CONCORD, N.C. - For the second straight race, Hendrick Motorsports will travel to the West Coast and take on Phoenix Raceway for the fourth points event of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season.
This weekend will also see the return of the No. 17 HendrickCars.com entry to the NASCAR Xfinity Series for its first of 10 races. William Byron will be behind the wheel with Brandon McSwain (the lead engineer on the No. 24 car) calling the race atop the pit box in his crew chief debut. It will be the first of four Xfinity events for the duo in 2024.
RELATED: Chance to crew chief Byron in Xfinity Series brings McSwain 'full circle'
Since 1988, Phoenix's 1-mile layout has hosted a Cup Series race, which has grown to two events annually from 2005 to today. The Avondale, Arizona, venue has also been the site of the sport's championship weekend since 2020. As a result, drivers and crew chiefs alike circle the spring race at Phoenix on their calendars to gather valuable data and notes for the title race in November.
Rick Hendrick's team has claimed a series-best 13 victories at Phoenix, with the first coming from Terry Labonte in 1994. Kyle Busch scored a win in 2005. Jeff Gordon won twice at Phoenix in 2007 and 2011, while Jimmie Johnson earned four trophies between 2007 and 2009. Mark Martin's 2009 win was part of six straight for Hendrick Motorsports at this track. Among the current lineup, Chase Elliott (2020) Kyle Larson (2021) and Byron (2023) have all taken the checkered flag once in Arizona. Elliott and Larson's wins came in the title race, while Byron is the defending race winner.
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Last spring, Hendrick Motorsports drivers Byron and Larson combined to lead over 83.60% of the laps en route to victory. The pair swept both stages, with the No. 24 taking the opening segment and the No. 5 winning the second. However, both drivers found themselves behind the leader with nine laps in regulation. Ultimately, a two-tire call in the pits allowed both drivers to start on the front row for the closing two restarts. In the end, it was Byron who bested the field and went to victory lane for the second of what would be six victories in 2023. Larson would earn the fourth position while Tucson, Arizona, native Alex Bowman finished ninth followed by Josh Berry (driving for the injured Elliott) in 10th. This would be the 28th and most recent time all four Hendrick Motorsports drivers finished in the top 10.
The Cup Series race marks the first time the 2024 short-track package will be on track. The package includes 2023 short track/road course splitter stuffers, no engine panel strakes, a three-inch spoiler (was previously two inches), a simplified diffuser and simplified diffuser strakes. This will be used at all upcoming tracks 1 mile or shorter and road courses, except Bristol Motor Speedway and Dover Motor Speedway. Teams will have an extended practice of 50 minutes on Friday to shake down the new package.
RELATED: Larson, Daniels look to keep pushing after Vegas win
KEY NUMBERS TO KNOW FOR PHOENIX
Data provided by Racing Insights
Larson, No. 5 team
Through three races in 2024, Larson leads the Cup Series in laps led at 205. This is the most he's led through the opening three events in his career. The Elk Grove, California, native's eight top-five finishes and 12 top-10s are tied for his most (with Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where he just won) at any one track.
Elliott, No. 9 team
With five top-five finishes, Phoenix is tied for the track with the third-most top-fives for Elliott. The Dawsonville, Georgia, native's 546 laps led are his second-most at any facility in the Cup Series. Crew chief Alan Gustafson's four wins at Phoenix (all with different drivers) are the second-most among crew chiefs.
Byron, No. 24 team
In three of the last four races in the Arizona desert, Byron has won the opening stage of the event and his three stage wins are his most at any track. His seven top-10 finishes are tied (with Kansas Speedway) for the most at any track and he has earned the most points (184) in the Next Gen era (since 2022) at Phoenix.
Bowman, No. 48 team
In his first Phoenix start with Hendrick Motorsports, Bowman started from the pole position and led 194 laps en route to a sixth-place finish. The race still serves at the most laps the driver of the No. 48 Ally Racing Chevy has led in a Cup Series main event.
Hendrick Motorsports
Rick Hendrick's group is three laps shy of hitting 80,000 laps led in the Cup Series. To date, 29 drivers have led laps for the organization at 35 tracks. Entering Saturday's Xfinity race, Hendrick Motorsports has 26 wins but none since returning to action in the series in 2022.
RELATED: Key numbers to know for Hendrick Motorsports | Drivers to lead laps
DID YOU KNOW?
Hendrick Motorsports has won the pole position in four out of the last six Phoenix races that have held qualifying. That includes a sweep of last year's poles with Larson in the spring and Byron in the championship race.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS AND TV COVERAGE
Friday, March 8
5:05-5:55 p.m. ET: Practice (Cup) - FS1
Saturday, March 9
12:35-12:55 p.m. ET: Practice (Xfinity) - FS2
1:05-2 p.m. ET: Qualifying (Xfinity) - FS2
2:10-3:30 p.m. ET: Qualifying (Cup) - FS1
4:30 p.m. ET: Xfinity Series race - FS1
In Cup Series practice and qualifying, Elliott and Byron will be in Group A, while Bowman and Larson are in Group B. For Xfinity Series qualifying, Byron will be the first car to take time in the single-round session.
Sunday, March 10
3:30 p.m. ET: Cup Series race - FOX
RELATED: See this weekend's paint schemes
STAGE LENGTHS
Cup Series race
Stage 1: Lap 60
Stage 2: Lap 185
End of Race: Lap 312
Xfinity race
Stage 1: Lap 45
Stage 2: Lap 90
End of Race: Lap 200
WILL THE RACE BE ON THE RADIO?
Yes, listeners can find both events on MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).
WHERE CAN I STREAM THE BROADCAST?
Fans can watch all the action with the FOX Sports Live app. For live updates and additional content during the race, head over to X and follow @TeamHendrick for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
HOW CAN I FIND FS1 and FS2?
The location of this channel may vary depending on location. Enter your zip code and select your television provider at this link for assistance in finding what channel numbers FS1 and FS2 are on your provider.