 |
| The flat Phoenix layout always produces great racing. |
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Fast Facts: Phoenix Raceway
· Since the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff inception in 2004, Phoenix Raceway has occupied two different positions on the Playoff schedule: In 2004, the Phoenix Playoff race was the eighth race in the Playoffs. Then from 2005 – present (last 12 seasons), the Phoenix Playoff race has been the ninth event on the Playoff schedule.
Phoenix Playoff Race Winners
|
· Eight tracks have hosted Playoff races all 13 previous years – New Hampshire, Dover, Charlotte, Kansas, Talladega, Martinsville, Phoenix and Homestead-Miami.
· Seven different drivers have won the Phoenix Playoff races, led by Kevin Harvick with four Playoff wins (2006, 2012, 2013 and 2014).
· Four times the winner of the Phoenix Raceway Playoff race has gone on to win the title:
o In 2008, Jimmie Johnson won from the pole at Phoenix, and went on to win his third consecutive MENCS championship.
o In 2009, Jimmie Johnson won from the third starting position at Phoenix, and went on to win his fourth consecutive MENCS championship.
o In 2014, Kevin Harvick won from the third starting position at Phoenix, and went on to win his first MENCS championship.
· The worst finish in a Playoff race at Phoenix by a driver that went on to win the title the same season was 38th by Jimmie Johnson in 2016.
· Three non-Playoff drivers have won the Playoff race at Phoenix Raceway:
o Kyle Busch (2005) was ranked 19th in the points at the time of the win.
o Kasey Kahne (2011) was ranked 14th in the points at the time of the win.
o Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2015) was seventh in points at the time of the win. Earnhardt Jr. had made the Playoffs in 2015, but was eliminated in the Round of 12.
· Nine drivers have won the pole for the Playoff races at Phoenix, led by Jimmie Johnson with three; followed by Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin (two each), Alex Bowman, Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr. Matt Kenseth and Ryan Newman (with one each).
· Three manufacturers have won Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff races at Phoenix Raceway – Chevrolet (10 wins) Ford (two) and Toyota (one).
· Four manufacturers have won the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race Coors Light pole at Phoenix Raceway – Chevrolet (seven poles), Ford (three), Toyota (two) and Dodge (one).
· Top five MENCS Playoff race (2004-Present) lap leaders at Phoenix: Kevin Harvick (744), Jimmie Johnson (596), Kyle Busch (307), Denny Hamlin (305) and Carl Edwards (243).
Rank
|
Driver
|
Races
|
Poles
|
Wins
|
Top Fives
|
Top 10s
|
DNFs
|
Average Finish
|
Driver Rating*
| |
1
|
Martin Truex Jr
|
23
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
7
|
3
|
17.6
|
84.4
| |
2
|
Kyle Busch
|
24
|
3
|
1
|
7
|
16
|
1
|
12.5
|
99.7
| |
3
|
Kevin Harvick
|
29
|
1
|
8
|
13
|
18
|
0
|
9.9
|
110.3
| |
4
|
Brad Keselowski
|
16
|
1
|
0
|
5
|
8
|
1
|
14.0
|
94.1
| |
5
|
Denny Hamlin
|
24
|
2
|
1
|
10
|
14
|
0
|
10.8
|
95.1
| |
6
|
Ryan Blaney
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
13.7
|
83.0
| |
7
|
Chase Elliott
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
9.7
|
107.9
| |
8
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
28
|
3
|
4
|
15
|
20
|
1
|
9.0
|
111.0
|
* – Driver Rating based on last 25 races at Phoenix Raceway (2005 – 2017).
2017 Playoff Stage Winners / Drivers with Playoff Points
Track
|
Stage 1 Winner
|
Stage 2 Winner
|
Race Winner
|
Following Round of 12
| ||
Round of 16
|
Drivers
|
Pts
| ||||
Chicago
|
Kyle Busch
|
Chase Elliott
|
Martin Truex Jr.
|
Martin Truex Jr.
|
69
| |
New Hampshire
|
Martin Truex Jr
|
Kyle Busch
|
Kyle Busch
|
Kyle Busch
|
42
| |
Dover
|
Brad Keselowski
|
Kyle Larson
|
Kyle Busch
|
Brad Keselowski
|
26
| |
Round of 12
|
Kevin Harvick
|
17
| ||||
Charlotte
|
Kevin Harvick
|
Kevin Harvick
|
Martin Truex Jr.
