{"id":56523,"date":"2026-03-08T20:27:39","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T01:27:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=56523"},"modified":"2026-03-08T20:31:51","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T01:31:51","slug":"ryan-blaney-rallies-for-phoenix-victory-completes-penske-weekend-sweep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/08\/ryan-blaney-rallies-for-phoenix-victory-completes-penske-weekend-sweep\/","title":{"rendered":"Ryan Blaney rallies for Phoenix victory, completes Penske weekend sweep"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Dent Wizard Ford, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Straight Talk Wireless 500 at Phoenix Raceway on March 08, 2026 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Meg Oliphant\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service<\/em><\/p>\n

PHOENIX, Ariz. \u2013 Ryan Blaney completed a hard-earned Team Penske sweep at the famed Phoenix Raceway in Sunday\u2019s Straight Talk Wireless 500 \u2013 recovering from multiple early race setbacks to claim his first NASAR Cup Series trophy of the 2026 season and answer his Penske team\u2019s Saturday IndyCar win at the track with a spectacular and popular stock car victory a day later.<\/p>\n

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Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Dent Wizard Ford, crosses the finish line to win the NASCAR Cup Series Straight Talk Wireless 500 at Phoenix Raceway on March 08, 2026 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

A pair of pit stop issues \u2013 including a penalty for pitting outside his box \u2013 put Blaney at the rear of the field twice early in the race but the 2023 series champion was not to be denied \u2013 rallying back in his No. 12 Team Penske Ford and taking the lead for good with 10 laps remaining.<\/p>\n

Blaney\u2019s team took tire tires on a final stop on a caution with 12 laps remaining and made his way forward after restarting on the second row.<\/p>\n

He got around then race leader Ty Gibbs with 10 to go and then held off Gibbs\u2019 Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Christopher Bell who led the most laps – 176 of 312 – but faced a huge task moving up from an eighth-place position on the final restart as the first car to take four tires. With the fresh Goodyear rubber, Bell at least kept Blaney honest, cutting into the lead with each lap, but ultimately coming .399-second short.<\/p>\n

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Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Dent Wizard Ford, poses with the winner sticker on his car in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Straight Talk Wireless 500 at Phoenix Raceway on March 08, 2026 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Meg Oliphant\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cJust perseverance,” Blaney conceded of his afternoon. \u201cI mean, everybody on the 12-group persevered all day. We had a couple mistakes that we learned from, got better, had to come from the back a couple times.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously the 20 [Bell] was the best car. But [Blaney\u2019s crew chief] Jonathan [Hassler] made a great call to take two [on last stop]. We were able to get the lead. Hold them off. I don’t know how many more laps I could have held them off.<\/p>\n

\u201cReally proud of everybody at Team Penske. We swept the weekend with [Josef] Newgarden winning yesterday, us winning today. Can’t wait to see [team owner] Roger [Penske]. \u2026 Can’t say enough about the 12 guys for keeping their head down and doing what they do and Jonathan again for making a good call at the end.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, signs autographs for NASCAR fans on the red carpet prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Straight Talk Wireless 500 at Phoenix Raceway on March 08, 2026 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Meg Oliphant\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Bright sun and temperatures near 90-degrees welcomed a huge crowd for the Sunday\u2019s second half of the well-received racing doubleheader weekend with both IndyCar and NASCAR marquee events. Many of the open-wheel racers stayed at track and found spots atop team pit stands to watch the stock cars compete.<\/p>\n

And the Penske team certainly made the most of the unique doubleheader opportunity.<\/p>\n

It marks the 32-year-old Blaney\u2019s 18th career victory and second at Phoenix and vaults him to second place in the championship standings \u2013 now 60 points behind 23XI Racing\u2019s Tyler Reddick, who saw his historic three-race winning streak to start the season end with an eighth-place showing Sunday.<\/p>\n

