Things can get tough when the NASCAR Cup Series comes to Phoenix Racetrack.
Bright sunlight, high trail temperatures, polluted air—all can make the one-mile trail difficult to traverse. While not as famous for its wrecks as the Daytona or Talladega, “The Desert Oddball” has had its fair share of dust.
Whether it was Jeff Gordon’s wreck that knocked Clint Bowyer out of the 2012 Chase or Denny Hamlin’s spill that devoured competitors Kurt Busch and Chase Elliott in 2019, Phoenix has had its moments of madness.
More: The date, time, and TV channels for every NASCAR Cup Series race in 2023
Perhaps Sunday will provide even more mayhem when the racers take part in the United Rentals Work United 500. It’s a great race for more reasons than one: It also gives drivers a preview of what’s to come in November’s Cup Series championship race.
Kevin Harvick has enjoyed unprecedented success in Phoenix, and although the veteran has yet to start in early 2023, he should be considered among the favorites for this date.
more: Watch NASCAR Races Live with fuboTV (Free Trial)
Sporting News tracks live updates from the United Rentals Work United 500 at Phoenix Raceway. Here are the highlights and live results for every action under the Arizona sunshine.
United Rentals Work United 500 live stream updates, 2023 race highlights
(all times east)
5:53 PM: Byron is falling fast. He is now nearly six seconds behind pace setter Larson, sitting in third. Not what you want to see from car number 24.
5:45 pm: Bubba Wallace found himself on the cusp of the top 10 for much of Stage 2. However, a long pit stop dropped him back to 19th.
5:40 PM: Replay the race in Vegas and see who’s at the front of the pack: none other than Harvick. Lots of people are in the mix early in the final phase.
5:29 PM: Larson takes the second stage!
Kyle Larson won stage two in Phoenix. pic.twitter.com/WvpMtXlh1i
– bobpocrass March 12, 2023
5:26 PM: Briscoe build in confidence as the race continues. He started 24th, but is sitting in 10th with six laps remaining in the stage. It was just a year ago when he got the win over Phoenix. He definitely has the pedigree to make things interesting on the final stretch.
5:15 pm: Buescher with a bit of a jab at Suarez, giving him a bumper taste when trying to pass the No. 99 car. It would have been disastrous for Suarez, though he recovered well to maintain control.
That was soon. A call between Chris Bucher and Daniel Suarez 😳 pic.twitter.com/Chv2RltT7g
– Fox: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 12, 2023
5:13 pm: Chase Briscoe, Chris Bucher and Daniel Suarez in a show just three outside the top ten. Curiosities in the middle of the pack.
5:10 PM: The green flag waved to resume the race. That should give the rest of the field a chance to make things a little tighter with the Hendrick Motorsports boys who were on top all day.
5:01 pm: Beware! Aric Almirola swerves his whip into the wall in Turn 4, losing part of his wheel after a flat tire. Lap 138 drew the first caution of the day.
Beware of an accident with No. 10. pic.twitter.com/pIGLZBwqLb
– NASCAR March 12, 2023
4:53 PM: Kyle Busch and Michael McDowell served their penalties after going into a very fast lane. As a result, they will be returned to the field.
4:50 pm: Denny Hamlin headed to pit road. That should start an exodus of drivers for the lead lap to change petrol and tires.
4:43 PM: Byron kicking Larson’s heels as we approached lap 50 of Stage 2. The Hendrick Motorsports duo were in their game early on.
4:40 PM: Brad Keselowski had a much better day in Phoenix than this time last year. He stayed in the top ten for each of the first 100 laps of the day.
4:36 PM: Just tap the horn sign for the day rolls. Here’s how things look so far:
100 laps to go in Stage 2: Larson Byron Hamlin Bill Keselowski Chastain Harvick Suarez Bowman McDowell Wallace Jones Briscoe Gibbs Trux Perry
– bobpocrass March 12, 2023
4:29 PM: Green flag returns to Phoenix. Larson stole the rally on Byron, passing him on pit road. He’s back on top.
4:18 PM: Byron takes the first stage. This is his fourth successive victory. It’s burning at the moment.
William Byron sails to victory in the opening stage in Phoenix. pic.twitter.com/MHqx6Jhplx
– bobpocrass March 12, 2023
Kyle Larson after the first stage finish: “I feel really good. It’s just… Liam is *really* good.”
– Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) March 12, 2023
4:14 PM: Logano is in a dangerous position to bring in Byron. The Cup Series champ needs to stay ahead of Ricky Stenhouse Jr. to ensure he gets the free pass going into Stage 2.
4:13 PM: Eric Jones and Ty Gibbs are looking to cut into contention over stage point with 10 laps to go. The two battle for ring position in the fourteenth and fifteenth places.
4:05 pm: Clear air for Byron up front, who led all but one lap despite starting the race behind Larson. Number 24 will be broken early.
