NASCAR - Phoenix

[Crafty_]

The penultimate Sprint Cup race at Phoenix still leaves everything to play for, Edwards leads Stewart by just 3 points, they have qualified 8th & 9th.

Dark horse Kenseth has put it on pole, a good result will make it a three way fight in the last race next week.

Phoenix has been resurfaced and the nationwide boys had very little grip last night. Another thing to watch is cars dropping below the line in the dogleg - between them Sadler and Leffler caused a pretty big accident when Sadler dropped below the line, passed Leffler and popped up in front of him but Leffler was braking later and had nowhere to go. You can see it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDnPVAvbwN0

I haven't seen anything yet, but its possible they will ban dropping below the line as they do on plate tracks.

Start in about 1 hour.

Final note : The final race next week at Homestead will be free to air on Premier Sports

ETA: It seems it has rained at the track, so whatever grip was there has now been washed away.. this is going to be really interesting! A tuneable chassis is going to be vital.
Kyle Busch starts from the back due to an engine change.

Edited by Crafty_ on Sunday 13th November 19:46

[RustySpanner]

Crafty_ said:

I haven't seen anything yet, but its possible they will ban dropping below the line as they do on plate tracks.

I hope so. It was a bit daft in the nationwide race watching cars basically shortcut the track and then try not to sideswipe and crash into others as they slid back onto the track. I'm hopeful that the second groove will really come in as the cup race goes on. It was certainly getting there for the NW cars. For a resurfaced track it seemed pretty racey and not just a follow the leader around the bottom groove. Phoenix has often produced good racing so when they announed the repave and other layout changes I feared the worst.

[RustySpanner]

Go Smoke

[Crafty_]

NASCAR have "suggested" drivers stay above the yellow line, but no rule in effect apparently.

Yeah I'm rooting for smoke too. I think Kenseth could be a threat but we need to see how grip levels go, could be a lottery..

[eastlmark]

anyone but Vanilla.

[Crafty_]

Tony fast at the moment.

Doesnt look good for the EGR boys, Jamie has seriously gone backwards and looks pretty loose.

[DanB7290]

Another one rooting for Smoke here, currently p2 behind Edwards. Would've thought the Hendrick boys would be higher up, especially Johnson.

[Crafty_]

Hendrick boys are having a nightmare.

Tough break for Kyle, gets to the front and the thing goes pop.

Jesus Vickers is an ass. I guess he knows he's out of a drive, probably a career too and doesn't care any more.

Tony needs some cars between him and edwards to steal points

[eastlmark]

looking good for a title showdown next weekend. Not normally a Ford supporter but hope cousin Carl gets it this year.
Good win tonight, good to see him back in victory lane after so long and great for the team to get a win too.

[RustySpanner]

Crafty_ said:

Jesus Vickers is an ass. I guess he knows he's out of a drive, probably a career too and doesn't care any more.

I think this time is was a case of wrong place, wrong time. We know Kenseth had brake problems and was getting off it early into the turns. Looks like he just caught Vickers out. Racing incident. If it had been any other driver behind Kenseth I dont think they would have jumped to the conclusion that it was retaliation so fast but with Martinsville and "Boys 'Av e at it" I think they really wanted it to be more than it probably was.

So after 312 laps they leave with the points gap exactly the same as before they started. You've got to mark that down as a small victory for Cuz Carl.

[Fane]

Looks like Smoke is in the driving seat, but I'd love Carl to win - a great bloke who I have a bit of a man-crush on. Should the points be equal at the end of the Homestead race, Stewart would win as he has more wins in the chase, iirc.

[Crafty_]

Edwards still has a 3 point lead. The only way Stewart can clinch it are:

Win the race. Even if Stewart wins but Edwards leads the most laps Edwards still gets the championship.

If Edwards doesn't lead a lap:

Finish 3 places in front of Edwards
Finish 2 places in front of Edwards and lead a lap
Finish 1 place in front of Edwards, lead a lap and lead the most laps

If Edwards leads a lap those three change to:

Finish 4 places in front of Edwards
Finish 3 places in front of Edwards and lead a lap
Finish 2 place in front of Edwards, lead a lap and lead the most laps

If Edwards leads the most laps they change to:

Finish 5 places in front of Edwards
Finish 4 places in front of Edwards and lead a lap


I'd say Edwards has a slight upper hand.

[Glen320]

Or smoke could get Ryan Newman to take Edwards out!!