Team Penske may have won the INDYCAR and NASCAR Cup Series races at Phoenix Raceway, but the fans ultimately prevailed. (Photo: Joe Skibinski | Penske Entertainment)
AVONDALE, Ariz. — In what is being dubbed “The Desert Double,” the NTT INDYCAR Series and NASCAR shared a race weekend at the same track — Phoenix Raceway.
It was the first time since 2020, when the Brickyard 400 and the GMR Grand Prix ran on Independence Day weekend and made history at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the first crossover weekend with INDYCAR and NASCAR. In a truly unique weekend, sharing the spotlight didn’t diminish any of the racing.
Instead, it provided an excellent chance to highlight and promote the biggest stars in racing across motorsports.
As Kyle Kirkwood, driver of the No. 27 Dallara-Honda for Andretti Global shared, the crossover presents excitement.
“It’s motivating for the sport that we’re able to come together and have this collaboration and come to racetracks like Phoenix and not feel like we’re competing against each other,” Kirkwood shared.
Kirkwood came in second on Saturday in the Good Ranchers 250, coming up a spot short to two-time series champion Josef Newgarden. Newgarden, driving the No. 2 Chevrolet for Team Penske, passed Kirkwood with only seven laps remaining.
It was a fitting way to usher IndyCar back to Phoenix, as Newgarden won on the 1.022 mile oval. Prior to Saturday’s race, the last time IndyCar raced at Phoenix was in 2018. Newgarden’s victory marked the 247th victory for Team Penske.
Josef Newgarden captured his first win of the 2026 NTT INDYCAR Series season at Phoenix Raceway. (Photo: Joe Skibinski | Penske Entertainment)
“At the end of the day, I think the team just executed at a super high level, and that’s what it takes to win these races,” Newgarden said post-race speaking about Team Penske.
Saturday concluded with the GOVX 200 with driver 2024 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champion Justin Allgaier capturing the checkered flag. Allgaier, driving the No. 7 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports, made a thrilling pass around defending champion Jesse Love, who had been dominant all night, to take the lead.
Leading into Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race, drivers hoped to build on the momentum of the IndyCar series and fans.
Michael McDowell, who once raced in what is now known as INDY NXT, formerly Indy Lights, shared before the GOVX 200 that he was excited to watch the INDYCAR race.
“I mean, those things are so fast around here [PHX Raceway] watching qualifying the cars were extremely on edge”, McDowell said. “It’s just fun to be here on a doubleheader weekend.”
Other NASCAR drivers were equally excited about the cross-promotion.
“I think if it’s a win for the fans, it’s a win for all of us”, 2020 Cup champion Chase Elliot said.
On Sunday, it was Ryan Blaney who would take the win at the Straight Talk Wireless 500, after a somewhat tumultuous race. Blaney won Stage 1, but then a tire issue and a penalty for pitting outside his box, put him at the back of the field.
Blaney, who drives the No. 12 Ford Mustang for Team Penske, clawed his way back in front, helping Team Penske achieve something they have never done before — winning twice in one weekend with two different series.
“Most people know Roger Penske does this to win races, so to give him something that he hasn’t achieved before, in two race wins with two different series means the world to all of us”, Jonathan Diuguid, President of Penske Racing Inc, said.
After the race, Blaney joked that Newgarden put the pressure on him to win.
“This weekend is going to be absolutely ruined if you guys don’t do it on Sunday,” Blaney quipped. “It’s always special to win for Roger, but on a weekend like this, where he put a lot into having these two series together, for us to finish it out is definitely neat.”
The doubleheader weekend helped dismantle any barriers that may exist between fans of the two series, and both NASACAR and INDYCAR produced great results.
