The 2021 Instacart 500 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on March 14, 2021, at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. Contested over 312 laps on the 1.022 mi (1.645 km) oval, it was the fifth race of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season.

2021 Instacart 500
Race details[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Race 5 of 36 in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series
Date March 14, 2021 (2021-03-14)
Location Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona
Course Permanent racing facility
1.022 mi (1.645 km)
Distance 312 laps, 318.864 mi (513.162 km)
Average speed 103.808 miles per hour (167.063 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Team Penske
Grid positions set by competition-based formula
Most laps led
Driver Joey Logano Team Penske
Laps 143
Winner
No. 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing
Television in the United States
Network Fox
Nielsen Ratings 3.857 million[7]
Radio in the United States
Radio MRN
Booth Announcers Alex Hayden and Jeff Striegle
Turn Announcers Dan Hubbard (1 & 2) and Kyle Rickey (3 & 4)

Report

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Background

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2021 Instacart 500 program cover
 
Phoenix Raceway was the site of the fifth race of the season

Phoenix Raceway, is a 1.022 mi (1.645 km), low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. The motorsport track opened in 1964 and currently hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. PIR has also hosted the IndyCar Series, CART, USAC and the Rolex Sports Car Series. The raceway is currently owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation.

Entry list

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  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
  • (i) denotes driver who are ineligible for series driver points.
No. Driver Team Manufacturer
00 Quin Houff StarCom Racing Chevrolet
1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford
3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford
7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford
14 Chase Briscoe (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
15 James Davison Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford
18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford
22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford
23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota
24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford
37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
38 Anthony Alfredo (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford
41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
42 Ross Chastain Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
43 Erik Jones Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet
47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
51 Cody Ware (i) Petty Ware Racing Chevrolet
52 Josh Bilicki Rick Ware Racing Ford
53 Garrett Smithley (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota
77 Justin Haley (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
78 B. J. McLeod (i) Live Fast Motorsports Ford
99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet
Official entry list

Qualifying

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Brad Keselowski was awarded the pole for the race as determined by competition-based formula.[4]

Starting Lineup

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Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer
1 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford
2 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
3 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
4 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
5 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
6 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
7 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
8 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford
9 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford
10 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
11 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
12 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
13 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
14 43 Erik Jones Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet
15 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
16 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford
17 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford
18 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
19 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford
20 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford
21 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
22 42 Ross Chastain Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
23 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
24 41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
25 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota
26 14 Chase Briscoe (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
27 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet
28 38 Anthony Alfredo (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford
29 77 Justin Haley (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
30 78 B. J. McLeod (i) Live Fast Motorsports Ford
31 51 Cody Ware (i) Petty Ware Racing Chevrolet
32 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
33 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
34 53 Garrett Smithley (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
35 00 Quin Houff StarCom Racing Chevrolet
36 52 Josh Bilicki Rick Ware Racing Ford
37 66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota
38 15 James Davison Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
Official starting lineup

Race

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Martin Truex Jr. won the race, driving a Toyota. It was his first Cup Series win since the race at Martinsville Speedway in June 2020. He finished 1.698 seconds ahead of Ford driver Joey Logano.[8] It was Truex's 28th Cup Series win and his first at Phoenix.[9]

Stage Results

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Stage One Laps: 75

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
1 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 10
2 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 9
3 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 8
4 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 7
5 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 6
6 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 5
7 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 4
8 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 3
9 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 2
10 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 1
Official stage one results

Stage Two Laps: 115

Pos No Driver Team Manufacturer Points
1 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 10
2 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 9
3 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 8
4 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 7
5 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 6
6 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 5
7 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 4
8 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 3
9 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 2
10 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 1
Official stage two results

