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For a long time, the sanctioning body has used gimmicks to attract fans and it is apparently not working. When it first came out, I railed on the “Lucky Dog.” It was designed so that the “average fan” could understand who was leading.

Asked where the 48 team's season started to turn around, Chad Knaus points to the Brickyard as being where they began their run to the championship finale.

It sucks not to matter. Forty cars took to the track at Phoenix, and only six of them mattered. Not Jimmie Johnson or Carl Edwards. Both had already locked in a final four berth at Homestead, so they mattered not. Not Kyle Larson or Trevor Bayne, who spun early.

1. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson finished 38th at Phoenix, 28 laps down, his day ruined by a penalty for passing the pit car during a pit stop.

What a difference a few months can make. Bowman has gone from being jobless in January to joining JR Motorsports for eight XFINITY races to becoming the interim driver for Dale Earnhardt Jr. for what will be 10 Sprint Cup Series events.

Kevin Harvick was a virtual non-factor at a track he's practically owned the deed to as of late, and not even a top-five finish was enough to transfer him to the championship race for the third straight year.

With one final championship berth on the line, it was only fitting that the race went into overtime and it was also fitting that late race calamity allowed Joey Logano to sneak his way into the Championship 4.

Alex Bowman had a dominant day in the Valley of the Sun from start to finish, but it wasn't enough for the native son to score his first series victory.

With Byron eliminated from championship contention, it is looking like GMS Racing driver Johnny Sauter, is now in prime position to hoist the championship trophy at Homestead.

Alex Bowman will lead the field to the green flag on Sunday afternoon after topping the chart in the final round of qualifying in the Valley of the Sun.