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Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, and Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Dent Wizard Ford, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Straight Talk Wireless 500 at Phoenix Raceway on March 08, 2026 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Meg Oliphant\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Reddick ran among the top-10 throughout the race but never truly challenged for the victory.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe kind of just hovered around fifth all day,” conceded Reddick, whose 23XI Racing team co-owner Michael Jordan was again trackside in support of the organization\u2019s record-setting 2026 season start.<\/p>\n

\u201cLooking at the board over here, scored the fourth most amount of points on the day,” he added. \u201cThat’s kind of what we need to keep doing all year to keep the lead that we have and try and hang on to it. Solid day. If we’re not going to win, these are the kind of days we need to have. Glad to get out of here with some points.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Bob’s Discount Furniture Toyota, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series Straight Talk Wireless 500 at Phoenix Raceway on March 08, 2026 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Bell, the defending race winner, whose own three-race winning streak last season included this Phoenix race, was understandably disappointed to finish runner-up after leading the most laps. The upside, however, is that his No. 20 JGR team dramatically moved up from 18th in the championship standings before the race to now sixth place heading to Las Vegas next week. He and Blaney each won a stage Sunday.<\/p>\n

\u201cUltimately, if we had more green flag laps, I think we could have made a run at him,” Bell said. \u201cI don’t know. You win some, you lose some. This one stings, but on the positive side I’m really proud of our entire team. It’s something to build on. It was a day that we needed. We got a lot of stage points, finished second – just bummed whenever they get away like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, leads the field to the green flag to start the NASCAR Cup Series Straight Talk Wireless 500 at Phoenix Raceway on March 08, 2026 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Beyond Blaney and Bell, reigning series champion, Hendrick Motorsports\u2019 Kyle Larson finished third followed by Bell\u2019s JGR teammates Gibbs\u00a0 – who now has back-to-back fourth-place finishes on the season – and Denny Hamlin.<\/p>\n

Reddick\u2019s teammate Bubba Wallace was sixth, followed by Hendrick\u2019s William Byron, Reddick, Spire Motorsports Michael McDowell and Legacy Motor Club\u2019s Erik Jones. Popular driver Shane Van Gisbergen \u2013 the series road racing ace \u2013 rallied to an 11th-place showing even after being involved in multiple incidents on the day.<\/p>\n

The race\u2019s 12 cautions tied the track record for yellow flags. There were eight leaders and 23 lead changes.<\/p>\n

Anthony Alfredo, who was subbing for Hendrick Motorsports driver Alex Bowman, finished 33rd in the No. 48 Chevrolet, collected in a multi-car crash with just less than 100 laps remaining.<\/p>\n

The NASCAR Cup Series heads to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway for next Sunday\u2019s Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube (4 p.m. ET on FS1, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Wood Brothers Racing\u2019s Josh Berry is the defending race winner.<\/p>\n

Interviews:<\/h3>\n

Ryan Blaney (No. 12 Team Penske Ford) – NASCAR Cup Series Race Winner’s Press Conference –<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Jonathan Hassler and Michael Nelson – Press Conference –<\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HasslerNelson030826.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

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NASCAR Cup Series Race – Straight Talk Wireless 500<\/b><\/p>\n

