SPRINT CUP SERIES – ADVOCARE 500

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES – ADVOCARE 500, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 3 P.M. ET ON ESPN

Johnson Hopes To Regain ‘Closer’ Reputation

Atop the Chase standings for the second time in 2013, Jimmie Johnson has been “the closer” in four of the five seasons (2006-09) he’s been the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points leader with two races remaining. In 2012, he couldn’t hold a seven-point lead – identical to this year’s margin – after tire failure and a 32nd-place finish at Phoenix International Raceway opened the door for Brad Keselowski. Johnson, a four-time Phoenix winner, finished second in this March’s race at the one-mile oval.

 

Kenseth Must Battle Phoenix History As Well As Johnson

This week suggests an uphill battle – at least statistically – for Matt Kenseth. Although Kenseth has won at Phoenix (2002), the second-ranked driver’s resume pales in comparison to that of Jimmie Johnson. The most recent of Kenseth’s five top-five finishes came in the fall of 2007. Johnson has finished among the top five in 12 of the last 14 Phoenix events. Johnson’s average finish is 6.5 vs. Kenseth’s 17.2. Kenseth’s March trip to the Valley of the Sun in the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota produced a seventh-place finish.

 

Final Stand For Last Year’s AdvoCare 500 Winner Harvick

Sunday’s AdvoCare 500 truly represents Kevin Harvick’s last stand. Harvick ranks third, 40 points out of the lead. Fall another nine points back and Harvick – winner of last fall’s Phoenix Chase race – will be mathematically eliminated. Harvick swept both Phoenix races in 2006. The Bakersfield, Calif., veteran has finished among the top five in three of his past five starts. Harvick has finished third in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship in two of the past three seasons.

 

Earnhardt Among Battlers For Top-Five Points Finish

Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Clint Bowyer and Greg Biffle – fourth through eighth and 52 to 73 points behind Jimmie Johnson – all face Chase elimination at Phoenix. Their more realistic goal this season is to net a top-five championship finish. Earnhardt holds the hottest hand among the five with two of his three runner-up Chase finishes coming in the past three races. The two-time Phoenix winner no doubt wishes he could toss out the 35th at Chicagoland Speedway. Junior has finished among the top 10 20 times in 2013 – one fewer than his career season highs of 2003-04.   

 

Logano Vaults Into Top 10, Eyes Las Vegas Celebration

Ten Chase competitors will make the on-stage cut for next month’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Awards Banquet in Las Vegas. A third-place finish on Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway enabled Joey Logano to reach the current top 10, bypassing 2004 series champion Kurt Busch and Carl Edwards. Logano, competing in his first Chase, is five points ahead of Busch. Edwards, 20 markers behind Busch in 11th; Ryan Newman (-22) and Kasey Kahne (-37) have work to do in the final two events.

 

Spoiler Role Possible For Phoenix Winners Burton, Hamlin, Martin

Only two drivers outside the Chase field have won the AdvoCare 500. Kyle Busch (2005) and Kasey Kahne (2011) both qualified for this year’s postseason. Non-Chase drivers with a Phoenix victory who will be part of Sunday’s race include Denny Hamlin (2012), Mark Martin (2009, 1993) and Jeff Burton (2000-01).