some excitement, but it reinforced the fact that Phoenix has deeper issues as a track.
Expecting the Championship 4 in November to unfold the same way is overly optimistic. The spring race at Phoenix has consistently been more entertaining than the fall race since the Next Gen car’s introduction in 2022.
Historically, Toyota or Chevrolet win in March, while a Team Penske Ford tends to claim victory in the championship race months later. Sunday’s race further suggested that Phoenix may no longer be the best choice to host NASCAR’s title-deciding event.