Phoenix Raceway<\/b><\/p>\n

Avondale, Arizona<\/b><\/p>\n

Sunday, March 8, 2026<\/b><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1. (5)\u00a0 Ryan Blaney, Ford, 312.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2. (12)\u00a0 Christopher Bell, Toyota, 312.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 3. (2)\u00a0 Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 312.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 4. (14)\u00a0 Ty Gibbs, Toyota, 312.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 5. (11)\u00a0 Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 312.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 6. (28)\u00a0 Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 312.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 7. (9)\u00a0 William Byron, Chevrolet, 312.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 8. (8)\u00a0 Tyler Reddick, Toyota, 312.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 9. (16)\u00a0 Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, 312.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 10. (32)\u00a0 Erik Jones, Toyota, 312.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 11. (18)\u00a0 Shane Van Gisbergen, Chevrolet, 312.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 12. (30)\u00a0 Todd Gilliland, Ford, 312.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 13. (13)\u00a0 Ryan Preece, Ford, 312.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 14. (17)\u00a0 Chris Buescher, Ford, 312.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 15. (37)\u00a0 Brad Keselowski, Ford, 312.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 16. (25)\u00a0 Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 312.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 17. (29)\u00a0 Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, 312.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 18. (22)\u00a0 Riley Herbst, Toyota, 312.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 19. (23)\u00a0 AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 312.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 20. (7)\u00a0 Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet, 312.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 21. (27)\u00a0 Austin Hill(i), Chevrolet, 312.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 22. (21)\u00a0 Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, 312.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 23. (26)\u00a0 Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 312.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 24. (34)\u00a0 Cody Ware, Chevrolet, 312.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 25. (15)\u00a0 John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota, 312.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 26. (33)\u00a0 Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 311.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 27. (24)\u00a0 Zane Smith, Ford, Accident, 294.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 28. (6)\u00a0 Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 286.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 29. (19)\u00a0 Connor Zilisch #, Chevrolet, Suspension, 281.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 30. (4)\u00a0 Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, Accident, 254.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 31. (1)\u00a0 Joey Logano, Ford, Accident, 253.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 32. (10)\u00a0 Josh Berry, Ford, Accident, 253.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 33. (31)\u00a0 Anthony Alfredo(i), Chevrolet, Accident, 217.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 34. (3)\u00a0 Austin Cindric, Ford, Accident, 216.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 35. (36)\u00a0 Cole Custer, Chevrolet, Radiator, 159.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 36. (35)\u00a0 Noah Gragson, Ford, Accident, 155.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 37. (20)\u00a0 Chase Briscoe, Toyota, Accident, 131.<\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:\u00a0 88.219 mph.<\/p>\n

Time of Race:\u00a0 3 Hrs, 32 Mins, 12 Secs. Margin of Victory:\u00a0 .399 Seconds.<\/p>\n

Caution Flags:\u00a0 12 for 86 laps.<\/p>\n

Lead Changes:\u00a0 23 among 8 drivers.<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:\u00a0\u00a0 J. Logano 1-46;R. Blaney 47-64;J. Logano 65;C. Bell 66-96;J. Logano 97;C. Bell 98-108;J. Logano 109-124;C. Bell 125-133;J. Logano 134-138;C. Bell 139-162;J. Logano 163;R. Preece 164-167;D. Hamlin 168-172;C. Bell 173-190;J. Logano 191;C. Bell 192-211;J. Logano 212;J. Berry 213-225;C. Bell 226-247;J. Logano 248;C. Bell 249-289;W. Byron 290;T. Gibbs 291-302;R. Blaney 303-312.<\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):\u00a0 Christopher Bell 8 times for 176 laps; Joey Logano 9 times for 73 laps; Ryan Blaney 2 times for 28 laps; Josh Berry 1 time for 13 laps; Ty Gibbs 1 time for 12 laps; Denny Hamlin 1 time for 5 laps; Ryan Preece 1 time for 4 laps; William Byron 1 time for 1 lap.<\/p>\n

Stage #1 Top Ten: 12,20,22,45,11,2,7,54,24,1<\/p>\n

Stage #2 Top Ten: 20,11,22,17,23,2,77,45,5,34<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service PHOENIX, Ariz. \u2013 Ryan Blaney completed a hard-earned Team Penske sweep at the famed Phoenix Raceway in Sunday\u2019s Straight Talk Wireless 500 \u2013 recovering from multiple early race setbacks to claim his first NASAR Cup Series trophy of the 2026 season and answer his Penske team\u2019s Saturday IndyCar […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":56525,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11],"tags":[16,395,435],"class_list":["post-56523","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-nascar","tag-phoenix-raceway","tag-ryan-blaney"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GettyImages-2265497640-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1694&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-eHF","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56523","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56523"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56523\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":56537,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56523\/revisions\/56537"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/56525"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56523"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56523"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56523"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}