Former NASCAR Cup Series champion turned commentator Kevin Harvick Shares his insights and predicts the winner of this weekend’s Straight Talk Wireless 500 competition. He will join the Ford driver to win Sunday’s Straight Talk Wireless 500 at Phoenix Raceway.

On a recent episode of the “Happy Hour with Kevin Harvick” podcast, 2014 NASCAR Cup champion Harvick and his co-hosts Kaitlin Vinci and Mamba Smith selected the drivers they think have a good chance of winning on Sunday, March 8, in Phoenix.

Harvick picks Team Penske driver Ryan Blaney Win this year’s Phoenix Spring Split. Harvick chose Blaney because of his impressive record on the one-mile oval.

Harvick said in selecting the 2026 Straight Talk Wireless 500 winners:

“I choose Blainey” (52:45)

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Kevin Harvick co-host Caitlin Vincy picked Joe Gibbs Racing driver Christopher Bell to win his first race of the season. Bell is the defending champion of the event and has two wins here.

“I’m backing Christopher Bell to get two wins in the last four games and that’s a motivation for Cota,” Vinci said.

Meanwhile, co-host Mamba Smith selects Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron Win this weekend. Byron won this event in 2023.

“You know what? What did you get? William Byron,” Smith said as he shared his choice.

Kevin Harvick believes the race in Phoenix is ​​wide open and anyone can win here.

Tyler Reddick won three consecutive races this season, becoming the first driver in series history to win the first three races in the series.

How did Kevin Harvick’s No. 1 pick fare at Phoenix Raceway?

Ryan Blaney has an impressive record at Phoenix Raceway, winning last year’s Championship Finals along with multiple runner-up finishes and a high run average.

In 20 races at Phoenix Speedway, Blaney had one victory, four second-place finishes, three pole positions, 10 top-5 finishes, 14 top-10 finishes, and an average finish of 10.8.

Blaney finished 27th in the season-opening Daytona 500, 10th at EchoPark and eighth at the recently concluded COTA race. His best odds to win the first NASCAR Cup Series race of the season are +550.

It will be interesting to see how the choices of Kevin Harvick and his co-hosts pan out at Phoenix Raceway. Watch Game 4 of the 2026 season on Fox 1 at 3:30 PM ET.