Things can get dicey when the NASCAR Cup Series comes to Phoenix Raceway.
The bright sunlight, rising track temperatures, polluted air—all can make traversing the 1.6km route difficult. Though “The Desert Oddball” isn’t known for its wrecks like Daytona or Talladega, it has had its fair share of devastation.
Whether it was Jeff Gordon’s wreck that knocked Clint Bowyer out of the 2012 Chase or Denny Hamlin’s crash that engulfed competitors Kurt Busch and Chase Elliott in 2019, Phoenix had moments of insanity.
MORE: Date, time, TV channels for each NASCAR Cup Series race in 2023
Perhaps Sunday will bring even more chaos when racers compete in the United Rentals Work United 500. It’s a big race for more reasons than one: it also gives drivers a preview of November’s Cup Series championship race.
Kevin Harvick has had unprecedented success at Phoenix, and while the veteran hasn’t made the hottest starts in 2023, he has to be ranked among the favorites for that story alone.
MORE: Watch NASCAR Races Live With fuboTV (Free Trial)
The Sporting News follows live updates from United Rentals Work United 500 at Phoenix Raceway. Below are the highlights and live scores from all the action under the brilliant Arizona sun.
United Rentals Work United 500 live updates, highlights from the 2023 race
(All times Easter)
4:43 p.m.: Byron is hot on Larson’s heels as we approach lap 50 of stage two. The Hendrick Motorsports duo started early.
4:40 p.m.: Brad Keselowski had a far better day at Phoenix than he did this time last year. He’s stayed in every top-10 for the first 100 laps of the day.
4:36 p.m.: Just hit the century mark for laps today. This is how it looks so far:
100 laps left in stage two: Larson Byron Hamlin Bell Keselowski Chastain Harvick Suarez Bowman McDowell Wallace Jones Briscoe Gibbs Truex Berry
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) March 12, 2023
4:29 p.m.: Green flag back in Phoenix. Larson stole the march from Byron and passed him on the pit lane. He’s back in front.
4:18 p.m.: Byron takes the 1st stage. This is his fourth stage win in a row. He’s on fire at the moment.
William Byron drives to win opening stage in Phoenix. pic.twitter.com/MHqx6Jhplx
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) March 12, 2023
Kyle Larson after the end of Stage 1: “I’m feeling pretty good. It’s just… William is *really* good.”
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) March 12, 2023
4:14 p.m.: Logano in dangerous position to be lapped by Byron. The reigning Cup Series champion must stay ahead of Ricky Stenhouse Jr. to ensure he gets the free pass in Stage 2.
4:13 p.m.: Erik Jones and Ty Gibbs looking to get into the battle for stage points with 10 laps to go. The two fight for track positions in 14th and 15th place.
4:05 p.m.: Clear air for Byron up front, who led by just one lap despite starting the race behind Larson. No. 24 goes bankrupt early.
4:00 p.m.: For those watching Harvick, the No. 4 car is in 13th place, 13 seconds off Byron’s pace. Just before halftime of stage 1.
3:54 p.m.: Joey Logano is already getting closer to Martin Truex Jr. Not just once, but twice. I can’t imagine Truex getting too happy with the antics of the #22 car any time soon.
3:49 p.m.: William Byron sped past Larson and took the lead for the first two laps.
3:48 p.m.: The green flag was flying at Phoenix Raceway. Kyle Larson leads the pack to start things.
3:45 p.m.: Kevin Harvick is hoping to extend Las Vegas’ top 10 streak to 20 straight years. By far the greatest driver in the history of the track.
3:39 p.m.: The engines started here in Phoenix. Should be a convincing race.
3:15 p.m.: Zane Smith drove backwards after encountering a power steering problem earlier in the day.
So far the only car in the back is Zane Smith’s car as they had to repair a leaking power steering this morning. https://t.co/P3hzi7qSTF
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) March 12, 2023
3:05 p.m.: It’s going to be a full house at Phoenix Raceway today.
