The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Arizona with a stop at Phoenix International Raceway for the Can-Am 500(k). Brian Brown took a look at past performances, season trends, and spoke with NASCAR contacts to predict how the field should finish on Sunday.
When: Sunday, November 13; 2:44 p.m./et.
Weather: Sunny with a high around 83; wind out of the NW at 4 mph. There is a ZERO percent change of precipitation.
The Track: Phoenix International Raceway
PIRis a relatively flat (11 and nine degree banking in the corners) one mile oval. Drivers run very similar setups at Richmond and New Hampshire.
Key to Race: Once again, Can Anyone Touch Harvick?
Kevin Harvick has won six of the last eight races at Phoenix International. If there is ever a MUST use driver it is the 2014 champion this weekend. Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, and Joey Logano are also strong options on Sunday.
Round of 8 Standings:
Jimmie Johnson* 4074 points
Carl Edwards* 4049 points
Joey Logano 4074 points
Kyle Busch 4074 points
Matt Kenseth 4073 points
Denny Hamlin 4072 points
Kevin Harvick 4056 points
Kurt Busch 4040 points
*have earned spot in Championship 4
Qualifying Procedures:
40 cars will qualify for 40 spots.
Fantasy Cheat Sheet:
Top 5
No. 4 Kevin Harvick: Harvick has been simply awesome at PIR. USE HIM THIS WEEKEND.
No. 48 Jimmie Johnson: Johnson has 20 top 10 finishes in 27 career starts at PIR including four wins at the track. He should challenge Harvick for the checkers.
No. 18 Kyle Busch: Busch has found victory lane at PIR in the past and led the second most laps at the track this spring. He is a great choice.
No. 11 Denny Hamlin: Hamlin has been very successful atPIRduring his career including four top three finishes in the last nine races. A top five finish wouldn’t surprise us.
No. 22 Joey Logano: Logano cracked the top 11 in nine of his last 13 starts at PIR. He will be a fast option.
6 to 10
No. 19 Carl Edwards: Edwards finished second at PIR this spring and has two wins in the last 11 races at the track. He is a fine pick this weekend.
No. 20 Matt Kenseth: Kenseth has been one of the top drivers at PIR. He is a great choice this weekend.
No. 41 Kurt Busch: Busch has eight top 10 finishes in his past 13 starts at PIR. He is a great pick.
No. 78 Martin Truex Jr.: Truex Jr. was terrific on flat tracks this season and he poised to notch his first career PIR win this weekend.
No. 2 Brad Keselowski: Keselowski has 10 top 20 finishes in 13 career starts at PIR. He should finish inside the top 10 again this weekend.
11 to 20
No. 24 Chase Elliott: Elliott finished eighth at PIR earlier this year. Another fast finish should be expected.
No. 3 Austin Dillon: Austin Dillon was fantastic at PIR earlier this season. He is someone to add to your NASCAR Live roster.
No. 42 Kyle Larson: Larson has one top 10 finish in five career Cup starts at Phoenix. He could make it two this weekend with some luck.
No. 47 A.J. Allmendinger: AJ has been one of the top drivers in the circuit the past four races. He has three top 10 finishes over the span. He is a must use this weekend.
No. 31 Ryan Newman: Newman has been very fast in 10 of the past 13 Phoenix races including a third place finish during the spring race last year. He should solid again on Sunday.
No. 5 Kasey Kahne: Kahne knows how to get around Phoenix. He won the November 2011 race, finished second in the 2013 fall race, and was very fast at PIR early last year. He is a nice third driver in most fantasy leagues.
No. 1 Jamie McMurray: Jamie Mac has run well at PIR lately. He is a nice third driver in deep leagues this weekend.
No. 43 Aric Almirola: Almirola cracked the top 20 in the past nine races at Phoenix. We like him this weekend.
No. 14 Tony Stewart: Smoke has three top 10 finish in his last 11 starts at PIR. There are worse options.
No. 16 Greg Biffle: Biffle has had plenty of past success at PIR. He should have the No. 16 ride inside the top 20.
21 to 30
No. 88 Alex Bowman
No. 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
No. 6 Trevor Bayne
No. 27 Paul Menard
No. 21 Ryan Blaney
No. 10 Danica Patrick
No. 95 Michael McDowell
No. 15 Clint Bowyer
No. 34 Chris Buescher
No. 13 Casey Mears
Field Fillers:
No. 44 Brian Scott
No. 38 Landon Cassill
No. 83 Matt DiBenedetto
No. 7 Regan Smith
No. 46 Michael Annett
No. 23 David Ragan
No. 30 Gray Gaulding
No. 32 Jeffery Earnhardt
No. 55 DJ Kennington
No. 98 Reed Sorenson
My NASCAR LIVE Team for this Week:
Race Winner: Kevin Harvick
Manufacturer: Toyota
My Yahoo! Fantasy NASCAR Team for this Week:
