2017 NASCAR Pit Road Week 35: Phoenix

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

Can-Am 500

By Richard Tix

Man, was that a fun ride on Sunday. With the elimination format in place Phoenix has been a must watch race filled with drama AND good racing. This past Sunday was no different. We had a dominate car early that needed a win to advance (Hamlin), a mix up with Championship implications during Stage Three (Hamlin and Elliott), some late restarts to jumble everything up (including Elliott to the lead), and lastly a NASCAR Cup Champion who might be on his last couple races pull off the trip to Victory Lane (Kenseth).

Without the cut line storylines we still had some late drama, but most of it dwindled down to the move Hamlin made at Martinsville which again was caused mostly by this format. However, at the end of the day no format can ever script a finish like Kenseth had when he charged to the back bumper of Elliott late in the race and took the lead from him winning his first race of 2017 and his 39th of his career.

The way this season has progressed for Kenseth it really has left us scrambling to think of a final goodbye. All season long it was rumored he wouldn't be back with JGR, but many of us thought he would still find some kind of halfway competitive ride (I thought he would swap with Jones and get into the 77 for a year). So, Sundays win is bittersweet for NASCAR fans and I am sure Matt Kenseth as well.

Kenseth is a guy who might not fully get appreciated until he has retired from the sport. His dry humor and personality has always been welcomed by myself as a fan because it is a shake up from the norm. He was a Midwestern kid thriving in a southern sport. His 39 wins ties him with Tim Flock for 19th overall (third most of active drivers). In his 18 years of full time Cup driving he only had four season's in which he failed to notch a win and ten of those season's he won multiple races. His career spanned from the Winston Cup all the way through a playoff structure that was actually developed because of his own dominance of the system while only winning one race. Matt Kensseth will go down as a NASCAR Hall of Famer who was as consistent a driver as any.

If this truly is his last ride, I hope everyone lets it sink and and soaks it up during a season that has been dominated by the goodbyes to Dale Earnhardt Jr. 

Thanks for the memories Dale and Matt!

Pit Road Power Rankings: Week 35 (Week 34)

1. Martin Truex Jr (LW-1)- Everything is heads up for Homestead, but with how Truex has run on 1.5's this year he has to still be the favorite. It will be a disappointment leaving with anything other than a Championship.
2. Kevin Harvick (LW-3)- Can you count Harvick out of it now that it's straight up at Homestead? He's coming into the final race with three straight top fives and running as well as he has all year long.
3. Kyle Busch (LW-2)- Rowdy took care of business early at Martinsville and cruised into Homestead. The No. 18 team had a nice run at PIR so they should be heading into the final race with some confidence.
4. Brad Keselowski (LW-5)- What a roller coaster ride Sunday must have been. Watching Denny lead a ton of laps early while barely being a top 15 car must have been horrible behind the wheel. Then, a late mix up between the 24 and 11 opened the door before a late restart almost put BK in the wall. The No. 2 creeped in, but it doesn't matter now that it's all even.
5. Matt Kenseth (LW-9)- What a way to go out, if in fact Kenseth is done forever. I changed so many times how I wanted Sunday to end, but when the No. 20 got to the back bumper of the 24 I knew I wanted to see one last Kenseth win. What a cool moment!
6. Chase Elliott (LW-7)- How heartbreaking. First the 24 pulls a bump and run on the 11 that essentially left the 11 no room but the wall (or backing way out of the throttle). Then, the crowd went wild as Chase took the lead and looked to hold his Championship fate. All of it ended with a charging Matt Kenseth stealing the glory many were hoping went to Elliott.
7. Denny Hamlin (LW-4)- Denny had to know it was coming eventually after Martinsville and it did when Chase and Hamlin were battling late in Stage Three. It had to be a disappointing day especially given how well they ran all day.
8. Ryan Blaney (LW-6)- The No. 21 made it farther along then most probably anticipated and it was a fun run while it lasted for Wood Brother. I actually wish Blaney was staying in the No. 21 next year, but we all knew a move to Penske was eventually coming.
9. Erik Jones (LW-NR)- Erik's late wheel spin on a restart sure did cause some drama to end the race, but he still managed to finish off strong with a top five.
10. Dale Earnhardt Jr (LW-NR)- One more race. It is crazy to think Junior's last Cup race as a full time driver is coming up in less then a week. He has had a strong finish since Dover, racking up four top tens in seven races (just eight top tens all season). 
11. Ricky Stenhouse Jr (LW-NR)- It's been overlooked, but Ricky is actually finishing 2017 on a good note. He now has two top tens in his last three and three straight of 12th or better.
12. Austin Dillon (LW-12)- Another top 15, that makes it four straight. He isn't getting it done, but he is at least finding some kind of consistency, even if it is only top 15 consistency.

Dropped Out: Jimmie Johnson (LW-8), Kasey Kahne (LW-10), and Kurt Busch (LW-11)

2017 NASCAR Week 35: Phoenix

Can-Am 500

Phoenix International Raceway

By Richard Tix

What to Watch For?

Can Kevin Harvick go Back-to-Back?

