AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Ryan Blaney took the pole at Phoenix Raceway on Saturday, putting him in good position to make a move up the standings in NASCAR's postseason.
Blaney — who is trying to win his third straight race in the desert and is currently fifth in the playoff standings — covered the mile tri-oval in 26.250 seconds, edging Team Penske teammate Joey Logano by 0.032 seconds. His No. 12 Ford was the only car to top 137 miles per hour for his lap.
“It's big to start the race up towards the front and try to get some stage points and stuff like that,” Blaney said. “Good pit stall. It's really, really important. Job No. 1 done today, so I'm proud of everybody for doing a good job and taking that first step and then a whole new challenge tomorrow.”
Kyle Larson qualified a disappointing 22nd, calling into question whether he can keep up his stellar run of races that has given him a commanding lead in NASCAR's playoffs.
Larson goes into Sunday's race 49 points ahead of second-place Denny Hamlin with four races remaining.
Chase Briscoe qualified third, Hamlin was fourth and Christopher Bell was fifth in cooler and cloudier conditions than expected. Briscoe has won the past two races in Las Vegas and Charlotte to vault to fourth in the Chase standings.
See AP’s full auto racing coverage here
Chase Briscoe (19) beats Christopher Bell (20) to the finish line to win a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, in Concord, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)
Kyle Larson steers through Turn 4 during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, in Concord, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)
Ryan Blaney is introduced to fans prior to a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, in Concord, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley) Correction corrects location to Concord.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Connor McDavid had two goals and three assists and the Edmonton Oilers beat the Utah Mammoth 6-2 on Saturday night to split a home-and-home series.
Utah won 4-2 on Thursday night in Edmonton.
Zach Hyman, Mathieu Joseph, Kasperi Kapanen and Leon Draisaitl also scored for the Oilers. Vasily Podkolzin had two assists, and Tristan Jarry made 26 saves.
John Marino and Mikhail Sergachev scored for the Mammoth. Utah replaced goalkeeper Karel Vejmelka with Sebastian Cossa late in the second period. Vejmelka finished with 12 saves, while Cossa made three saves.
Edmonton scored there goals in the first period. McDavid opened the scoring 40 seconds into the game. Hyman scored on a power play with 6:39 remaining in the period, and Joseph followed on a breakaway 32 seconds later.
Kapanen extended Edmonton’s lead to 4-0 with 9:03 remaining in the second period. Draisaitl scored less than three minutes later for a 5-0 advantage.
Oilers: Host Minnesota on Tuesday night.
Mammoth: Host Pittsburgh on Monday night.
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Utah Mammoth defenseman Mikhail Sergachev (98) skates with the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Edmonton Oilers Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)
Edmonton Oilers right wing Mathieu Joseph (21) scores the goal against Utah Mammoth goalie Karel Vejmelka (70) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)
Utah Mammoth center Nick Schmaltz (8) stops the puck against Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)
Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) skates with the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Utah Mammoth Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)
Utah Mammoth center Jack McBain (22) fights with Edmonton Oilers center Trent Frederic (10) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)