You heard it here first…we’re SOLD OUT for those #UnitedRentals500! pic.twitter.com/JfJ6nT0I4K
– Phoenix Raceway (@phoenixraceway) March 12, 2023
Phoenix Raceway announces today #NASCAR Race is sold out. Fourth consecutive Phoenix sell-off.
NASCAR opens the season with sell-outs at three of the first four events (Daytona 500, Fontana, Phoenix).
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) March 12, 2023
3:00 p.m.: Kyle Larson seems ready for action today. Here he talks about how he was pleasantly surprised by Hendrick’s performance at Phoenix this weekend:
Kyle Larson is on pole for the race today. He was happy with the car on Saturday as he underlined the high speed in practice. He was concerned going into the weekend because Hendrick was absent from the January test in Phoenix. pic.twitter.com/F3onyxZw1w
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) March 12, 2023
United Rentals Work United 500 2023 starting lineup
| start pos. | driver | car no | team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Kyle Larson | 5 | Henrik Motorsport |
| 2. | Denny Hamlin | 11 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 3. | William Byron | 24 | Henrik Motorsport |
| 4. | Brad Keselowski | 6 | RFK race |
| 5. | Christopher Bell | 20 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 6. | Ross Chastain | 1 | Trackhouse race |
| 7. | Michael McDowell | 34 | Motorsport in the front row |
| 8th. | Ryan Blaney | 12 | Team Penke |
| 9. | Kyle Bush | 8th | Richard Childress Racing |
| 10 | Eric Jones | 43 | Legacy Motor Club |
| 11. | Daniel Suarez | 99 | Trackhouse race |
| 12. | Tyler Reddick | 45 | 23XI race |
| 13. | Martin Truex Jr. | 19 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 14 | Ty Gibbs | 54 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 15 | Kevin Harvick | 4 | Stewart-Haas race |
| 16 | Joey Logano | 22 | Team Penke |
| 17 | Josh Berry | 9 | Henrik Motorsport |
| 18 | Alex Bowman | 48 | Henrik Motorsport |
| 19 | Bubba Wallace | 23 | 23XI race |
| 20 | Austin Cinderic | 2 | Team Penke |
| 21 | Chris Buescher | 17 | RFK race |
| 22 | AJ Allmendinger | 16 | Kaulig Racing |
| 23 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 47 | JTG Daugherty Racing |
| 24 | Hunt Briscoe | 14 | Stewart-Haas race |
| 25 | Ryan Preece | 41 | Stewart-Haas race |
| 26 | Justin Haley | 31 | Kaulig Racing |
| 27 | Harrison Burton | 21 | Wood Brothers race |
| 28 | Corey LaJoie | 7 | Spire Motorsport |
| 29 | death Gilland | 15 | Rick Ware Racing |
| 30 | Austin Dillon | 3 | Richard Childress Racing |
| 31 | Aric Almirola | 10 | Stewart-Haas race |
| 32 | Noah Gragson | 42 | Legacy Motor Club |
| 33 | BJ McLeod | 78 | Live fast motorsport |
| 34 | Zane Smith | 38 | Motorsport in the front row |
| 35 | Ty Dillon | 77 | Spire Motorsport |
| 36 | CodyWare | 51 | Rick Ware Racing |
What channel is the United Rentals Work United 500 on today?
- TV channel: Fox (USA) | TSN5 (Canada)
- Live broadcast: FoxSports.com, fuboTV
This year’s United Rentals Work United 500 will air on Fox in the United States. Canadian viewers can follow the race on TSN5.
Mike Joy will direct coverage and serve as the race’s lap-by-lap announcer. He will be joined on the stand by former Cup Series drivers Clint Bowyer and Danica Patrick.
Cord cutters can find Sunday’s race on FoxSports.com as well as on fuboTV, which offers a free trial.
When does the United Rentals Work United 500 start today?
- Date: Sunday March 12th
- start time: 3:30 p.m. ET (12:30 p.m. local time)
Sunday’s race is scheduled to begin at 3:30pm ET (12:30pm local time), but pre-race activities will set the green flag at 3:47pm ET (12:47pm local time).