Final Stage Results

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Stage Three Laps: 122

Pos Grid No Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1 5 19 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 312 49
2 9 22 Joey Logano Team Penske Ford 312 54
3 3 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 312 49
4 1 2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Ford 312 48
5 6 9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 312 40
6 18 4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 312 40
7 2 5 Kyle Larson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 312 32
8 10 24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 312 36
9 4 20 Christopher Bell Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 312 29
10 8 12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Ford 312 43
11 32 10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 312 29
12 11 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 312 25
13 21 48 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 312 24
14 20 21 Matt DiBenedetto Wood Brothers Racing Ford 312 24
15 12 1 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 312 22
16 25 23 Bubba Wallace 23XI Racing Toyota 312 21
17 13 3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 312 20
18 17 17 Chris Buescher Roush Fenway Racing Ford 312 19
19 22 42 Ross Chastain Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 312 18
20 14 43 Erik Jones Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet 312 17
21 27 99 Daniel Suárez Trackhouse Racing Team Chevrolet 312 16
22 26 14 Chase Briscoe (R) Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 312 15
23 16 34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Ford 312 14
24 29 77 Justin Haley (i) Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 312 0
25 7 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 311 17
26 15 37 Ryan Preece JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet 311 11
27 33 7 Corey LaJoie Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 311 10
28 19 6 Ryan Newman Roush Fenway Racing Ford 311 9
29 23 8 Tyler Reddick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 310 8
30 30 78 B. J. McLeod (i) Live Fast Motorsports Ford 309 0
31 24 41 Cole Custer Stewart-Haas Racing Ford 308 6
32 35 00 Quin Houff StarCom Racing Chevrolet 305 5
33 38 15 James Davison Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 303 4
34 34 53 Garrett Smithley (i) Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet 300 0
35 36 52 Josh Bilicki Rick Ware Racing Ford 258 2
36 31 51 Cody Ware (i) Petty Ware Racing Chevrolet 101 0
37 28 38 Anthony Alfredo (R) Front Row Motorsports Ford 87 1
38 37 66 Timmy Hill (i) MBM Motorsports Toyota 15 0
Official race results

Race statistics

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  • Lead changes: 22 among 9 different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 7 for 45
  • Red flags: 0
  • Time of race: 3 hours, 0 minutes and 20 seconds
  • Average speed: 103.808 miles per hour (167.063 km/h)

Media

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Television

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Fox Sports covered their 16th race at the Phoenix Raceway. Mike Joy, two-time Phoenix winner Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer called the race from the broadcast booth. Jamie Little and Regan Smith handled pit road for the television side. Larry McReynolds provided insight from the Fox Sports studio in Charlotte.

Fox
Booth announcers Pit reporters In-race analyst
Lap-by-lap: Mike Joy
Color-commentator: Jeff Gordon
Color-commentator: Clint Bowyer
Jamie Little
Regan Smith
Larry McReynolds

Radio

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MRN covered the radio action for the race which was also simulcasted on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Alex Hayden and Jeff Striegle called the race when the field raced past the start/finish line. Dan Hubbard called the action from turns 1 & 2 and Kyle Rickey called the action from turns 3 & 4. Pit lane was manned by Steve Post and Dillon Welch.

MRN
Booth announcers Turn announcers Pit reporters
Lead announcer: Alex Hayden
Announcer: Jeff Striegle
Turns 1 & 2: Dan Hubbard
Turns 3 & 4: Kyle Rickey
Steve Post
Dillon Welch

Standings after the race

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References

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  1. ^ "2021 schedule". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  2. ^ "Phoenix International Raceway". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. January 3, 2013. Archived from the original on March 10, 2017. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  3. ^ "Entry List" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. March 8, 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Starting Lineup". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. March 10, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  5. ^ "Instacart 500 Results". NASCAR.com. NASCAR. March 14, 2021. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  6. ^ "Points standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. March 14, 2021. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  7. ^ "Instacart 500 ratings". ShowBuzzDaily. Mitch Metcalf. Archived from the original on 16 March 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  8. ^ Utter, Jim (14 March 2021). "Truex triumphs at Phoenix for first NASCAR Cup win in 28 starts". Autosport. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Martin Truex Jr. finally prevails at Phoenix Raceway". Reuters. 15 March 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2021.


Previous race:
2021 Pennzoil 400
NASCAR Cup Series
2021 season
Next race:
2021 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500