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
17
| |
Talladega
|
Brad Keselowski
|
Ryan Blaney
|
Brad Keselowski
|
Denny Hamlin
|
14
| |
Kansas
|
Kyle Busch
|
Denny Hamlin
|
Martin Truex Jr.
|
Ryan Blaney
|
9
| |
Round of 8
|
Chase Elliott
|
6
| ||||
Martinsville
|
Brad Keselowski
|
Brad Keselowski
|
Kyle Busch
| |||
Texas
|
Kevin Harvick
|
Kyle Larson
|
Kevin Harvick
| |||
Phoenix
| ||||||
Championship 4
| ||||||
Homestead-Miami
| ||||||
Phoenix Raceway Data
Season Race #: 35 of 36 (11-12-17)
Track Size: 1-mile
Banking/Turn 1 & 2: 10-11 degrees
Banking/Turn 3 & 4: 8-9 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 3 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 8-9 degrees
Frontstretch Length: 1,179 feet
Backstretch Length: 1,551 feet
Race Length: 312 laps / 500 Kilometers
Stage 1 & 2 Length: 75 laps (each)
Final Stage Length: 162 laps
Top 10 Active Driver Ratings at Phoenix
Jimmie Johnson........................ 111.0
Kevin Harvick........................... 110.3
Chase Elliott............................. 107.9
Kyle Busch................................. 99.7
Kurt Busch................................. 97.0
Denny Hamlin............................. 95.1
Brad Keselowski......................... 94.1
Kyle Larson................................ 92.7
Joey Logano............................... 92.0
Erik Jones.................................. 91.9
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2017 races (25 total) among active drivers at Phoenix Raceway.
Qualifying/Race Data
2016 pole winner:
Alex Bowman, Chevrolet
140.521 mph, 25.619 secs. 11-11-16
2016 race winner:
Joey Logano, Ford
102.866 mph, (03:08:59), 11-13-16
Track qualifying record:
Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet
143.158 mph, 25.147 secs. 11-13-15
Track race record:
Tony Stewart, Pontiac
118.132 mph, (2:38:28), 11-07-99
|
Phoenix Raceway:
History
· Construction was completed in January 1964. The facility consisted of a one-mile oval and a 2.5-mile road course.
· Alan Kulwicki won the first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix on Nov. 6, 1988.
· The first spring race was held on April 23, 2005 and also the first night race, which was won by Kurt Busch.
· The track underwent its first repave in 2011. The construction began in March and concluded in September of that year.
· The following changes were made during the construction period (March – Sept., 2011):
o Widened the frontstretch from 52 to 62 feet
o Reconfigured pit road with the installation of concrete pit stalls
o Pushed the dog-leg curve between Turn 2 and Turn 3 out 95 feet
o Tightened the turn radius of the dog-leg from 800 to 500 feet
o Implemented variable banking to ensure the immediate use of two racing grooves, including 10-11 degree banking between Turn 1 and Turn 2; 10-11 degree banking in the apex of the dog-leg; and 8-9 degree banking in Turn 4.
· There have been 42 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Phoenix Raceway, one per season from 1988-2004 and two each season since.
Starts
· 211 drivers have competed in at least one Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix; 156 in more than one.
· Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon lead the Monster Enerdy NASCAR Cup Series in starts at Phoenix with 34 each.
· Ryan Newman leads all active drivers in the MENCS with 29 starts at Phoenix.
· Kyle Larson (seven starts) leads the series in average starting position with a 6.714 at Phoenix.
Poles
· There have been 23 different MENCS Coors Light pole winners, led by Ryan Newman with four.
· Geoffrey Bodine won the first MENCS pole at Phoenix in 1988 at a speed of 123.203 mph (29.220 sec.) in a Chevrolet.
