NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES 3/11/15

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES

Bloomin’ Onions May Become Scarce After NASCAR Visits Phoenix

Every time Kevin Harvick finishes in the top 10, customers at Outback Steakhouse can get a Bloomin’ Onion the following day. If there is not a Bloomin’ Onion shortage already – since Harvick is riding a streak of six straight top-two finishes dating back to Texas last year – there will likely be one following Sunday’s CampingWorld.com 500 at Phoenix International Raceway (3:30 p.m. ET on FOX). The No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing driver has won the last three events at PIR and holds the all-time track record with six victories.

How historic is Harvick’s run of top twos?

The last driver to finish second or better in six consecutive races was Jeff Gordon. He accomplished the feat in 1996.

Dale Jr. Looks To Continue Hot Start With First Win

Kevin Harvick has gotten off to a blazing hot start, but despite not winning a race yet, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is not far behind. The 12-time NMPA Sprint NASCAR Most Popular Driver, currently second in the standings, trails Harvick by just nine points after stringing together three top-four finishes to begin the season. Junior will go for his first points-paying win with new crew chief Greg Ives in Sunday’s CampingWorld.com 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. He finished runner-up in last season’s first event at the one-mile track and claims two wins there.

Truex speeds into Sun Devil State

14 races.

That’s how deep into the season Martin Truex Jr. delved last year before claiming his third top-10 finish.

Three races.

That’s how long it’s taken him this year.

The New Jersey native enters Sunday’s CampingWorld.com 500 at Phoenix International Raceway coming off a runner-up showing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway – his best finish with Furniture Row Racing since signing with the organization in 2013. Truex has led his No. 78 FRR solo-car team to the fourth spot in the driver points standings – the highest ranking in its 10-year history. He will attempt to continue his run in the Sun Devil State, where he claims six top 10s in 18 starts.

Turning point for Gordon?

After winning the Coors Light Pole Award for the Daytona 500, Jeff Gordon has been unable to catch a break. The No. 24 Chevrolet driver wrecked in the first two races and after winning the pole again at Las Vegas, had to race in a backup car and start from the tail end of the field following a collision with Danica Patrick during practice. Sitting 30th in points, Gordon can turn his season around quickly with a win and the subsequent Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup berth that would come with it.

Phoenix International Raceway might be the spot where Gordon finds Victory Lane in Sunday’s CampingWorld.com 500. The 43-year-old driver has posted two wins, 12 top fives and three Coors Light Pole Awards at the one-mile track and finished runner-up in last season’s fall race there.

Win and You’re In!

“Win and you’re in” remains the big ticket to make the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup this season.

And as of now, three drivers have fulfilled that criterion – points leader Kevin Harvick, Daytona 500 winner Joey Logano and six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson.

With the new format, each race weekend can change the course of a team’s season by propelling even the most-struggling one into the Chase.

Keep in mind even the winners will have to start the remaining regular season races and maintain a points position inside the top 30 to officially clinch their spots.

The incentive for winners to keep winning?

For every victory a driver accumulates, he/she accrues three bonus points that carry into the Challenger Round of NASCAR’s playoffs.

Flu race: Allmendinger pulls his best Jordan impersonation at Las Vegas

In Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals, Michael Jordan overcame the flu to score 38 points and lead his Chicago Bulls team to victory. The achievement is now etched in history as the “flu game.”

Well, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this Sunday, AJ Allemendinger had a “flu race.” Coming off flu-like conditions on Saturday and visiting the care-center Sunday morning, Allmendinger raced from the 22nd starting position to a sixth-place finish in Sin City. His gritty performance has moved him to fifth in the series point standings.

“Dinger” strolls to Phoenix International Raceway for Sunday’s CampingWorld.com 500. He has posted two top 10s in 11 starts at the Arizona track.

History Lesson: PIR Site of First ‘Polish Victory Lap’

You never forget your first win.

In the case of NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee Alan Kulwicki, fans have not forgotten how he celebrated his first win.

The driver / owner earned his first career victory in the 1988 Checker 500 at Phoenix International Raceway, in his 85th start.  Ricky Rudd had the dominant car of the race, but was passed by Kulwicki with 16 laps remaining after experiencing engine trouble.

Kulwicki’s celebration was simple, yet notable. 

He turned his car around and did a clockwise lap to salute the fans at PIR. The move was dubbed the “Polish Victory Lap” and made Kulwicki an instant fan favorite.

Approaching Milestones

Three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series mainstays are currently approaching or will soon reach milestones. Kasey Kahne will make his 400th consecutive career NSCS start this weekend at Phoenix. He ranks 21st on the consecutive starts list. In his 399 previous starts, he has posted 17 wins (including a 2011 victory at Phoenix), 83 top fives, 147 top 10s, 26 poles and an average finish of 17.3.

Furthermore, Kahne’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson will make his 475th NSCS start (41st all time) and Richard Childress Racing driver Ryan Newman will attempt to post the 100th top-five finish of his career.