By: Melissa S. Wollering
Jared had better equip each driver with two footlongs for the 600km race at Phoenix International Raceway this Saturday—because we’re NIGHT RACIN’ boys. It’s also the signal to 14 straight weeks of racing, no weekends off!
The picturesque mile-long, extra fat oval (more circle, less oval) is plopped right down into the mountains. Phoenix hosts two races this season—the first this weekend and the second in mid-November when drivers in the Chase will race in anticipation of the final shootout at Homestead the following week.
There aren’t too many Saturday night races—those are usually designated for Nationwide Series races (which is on Friday this week). And this year’s race here is different – there are 63 more laps (375 total) and it starts a bit earlier. So expect pit stops to be important and the track to get faster as night settles in and the temperatures drop.
New this week: Denny Hamlin, the man who won his first victory at Martinsville two weeks ago, is recovering from ACL surgery and hopes to race Saturday. He tore it playing basketball in January (dumb, but it happens) and thought he could wait to repair it until the 2010 season was finished. Nope. So he had the surgery two days after Martinsville. Casey Mears has been running his practice sessions this week and we’ll see if Hamlin can finish the race or he opts to tag Mears in midway through.
Looking ahead to next week, guess who’s sponsoring Bobby LaBonte’s race car in Texas? Governor Rick Perry wants to get re-elected. So he’s putting his name all over Labonte’s car for one week only. Smart. Smart. Labonte is from Corpus Christi, TX. Love when politicians realize NASCAR fans are a ticket to office.
Now to Phoenix, for your weekly Sprint to The Chase Preview, breaking down the top contenders. Each week I analyze their strength for the race at hand as well as their chances for The Chase! Foot, pedal, gas, throttle, green flag…
Juan Pablo Montoya. Snagged the pole and starts up alongside Jimmie Johnson. Montoya has shown some consistency when he starts near the front and he was expected to be a contender this season. So far he’s fallen a little short of expectations. Maybe this week is his week.
Martin Truex, Jr. He has not led a single lap since Daytona this season, but he is one with the Phoenix desert. He has four top-10 finishes in his last five races at this track.
Carl Edwards. His highest finish at this track is only fourth, but he’s do for a breakout win. He’ll also be making his 200th career NASCAR Sprint Cup start on Saturday.
Kevin Harvick. Won last week’s Nationwide Race in Nashville, overtaking Kyle Busch near the end. Harvick could have lost this one—he gambled by heading into pit row for tires but it allowed him to pass Busch in the end. I’d say he’s on a roll and crew chief Ernie Cope is working out well for Harvick. If they keep it up, they’re a good tandem and have some more wins coming.
Matt Kenseth. I got nothing. He’s just do for a win, darn it. And I’ll have a Crown Royal in his name if that will help.
Jimmie Johnson. He’s still favored in betting odds and he loves the fast night racing. He has the most career cup victories at the track with four. Somebody had better beat him. Ratings and viewership are WAY down because his dominance of the sport is making it boring. Zzz….
Denny Hamlin. Denny was in the running for the checkered flag in both races in Phoenix last season. He’s trying to prove to himself his knee is okay and maybe it’ll fuel the fire someone needs to BEAT Johnson. I’m SICK, like vomit sick, of Johnson!
Predicted Winner: Mark Martin. He’s the defending champ at this track, having started from the pole last year. He pretty much dominated the race the whole way through. He led five times for an all-time high 157 laps. He’s done the rare, too: winning from the pole. Only three pole winners in 27 races have gone on to take the checkered flag.
If you’ll remember, the win here last year started his comeback from which he went on to win four more Sprint Cup races. He doesn’t want any more second place points finishes to Johnson. I also have a SICK stat—since 1988 when he was driving the Stroh’s Light Ford, he’s never finished below 19th in the desert. GO MARTIN!
No Way He’ll Win: Dale Earnhardt, Jr. I think he finished 31st and 35th at Phoenix last season. Not good at all. His average finishing position there overall career-wise: 19.1. Just eat another sub and make yourself feel better DE.
We’ll be back next week with a look ahead to the big race at Texas Motor Speedway, where the new spoiler will really be tested for the first time. Until then, boogety, boogety, boogety!
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