· Youngest Phoenix pole winner: Kyle Busch (4/22/06 – 20 years, 11 months, 20 days).
· Oldest Phoenix pole winner: Mark Martin (03/03/13 – 54 years, 1 month, 22 days).
· Ryan Newman, Jeff Gordon and Carl Edwards are the only drivers to win consecutive poles at Phoenix. Newman won three straight (2002-04), Gordon won the fall of 2006 and the spring of 2007. Edwards won the fall of 2010 and spring of 2011.
· Four drivers have won their first career MENCS pole at Phoenix Raceway: Casey Atwood (October 2001), Denny Hamlin (November, 2005), AJ Allmendinger (April, 2010) and Alex Bowman (November, 2016).
Wins
· 24 different Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won at Phoenix Raceway.
· Kevin Harvick leads the series in wins at Phoenix with eight victories (’06 spring race and Playoff race, ’12 Playoff race, ‘13 Playoff race, ’14 spring race and Playoff race, ’15 spring race and ’16 spring race).
· This weekend at Phoenix Raceway, Kevin Harvick can become the ninth driver to have won nine or more times at a single track.
Drivers with Nine or More Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series wins at a single track
Driver
|
Tracks (Wins)
|
Richard Petty
|
Martinsville (15), North Wilkesboro (15), Richmond (13), Rockingham (11), Daytona (10) and Nashville Fairgrounds (9)
|
Dale Earnhardt
|
Talladega (10), Atlanta (9), Bristol (9) and Darlington (9)
|
Darrell Waltrip
|
Bristol (12), Martinsville (11), North Wilkesboro (10)
|
Cale Yarborough
|
Bristol (9), Daytona (9)
|
David Pearson
|
Darlington (10), Michigan (9)
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
Dover (11), Martinsville (9)
|
Jeff Gordon
|
Martinsville (9)
|
Rusty Wallace
|
Bristol (9)
|
· Nine drivers have multiple wins at Phoenix: Kevin Harvick leads the series in wins with eight followed by Jimmie Johnson (four), Davey Allison (two), Jeff Burton (two), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (two), Jeff Gordon (two) Carl Edwards (two), Mark Martin (two) and Ryan Newman (two).
· Of the nine drivers with multiple wins at Phoenix Raceway, Mark Martin is the only driver to win in two different manufacturers: Ford (1993) and Chevrolet (2009).
· Five drivers have won consecutive races at Phoenix: Davey Allison (1991,1992); Jeff Burton (2000, 2001); Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2003, 2004); Kevin Harvick (swept 2006) and (2013 playoff race, swept 2014 and ’15 spring race); Jimmie Johnson (fall 2007, swept 2008).
· Hendrick Motorsports leads the series in wins at Phoenix with 10, followed by Roush Fenway Racing with seven.
· Five of the 42 (11.9%) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Phoenix have been won from the Coors Light pole: Jeff Gordon (spring 2007), Jimmie Johnson (Playoff 2008), Mark Martin (spring 2009), Carl Edwards (Playoff 2010) and Kevin Harvick (spring 2015).
· Eight of the 42 (19%) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Phoenix have been won from the front row: five from the pole and three from second-place.
· 21 of the 42 (50%) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Phoenix have been won from a starting position inside the top 10.
· 21 of the 42 (50%) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Phoenix have been won from a starting position outside the top 10.
· 4 of the 42 (7.3%) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Phoenix have been won from a starting position outside the top 20 – most recent: earlier this season, Ryan Newman started 22nd.
· Ricky Rudd won the 1995 Phoenix race from the 29th-place starting position, the furthest back a race winner has started.
· Matt Kenseth won the 2002 race from the 28th-place starting position, the furthest back an active race winner has started.
· Alan Kulwicki (11/6/1988) and Bobby Hamilton (10/27/1996) are the only two drivers to post their first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career win at Phoenix Raceway.
· 22 of the 24 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers who have won at Phoenix participated in at least two or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Alan Kulwicki (11/6/1988) and Tony Stewart (11/7/1999) are the only two drivers to win at Phoenix in their first appearance.
