News

Good Ranchers 250
Avondale, AZ - March 7, 2026

JOSEF NEWGARDEN No. 2 XPEL CHEVROLET

START: 2ND 
FINISH: 1ST  
POINTS: 1ST
 

RACE RUNDOWN: After not winning until the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season finale at Nashville last season, Josef Newgarden and the No. 2 XPEL Chevrolet team put a mark in the win column in the second round of the 2026 championship on Saturday afternoon at Phoenix Raceway. It is the second-consecutive win at Phoenix for the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner as Newgarden was the victor the last time the series visited the one-mile oval in 2018. Newgarden will carry the points lead into the third round of the championship standings for the first time since winning back-to-back races at Texas Motor Speedway and Long Beach early in the 2022 season. The XPEL team's strategy was to stay aggressive throughout the 250-lap event as they made five pit stops on the day to maintain a tire advantage when possible. Continued adjustments throughout the cycle of pit stops allowed the team to give Newgarden the car he needed after pitting for fresh tires with just 38 laps remaining. After restarting in the 10th position, Newgarden put on another display of his oval abilities as he carved his way through the field, setting up a late-race pass on Kyle Kirkwood to give Newgarden the lead for the first time with only a handful of laps remaining. The victory is the 33rd of Newgarden's career, placing him one victory behind Al Unser Jr. for ninth place on the all-time INDYCAR SERIES wins list.

NEWGARDEN'S THOUGHTS: "I'm just very surprised. I mean, look, we, it's only been a race since we haven't won, so it's not like it's been a while, but I just, in the middle of the race, I don't know that I was fully believing that we had the capability to win. and we just we kept working through it and I'm like, look, if we get another opportunity, we're going be on the aggressive side, we're going to be on the offense. We took tires, and the thing was like a rocket ship when it needed to be, was right at the end of the race. So, hats off to the whole crew. XPEL back in Victory Lane. We had them in 2021. Team Chevy!! So, I'm pumped. I love to be here in Phoenix. I'm so happy we are here. This is you know, this is an INDYCAR track I think people that know the history of the sport know this is an INDYCAR track. So, to be here with NASCAR is fantastic. but we gotta be here as well and, I love being here with this group."

SCOTT MCLAUGHLIN No. 3 GALLAGHER CHEVROLET

START: 5TH 
FINISH: 8TH  
POINTS: 3RD (-12)
 

RACE RUNDOWN: Scott McLaughlin and the No. 3 Gallagher Chevrolet team turned in a solid, eighth-place effort in Saturday's Good Ranchers 250 at Phoenix Raceway, leaving the desert oval in the third position in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES standings. Always a tough competitor in time trials, McLaughlin started the race from the fifth position. He dropped a few positions throughout the first stint while dealing with front-end handling issues on his Gallagher Chevy. McLaughlin would settle comfortably inside the top 10 following his first pit stop of the day on Lap 73 before catching a huge break by discovering a puncture in the right rear tire on Lap 120. He was able to make his way down pit road for fresh Firestone tires to continue unscathed. As the end of the 250-lap event became one of tire strategy and green-flag pit stops, McLaughlin would cycle in and out of the top five before crossing the line in the eighth position.

MCLAUGHLIN'S THOUGHTS: "Battled all day in the Gallagher Chevy. I wasn't entirely happy with the balance and it wasn't really that comfortable. We have to do a little bit of studying. Overall, it's a great day. The team won. That's a good thing. Congrats to the No. 2 team. We'll rebuild and go to a great race in Arlington."

DAVID MALUKAS No. 12 VERIZON CHEVROLET

START: 1ST  
FINISH: 3RD  
POINTS: 6TH (-22)
 

RACE RUNDOWN: David Malukas and the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet team followed up their pole winning run on Friday afternoon with a third-place finish in Saturday's Good Ranchers 250 at Phoenix Raceway, Malukas' first podium finish for Team Penske. A blistering run on Friday gave Malukas his first career pole position as he continues his freshman campaign in the Verizon Chevy. When the green flag fell, Malukas was able to stay at the front of the field before making his first trip to pit lane on Lap 73. He would be jumped by teammate Josef Newgarden on the pit cycle as the action at the front of the field became intense. Despite handling issues throughout the day, Malukas was able to keep the leaders in his sights until just after the halfway point when a front wing adjustment on the team's Lap 128 pit stop led to further handling issues. As a result, Malukas dropped outside the top 10 before setting into the 12th position. The Verizon team made its last pit stop of the day on Lap 188, and after staying out on a Lap 212 caution, Malukas cycled into the third position. Despite not having Firestone tires as fresh as those that pitted under the caution period, Malukas drove a determined race to maintain his track position and score a third-place finish. 
 

MALUKAS' THOUGHTS: "Man. That's, wow. I mean, the whole day we were fighting that car. It didn't play out for us in the end. But I want to say congrats to Josef. They were there with the new tires there at the end. That last set was, we were burning it. I mean, drifting sideways, but I think that's actually where we excelled. It seemed like on new tires; I couldn't really do much. And when the tires degged, I think it showed there. We were reeling in Kirkwood. We got around Rasmussen. Good job from everybody at Team Penske, Verizon, Chevrolet, everybody. It was, it was a good race. Scott. Big weekend with the pole and the podium."

The third round of the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule will feature a new, must-see event on the streets of Arlington, Texas.  The circuit will wind its way around the home stadiums of the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers, both of whom are partners in the event. The Java House Grand Prix of Arlington can be see live on FOX beginning at 12:30 pm ET.