NASCAR Cup Series

Ed Coombs, Mary Jo Buchanan and Greg Depalma recap the Sprint Cup Series SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.

Coming off of his Daytona 500 victory, there were high hopes for Jimmie Johnson heading into Phoenix to continue the success. After all, he had finished in the top five in two of his last three starts in the desert.

Two races down, along with a trio of exhibitions for good measure, so what do we know now about the Gen 6 car? Starting with cosmetics, it at least looks like a car one might drive down the street.

Why I watched — Well, it sure was not to see qualifying, where 43 were entered for 43 slots. Maybe I watched to see which of the three non-points drivers would quit first and what reason they might give to not appear as a strictly field filling start and park.

JJ Yeley, driver of the No. 36 Accell Construction Chevrolet SS for Tommy Baldwin Racing (TBR), returned to his home track of Phoenix International Raceway (PIR) and was looking to continue the momentum the team built on at Daytona.

The debut of SANY America ended with disappointment for Dave Blaney after contact early in the Subway Fresh Fit 500. Blaney and the No. 7 SANY America Chevy SS kept digging after making repairs and brought home a 33rd place finish.

A second trip to Victory Lane for Jeff Gordon at Las Vegas? If it happens this Sunday in the Kobalt Tools 400, it probably will be a bumpy ride.

The Bobby Labonte Foundation invites bicyclists to saddle up for safety for a third year in a row. The foundation and its founder, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Bobby Labonte, will host the third annual Archdale Drug "Share the Road" Memorial Bike Ride on Sunday, May 19, in Trinity, N.C.

Carl Edwards helped Ford become the first manufacturer to win a non-restrictor-plate race with NASCAR's new Gen-6 car on Sunday by finishing first in the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.

Carl Edwards was turning back flips after his win Sunday and for Martinsville Speedway fans, the victory could mean they will turn a back flip or two.