In the next to the last race on the one miler in the Valley of the Sun, here is what was surprising and not surprising in the 25th annual Advocare 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.
It seems only fitting that when the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship is decided this Sunday night, bringing down the curtain on the a season full of memories, it will be between two drivers who started the season in Florida by grabbing all the mainstream media attention.
Brad Keselowski and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. find themselves in similar situations heading into their respective season ending series finales at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Both drivers lead their respective series championships heading into Homestead by 20 points and only need 15th place finishes to lock up their series championships.
A couple of years ago, I had to wonder what Roger Penske was thinking. I mean, giving Brad Keselowski a ride in a great car? What was he thinking? Here was the guy who hit everything but the pace car in the Nationwide Series, won a race at Talladega by punting Carl Edwards into the stands, and cussed like a sailor. The Captain had to be crazy. Crazy like a fox.
Kevin Harvick snapped a 44-race losing streak on Sunday in the AdvoCare 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. This was Harvick's first win of the season and the 19th of his career.
Nine down, one to go. In just one more race we will crown the 2012 Sprint Cup Series Champion. The season has flown by and we could crown a first time champion next weekend.
Phoenix brings back a lot of memories. It takes me back to 1992 when the championship was down to three drivers in many pundit’s opinions—Bill Elliott, Davey Allison, and Alan Kulwicki. All drove Fords, but Allison had the upper hand with a lead and with the Robert Yates Racing team’s stout engines.
For the second time this season, an oily race track had an effect on the outcome of the race. Back in Watkins Glen in August, a track scattered with oil led to two passes for the lead on the final lap. When race leader Kyle Busch spun in the oil it led to Marcos Ambrose and Brad Keselowski battling it out for the win.
The race was dominated for most of the event by the 18 of Kyle Busch. He won the pole on Friday evening and led all three practice sessions on Saturday morning. The tide turned when the No. 48 of Jimmie Johnson blew a right-front tire off turn 4 and slammed the wall
The 29-year-old Nemechek from Mooresville, North Carolina, will part ways with Legacy Motor Club following a three-year campaign at the conclusion of the 2026 Cup Series season.
Niece Motorsports welcomes a partnership extension with Circle B Diecast / Motorsports Auctions to serve as the primary sponsor for drivers Connor Hall and Landen Lewis in the upcoming NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) race at Kansas Speedway.
Chevrolet’s championship title-defending campaign in the NASCAR Cup and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series begins this Labor Day weekend as the sport heads to the historic venue tapped as “The Track Too Tough To Tame” - Darlington Raceway.
