2017 NASCAR Pit Road Week 4: Phoenix

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

Camping World 500

By Richard Tix

NASCAR headed West again, this time to Phoenix, meanwhile I headed East to watch the Minnesota Gophers Men's basketball team play in Milwaukee. So, while Cup drivers were circling PIR for 500 miles I was on my way back to Minnesota driving some 300 plus miles.

Before I headed to MKE on Wednesday night my plan was to leave early Sunday morning to catch the afternoon race, but my car had other plans. By other plans, I mean it was like a back marking start and park that was parked because it ran like...crap....

However, I caught a bit of the race on the radio and most of it via social media keeping me up to date. Let me tell you, the radio makes the racing seem way more exciting than a TV broadcast does and it makes you feel like you're at the track. I hadn't listened to a race on the radio in a long time but this weekend may have changed that some going forward.

As for the race, it was HOT. It must have been one heck of a day in the drivers seat when inside the car temperatures were hitting 140+ degrees. The stands also were sizzling since at PIR they're directly in the sun like the Death Star staring down Alderaan. Yet, some had the nerve to call out the attendance while sitting in the comfort of the AC. Aside from some bad racing hot takes on Sunday, the race seemed like it was an overall good race that was also helped by the increasingly popular stages. 

Oh, and Ryan Newman and RCR snapped a winless streak by a crazy finish that was all caused by a tire that went down on the No. 22, which ironically took away a win from Kyle Busch... Let the conspiracies get rolling..

Pit Road Power Rankings: Week 4 (Week 3)

1. Kyle Larson (LW5)- Larson and Keselowski are still a perfect eight for eight when it comes to gathering stage points in 2017, except one of them didn't fail post race inspection. Larson now has three straight third place finishes.
2. Brad Keselowski (LW-1)- BK had another quality run on Sunday but he lost his top spot for two reason's. 1) Larson has been really, really good. 2) BK and the No. 2 will most likely lose some points for failing post race inspection after PIR.
3. Chase Elliott (LW-2)- If it wasn't for Ford and Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott would be all the rage. Seriously, in his last three races his average running position is 4th. A win is coming if he can just close late in the race.
4. Kevin Harvick (LW-6)- That wasn't typical PIR Harvick, but I think if he got out front in clean air Sunday would have looked different. Either way, the No. 4 team fought back to a top ten and have looked fast the last three races.
5. Kyle Busch (LW-9)- When JoLo slipped up Rowdy stepped in and took over the domination. Ironically a late situation with the 22 car ruined his trip to VL. No, Joey didn't hit him, but his blown tire stopped the race for a late GWC that spoiled Kyle's day.
6. Joey Logano (LW-3)- JoLo dominated early and often until his own self inflicted speeding penalty. The No. 22 fought back until he blew a tire late.
7. Martin Truex Jr (LW-4)- The No. 78 once again had a fast car, but some poor stops (thanks No. 95 hose) made it tough for him to rebound.
8. Jamie McMurray (LW-11)- Both CGR cars have been running well to start 2017. JMac has started in the top 10 all four races so far.
9. Ryan Blaney (LW-8)- Blaney was once again fast before running into issues. One of these races things will go smooth and Blaney will have a shot to win.
10. Denny Hamlin (LW-NR)- Back to back top ten's for Denny Hamlin heading into Auto Club, will it continue in CA?
11. Jimmie Johnson (LW-NR)- Sunday's 9th place finish was JJ's first top ten all season, no seriously...
12. Ryan Newman (LW-NR)- That was one heck of a win less streak Newman had, but all of that is now in the past. RCR and the No. 31 team can start focusing on consistency and becoming a front runner every week now.

Dropped Out: Kasey Kahne (LW-7), Matt Kenseth (LW-10), and Kurt Busch (LW-12)

Just Missed: Erik Jones and Clint Bowyer