· Jeff Gordon and Joey Logano competed at Phoenix Raceway 16 times before winning; the longest span of any the 24 winners.
· Six drivers have made 10 or more attempts before their first win at Phoenix: Jeff Gordon (16), Joey Logano(16), Ryan Newman (15), Kasey Kahne (14), Denny Hamlin (13), Carl Edwards (12) and Rusty Wallace (11).
· Jamie McMurray leads the series (active drivers) with the most Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts at Phoenix without visiting Victory Lane with 28.
· Youngest Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Phoenix Raceway winner: Kyle Busch (11/13/2005 – 20 years, 6 months, 11 days).
· Oldest Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Phoenix Raceway winner: Mark Martin (04/18/2009 – 50 years, 3 months, 9 days).
Additional Finishing Positions
· Mark Martin leads the series in runner-up finishes at Phoenix with five; followed by Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart with three each.
· Jimmie Johnson leads the series in top-five finishes at Phoenix with 15; followed by Kevin Harvick (13), Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon with 12 each.
· Jeff Gordon leads the series in top-10 finishes at Phoenix with 24, followed by Mark Martin with 21. Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers with 20; followed by Kevin Harvick with 18.
· Alan Kulwicki (five starts) leads the series in average finishing position at Phoenix with a 5.200.
· Jimmie Johnson (28 starts) leads all active drivers in average finishing position at Phoenix with a 8.964.
· Jimmie Johnson (8.964), Chase Elliott (9.667) and Kevin Harvick (9.879) are the only three active drivers with average finishes inside the top 10.
Track / Event Specific Stats
· Since the advent of electronic scoring (1993), the closest margin of victory in the MENCS at Phoenix was early last season (03/13/16) when Kevin Harvick beat Carl Edwards to the line by 0.010 seconds.
· Three drivers have won at Phoenix and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship in the same season: Jimmie Johnson (2007, 2008 sweep and 2009); Dale Earnhardt (1990); Kevin Harvick (2014).
· Four perfect Driver Ratings of 150.0 have been recorded at Phoenix, Kurt Busch in April of 2005 and Kevin Harvick in November of 2006, November 2014 and March 2015.
· Qualifying has never been cancelled due to weather at Phoenix International Raceway.
· Of the 42 races at Phoenix seven have ended with NASCAR Overtime:
Date
|
Scheduled No. of Laps
|
Actual No. of Laps
|
NASCAR Overtime
|
Winner
|
Runner-Up
|
3/19/2017
|
312
|
314
|
2
|
Ryan Newman
|
Kyle Larson
|
11/13/2016
|
312
|
324
|
12
|
Joey Logano
|
Kyle Busch
|
3/13/2016
|
312
|
313
|
1
|
Kevin Harvick
|
Carl Edwards
|
3/3/2013
|
312
|
316
|
4
|
Carl Edwards
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
11/11/2012
|
312
|
319
|
7
|
Kevin Harvick
|
Denny Hamlin
|
4/10/2010
|
375
|
378
|
3
|
Ryan Newman
|
Jeff Gordon
|
11/9/2008
|
312
|
313
|
1
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
Kurt Busch
|
11/7/2004
|
312
|
315
|
3
|
Dale Earnhardt Jr
|
Ryan Newman
|
· Only two of the 42 MENCS races at Phoenix have been shortened due to weather:
Date
|
Scheduled No. of Laps
|
Actual No. of Laps
|
No. of Fewer Laps
|
Winner
|
Runner-Up
|
11/15/2015
|
312
|
219
|
-93
|
Dale Earnhardt Jr
|
Kevin Harvick
|
10/25/1998
|
312
|
257
|
-55
|
Rusty Wallace
|
Mark Martin
|
Female Competitors
· Danica Patrick is the only female driver who has made a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series start at Phoenix Raceway.
