The Cutline’s 2026 Race Weekend Rankings Tier List

What’s Happening?

NASCAR’s trip out west continued with Phoenix Raceway this weekend. Ryan Blaney had a rollercoaster race that ended with him in victory lane for the first time this season, ending the Tyler Reddick streak. Tires and wrecks were the storyline that race, with rubber barely lasting 30 laps! It was a spectacle in the desert.

In the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Justin Allgaier stunned everyone by blowing past Jesse Love and Carson Kvapil to grab his first win of the season, further cementing himself as O’Reilly’s king of the desert.

Now, how was the racing as a whole? Where do the races stack up against each other? Let’s take a look at my Race Weekend Rankings and see where the Phoenix Weekend ranks among the rest of the 2026 season!

Check out the latest episode of The Cutline, where Armany broke down the weekend at Phoenix with Johnny on the Track.

Straight Talk Wireless 500: B-Tier

• If one word can describe the Cup race, it would be “spectacle.” Tire failures and late-race wrecks made this race arguably the most entertaining of the Next-Gen Era. Despite that, there was still good quality racing, with Blaney and Christopher Bell dueling it out for the race win. The higher horsepower looked like it did its job and made this race a solid, good race.
• My one criticism is that the race had a few too many wrecks, something I’ve been on the record saying I don’t enjoy. Also, dirty air was still a factor, albeit by less.

GOVX 200: A-Tier

• Take the Cup race, but bring the wrecks down and increase the racing up front. There were so many battles up front. Sam Mayer, Love, Kvapil, Sheldon Creed, and Allgaier made this race one of the best of the season, and in my opinion, the best of the O’Reilly season so far.

You can follow along with Armany by creating your own Race Weekend Rankings Tier List. Make sure to tag Armany and The Daily Downforce on X, and we’ll share your list with the rest of the NASCAR Community.