The Shriners Children’s 500 is set to take place on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at the Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. This race marks the fourth event of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season and promises to be an exciting and competitive race.
Race Details
- Date: Sunday, March 9, 2025
- Location: Phoenix Raceway, Avondale, Arizona
- Track Length: 1 mile
- Race Distance: 312 laps (312 miles)
- Stages: 60/185/312
- TV Coverage: FS1 at 3:30 p.m. ET
- Radio Coverage: MRN Radio / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio at 3:30 p.m. ET
Defending Champion
- Christopher Bell: Bell won the 2024 Shriners Children’s 500 and is looking to defend his title this year. He has been in excellent form, securing back-to-back victories this season.
Key Drivers to Watch
- Ryan Blaney: Blaney has been incredibly consistent at Phoenix Raceway since the implementation of the Next Gen car in 2022. He has an average finish of 2.8 in six events at Phoenix, including four runner-up finishes in the last five races. Blaney is currently second in points behind Daytona 500 winner William Byron and is looking to secure his first win at Phoenix.
- William Byron: Byron has been performing well at Phoenix Raceway, with one win, three top-five finishes, and four top-10s since 2022. He is currently leading the points standings and is a strong contender for this race.
- Kyle Larson: Larson is another driver to watch, with a strong track record at Phoenix Raceway. He has consistently performed well and is expected to be a top contender.
- Denny Hamlin: Hamlin is a two-time winner at Phoenix Raceway and has finished 11th or better in eight of the last nine races at the track. He is looking to bounce back from a 21st-place finish at Circuit of the Americas last weekend.
Track Insights
Phoenix Raceway is known for its unique dogleg frontstretch, which was reconfigured in 2011 and made into the track’s frontstretch in 2018. This feature creates a vast expanse of racing room, leading to wild restarts and multiple racing lines through the dogleg once up to speed. Surviving restarts and taking chances to gain position will be crucial for drivers in this race.
Betting Odds
- Christopher Bell: +500
- Ryan Blaney: +550
- Kyle Larson: +850
- Chase Elliott: +1000
- William Byron: +1000
- Denny Hamlin: +1100
- Joey Logano: +1200
How to Watch
- Practice: Saturday, March 8 at 2:05 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime Video
- Qualifying: Saturday, March 8 at 3:10 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime Video
- Race: Sunday, March 9 at 3:30 p.m. ET on FS1
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, March 7, 2025