Date
|
Driver
|
Starting Position
|
Finishing Position
|
Driver Rating
|
3/13/2017
|
Danica Patrick
|
26
|
22
|
52.8
|
11/13/2016
|
Danica Patrick
|
16
|
29
|
48.9
|
3/13/2016
|
Danica Patrick
|
36
|
19
|
60.3
|
11/15/2015
|
Danica Patrick
|
21
|
16
|
66.4
|
3/15/2015
|
Danica Patrick
|
23
|
26
|
59.6
|
11/9/2014
|
Danica Patrick
|
32
|
22
|
60.5
|
3/2/2014
|
Danica Patrick
|
33
|
36
|
51.7
|
11/10/2013
|
Danica Patrick
|
32
|
33
|
33.2
|
3/3/2013
|
Danica Patrick
|
40
|
39
|
44.2
|
11/11/2012
|
Danica Patrick
|
37
|
17
|
58.0
|
AVERAGES
|
29.6
|
25.9
|
53.6
| |
NASCAR in Arizona
· There have been 107 NASCAR national series races among four tracks in Arizona.
Track Name
|
City
|
Monster Energy
|
XFINITY
|
Camping World
|
Total Races
|
Phoenix Raceway
|
Avondale
|
42
|
31
|
26
|
99
|
Arizona State Fairgrounds
|
Phoenix
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
Tucson Raceway Park
|
Tucson
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
3
|
Tucson Rodeo Grounds
|
Tucson
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
Totals
|
47
|
31
|
29
|
107
|
· 33 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Arizona.
· Of the 33 Arizona drivers, only two have won a NASCAR national series race - Michael McDowell (Phoenix) won the NXS race at Road America in 2016 and Alex Bowman (Tucson) won the NXS race at Charlotte Motor Speedway earlier this season.
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Milestones
| |||
Drivers
|
Has
|
Needs
|
Milestones
|
STARTS
| |||
Matt Kenseth
|
648
|
2
|
To become the 22nd driver in series history to start 650 or more races
|
WINS
| |||
Jimmie Johnson
|
83
|
1
|
Tie Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip (84) for fourth on MENCS wins list
|
Kyle Busch
|
43
|
1
|
Tie Bill Elliott (44) for 16th on all-time MENCS wins list
|
Matt Kenseth
|
38
|
1
|
Tie Tim Flock (39) for 18th on all-time MENCS wins list
|
Kevin Harvick
|
37
|
1
|
Tie Matt Kenseth (38) for 20th on MENCS all-time wins list
|
Denny Hamlin
|
31
|
1
|
Tie Dale Jarrett (32) for 24th on all-time MENCS wins list
|
Kurt Busch
|
29
|
1
|
Tie Denny Hamlin (30) for 25th on all-time MENCS wins list
|
Dale Earnhardt Jr
|
26
|
2
|
Tie Rex White (28) for 28th on all-time MENCS wins list
|
Brad Keselowski
|
24
|
1
|
Tie Joe Weatherly, Jim Paschal (25) for 31st on all-time MENCS wins list
|
POLES
| |||
Ryan Newman
|
51
|
3
|
Tie Bill Elliott for eighth on the all-time MENCS poles list
|
Jimmie Johnson
|
35
|
1
|
Tie Rusty Wallace and Rex White for 17th on all-time MENCS poles list
|
Kasey Kahne
|
27
|
2
|
Tie Ricky Rudd (29) for 24th on the all-time MENCS poles list
|
Kyle Busch
|
27
|
2
|
Tie Ricky Rudd (29) for 24th on the all-time MENCS poles list
|
ADDITIONAL FINISHING POSITIONS
| |||
Jimmie Johnson
|
46
|
2
|
Tie Lee Petty for 11th on all-time MENCS second-place finishes list
|
Dale Earnhardt Jr
|
149
|
1
|
To become the 24th driver to post 150 or more MENCS top-five finishes
|
LAPS LED
| |||
Jimmie Johnson
|
18,663
|
337
|
To become the ninth driver in series history to lead 19,000 or more laps
|
Matt Kenseth
|
11,689
|
311
|
To become the 15th MENCS driver all-time to lead 12,000 or more laps
|
Kurt Busch
|
8,877
|
126
|
To become 20th MENCS driver all-time to lead 9,000 or more laps
|
Denny Hamlin
|
8,650
|
350
|
To become 20th MENCS driver all-time to lead 9,000 or more laps
|
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