SM Staff

With the first knock out qualifying of the season and special guests like AJ Foyt celebrating the 50th anniversary of Phoenix International Speedway, here is what else was surprising and not surprising from The Profit on CNBC 500 presented by Small Business Fueling America.

While the focus has been on the Sprint Cup Series rookies, there is also a strong Nationwide Series rookie contingent. This year's series brings us five strong young drivers, who are each with strong teams, and have plenty of pressure on their shoulders. So far, it has been mixed results but they're off to a solid start.

With winning a necessity to make the Chase for the Sprint Cup in 2014, NASCAR has some decisions to make. With the inspection process much simpler this season, it leaves some possible rule changes open for discussion.

Last year, Ed Carpenter did it all as he drove all the races while running the race team. This year, however, Carpenter is taking a slightly different approach as he will be running the race team - while only racing the ovals this year.

While teams prepare for the new year ahead, Panther Racing has a dispute to settle over a sponsorship deal. Panther Racing has filed a lawsuit against Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, IndyCar and other parties with regards to the National Guard sponsorship.

The draft can be the great equalizer and sometimes leads to producing some special results for some drivers that fans do not normally hear about finishing up front. That happened last month with the NextEra Energy Resources 250 as Jimmy Weller brought his No. 08 Geneva Liberty Steel/Engine Parts Plus Chevrolet home in the ninth position.

For the third straight Nationwide Series race at Phoenix International Raceway, it was Kyle Busch taking home the victory as he dominated the event, leading the most laps before the race was ended prematurely due to rain.

After Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s big win last weekend in the Daytona 500, the big question was whether he could keep the momentum rolling and do well in The Profit on CNBC 500 this weekend. The critics have been answered as Earnhardt came home with a solid second place finish.

Kevin Harvick, though, known as, "The Closer," for the past couple of seasons, Harvick did it all on Sunday, leading 224 of the 312 laps, as he went on to easily cruise to victory at The Profit for CNBC 500, Presented by Small Business Fueling America.

With 35 laps left in the Blue Jeans Go Green 200, the skies would open up and rain would begin to fall. After a two-hour rain delay, NASCAR would make the decision to call the race.