2021 Instacart 500
# 2021 Instacart 500

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.

## Report

### Background

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**

* (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

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

### Starting Lineup

| 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

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. It was Truex's 28th Cup Series win and his first at Phoenix.

### Stage Results

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

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

* 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

### Television

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

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

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| - | - | - | - |
| | 1 | Denny Hamlin | 235 |
| | 2 | Brad Keselowski | 197 (–38) |
| 3 | 3 | Joey Logano | 192 (–43) |
| 4 | 4 | Martin Truex Jr. | 180 (–55) |
| 2 | 5 | Kyle Larson | 179 (–56) |
| 2 | 6 | Chase Elliott | 179 (–56) |
| | 7 | Kevin Harvick | 176 (–59) |
| 3 | 8 | Christopher Bell | 167 (–68) |
| 2 | 9 | William Byron | 152 (–83) |
| | 10 | Kurt Busch | 144 (–91) |
| 2 | 11 | Michael McDowell | 140 (–95) |
| | 12 | Austin Dillon | 135 (–100) |
| 2 | 13 | Ryan Blaney | 134 (–101) |
| 1 | 14 | Ryan Preece | 123 (–112) |
| 1 | 15 | Kyle Busch | 115 (–120) |
| 1 | 16 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 113 (–123) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
| | Pos | Manufacturer | Points |
| | 1 | Chevrolet | 180 |
| 1 | 2 | Toyota | 180 (–0) |
| 1 | 3 | Ford | 177 (–3) |