4:00 pm: For those with a Harvick watch: Car #4 sits in 13th place, 13 seconds off Byron’s pace. Approaching the midpoint of the first stage.
3:54 PM: Joey Logano has already gotten roped into Martin Truex Jr. not just once, but twice. I can’t imagine Truex would be too happy with the #22 car’s behavior so early on.
3:49 PM: William Byron roars past Larson to take the lead within the first two laps.
3:48 PM: Green flag wave at Phoenix Raceway. Kyle Larson leads the group to get things started.
3:45 pm: Kevin Harvick hopes to extend his Las Vegas top ten streak to 20 consecutive years. By far the greatest driver in the history of the circuit.
3:39 PM: The engines started here in Phoenix. It must be a strong race.
3:15 pm: Zane Smith headed to the rear after having a power steering problem earlier in the day.
The only car in the back so far is Zane Smith’s car as they had to fix a power steering leak this morning. https://t.co/P3hzi7qSTF
– bobpocrass March 12, 2023
3:05 pm: It will be a packed house today at Phoenix Raceway.
You heard it here first… We were sold for #UnitedRentals500! pic.twitter.com/JfJ6nT0I4K
– Phoenix Raceway (phoenixraceway) March 12, 2023
Phoenix Raceway announces today #NASCAR The race is selling. Fourth consecutive Phoenix sale.
NASCAR opens the season with a sellout at three of the first four events (Daytona 500, Fontana, Phoenix).
– Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) March 12, 2023
3 o’clock: Kyle Larson looks ready for action today. Here he discusses how he was pleasantly surprised by Hendrick’s performance in Phoenix this weekend:
Kyle Larson is in the lead today. He was happy with the car on Saturday as he backed up the high pace in practice. He was worried coming into the weekend because Hendrick wasn’t part of the January test in Phoenix. pic.twitter.com/F3onyxZw1w
– bobpocrass March 12, 2023
United Rentals Work United 500 2023 starting lineup
| start pos. | driver | car number | a team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Kyle Larson | 5 | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 2. | Denny Hamlin | 11 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 3. | William Byron | 24 | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 4. | Brad Keselowski | 6 | RFK Racing |
| 5. | Christopher Bell | 20 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 6. | Ross Chastain | 1 | track racing |
| 7. | Michael McDowell | 34 | Front Row Motorsports |
| 8. | Ryan Blaney | 12 | Penske Team |
| 9. | Kyle Bush | 8 | Richard Childress Racing |
| 10. | Eric Jones | 43 | Legacy Motor Club |
| 11. | Daniel Suarez | 99 | track racing |
| 12. | Tyler Reddick | 45 | 23XI Racing |
| 13. | Martin Truex Jr | 19 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 14. | Ty Gibbs | 54 | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 15. | Kevin Harvick | 4 | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 16. | Joey Logano | 22 | Penske Team |
| 17. | Josh Perry | 9 | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 18. | Alex Bowman | 48 | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 19. | Bubba Wallace | 23 | 23XI Racing |
| 20. | Austin Cendrick | 2 | Penske Team |
| 21. | Chris Bucher | 17 | RFK Racing |
| 22. | AJ Alminder | 16 | College Racing |
| 23. | Ricky Stenhouse Jr | 47 | JTG Daugherty Racing |
| 24. | Chase Briscoe | 14 | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 25. | Ryan Preece | 41 | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 26. | Justin Haley | 31 | College Racing |
| 27. | Harrison Burton | 21 | Wood Brothers Race |
| 28. | Corey Lajoie | 7 | Spire Motorsports |
| 29. | Todd Gilliland | 15 | Rick Ware Racing |
| 30. | Austin Dillon | 3 | Richard Childress Racing |
| 31. | Eric Almirola | 10 | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 32. | Noah Gragson | 42 | Legacy Motor Club |
| 33. | PJ MacLeod | 78 | Fast Motorsport Live Streaming |
| 34. | Zane Smith | 38 | Front Row Motorsports |
| 35. | Ty Dillon | 77 | Spire Motorsports |
| 36. | Cody Ware | 51 | Rick Ware Racing |
What is United Rentals Work United 500 channel today?
- TV channel: Fox (United States) | TSN5 (Canada)
- Live broadcast: FoxSports.com, fuboTV
This year’s United Rentals Work United 500 program will be broadcast on Fox in the United States. Canadian viewers can find the race on TSN5.
Mike Joy will lead the coverage, serving as the race’s announcer. He will be joined in the booth by former Cup Series drivers Clint Bowyer and Danica Patrick.
Cord-cutters can find Sunday’s race at FoxSports.com, too fuboTVwhich offers a free trial.
What time does 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 starts at 3:30pm ET (12:30pm local time), but pre-race activities will push the green flag to 3:47pm ET (12:47pm local time).
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