• It was a relatively good thing for a guy like Brad Keselowski that Harvick and not a guy like Hamlin or Elliott won at Texas. Why is that? That's because Harvick is a power at PIR and if Hamlin (for example) would have won Texas it would pit Harvick vs BK at PIR where Harvick is really good. Now, Harvick has a shot to go back to back and if that happens BK is practically a lock for Homestead (as long as BK doesn't completely collapse on Sunday). In the next section we talk about BK, so lest focus on Harvick for a second. It's true, in Harvick's first PIR run in a Ford he didn't seem as dominant as he did with Chevy, in fact Chevy ended up finishing first and second while Kevin finished 6th. But, Harvick is still Harvick and still has Rodney Childers at the helm so a win at PIR is never out of the question. On top of their previous success here they're coming in on a hot streak. If Harvick doesn't win at PIR or Homestead, it would be only the second time he didn't win at least three races in a season since  2010 (2012 he only won one race). 

Can Brad Keselowski Close?

• All season the Ford headline have been about struggling while Toytoa dominates and all that time BK was just riding around towards the front still running strong. BK has been outspoken all year about the advantage Toyota, which was basically him trying to politic as much as possible, because Ford and Chevy were getting beat weekly. But, most of BK's poor runs were ended because of bad luck. Most weeks he was putting up quality finishes, but because of Toyota's dominance and his teammate Joey Logano falling off the map statistically, BK's demise was over exaggerated. It's never been more apparent how overlooked his season has been until now, when BK sits in the drivers seat for the fourth and final spot at Homestead because of a run of quality finishes where he added some extra playoff points. I'll be watching to see if he can cap it off with a shot next week, or if another driver will win there way to Miami by driving right by him.

Ford vs Toyota

• As it stands before PIR, the Championship has two Toyota's and one Ford. I maybe jumping the gun here, but in all likely hood the Championship will either come down to three Toyota's and a Ford, or Two and Two with Chevy being left out. That storyline will be much bigger next week depending on the outcome this weekend. Earlier this year Ryan Newman (Chevy) won and Kyle Larson (Chevy) came in second, but Ford took three spots in the top six (17, 2, and 4) and Toytota finished 3rd, 7th, 8th, and 10th (18, 19, 77, and 11). To top that off Joey Logano (Ford) took the pole and Ryan Blaney (Ford) also started on the front row. So, with the Championship at Homestead next week on the line and a bunch of drivers from both manufacturers trying to seal there spot, which one wins? 

**This section is just a quick look at some of Cup drivers latest finishes. This is not a tool for fantasy purposes and NBTW only is looking at end results. No deep statistic's are involved, but rather it is just a quick way to get ready for the race and get caught up on who has finished well at each track**

The Good

• Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin, and Kyle Busch
• We all know Kevin Harvicks past here, but he hasn't been as good the last few stops at PIR as he once was. Hamlin and Busch both have exactly one win here (Hamlin in 2011 and Busch in 2005). 

The Middle

• Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, and Dale Earnhardt Jr
• Larson was runner up to Ryan Newman earlier this year and also has another finish of 3rd to his name. He seems to be taking over where Harvick left of for Chevy, but still hasn't found the win. 

The Bad

• Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Austin Dillon, Paul Menard, and Kasey Kahne
• JJ has lacked consistency here at PIR as of late (two top tens in his last six starts). Same goes for Kenseth who has just two top tens in his last seven PIR starts. Kahne's last top ten came five races ago and has an average finish of 20.25 in the four races since.

About the Track: Phoenix

Track Stats

• Chevy won 10 straight races from 2005-10
• Kevin Harvick has won 6 of the last 10 races
• Alan Kulwicki only started 5 races at PIR, but has 1 win, 3 top 5's, 4 top 10's, and an average finish of 5.2
• Jeff Gordon retired with the most career top 10's of any driver at PIR (24 total)
• Kevin Harvick has the most led laps in PIR Cup history with 1,484 total.
• Ryan Newman still has the most career poles at PIR with 4 total

Track Info

• Surface - Asphalt
• Length - 1 mile
• Banking
• Turns 1/2- 10-11 degrees
• Turn 3- 8 degrees
• Turn 4- 8-9 degrees
• Frontstretch- 3 degrees
• Backstretch- 10 degrees

2017 March Madness NASCAR Style: Sweet 16

Behind the Wall Sweet 16

By Richard Tix

Opening weekend of the NCAA Basketball tournament and the first round of the Behind the Wall NASCAR Style tourney, which is better? Just kidding, Obviously its the Behind the Wall bracket! Villanova and Duke went down in one and Joey Logano and Matt Kenseth went down in the other. Crazy!

To top it off Ryan Newman was the big surprise of the weekend just like South Carolina. Weekend two is on the way and the Sweet 16 will be decided at Auto Club. So, check out how the first round shook out at Phoenix last weekend below.


Rules and Bracket Breakdown

• Brackets were decided by current standings after the race at Las Vegas. Four Divisions, top 4 in the standings got the #1 seeds, 5-8 in the standings got the #2 seeds, 9-12 #3 seeds and so on. We are going by regular points standings (meaning a win doesn't put you ahead of someone without a win). Straight points.
• From the standings the rankings were given out serpentine style. Meaning: The driver ranked 5th (first #2 seed) started in the lowest #1 seed's bracket. That continues until the three seeds where it then goes from top back down.
• Here is how the rounds break down by race.
• Phoenix: Round 32 
• Auto Club: Sweet 16
• Martinsville: Elite 8
• Texas: Final Four
• Bristol: Championship
• This year the winner will be decided by which driver ends the race with the most points under the current NASCAR points system. So, stage points will count towards the finish of head to head matchups.

Round by Round Articles:

• Opening Round: Round of 32

2017: 5th Annual NBTW NASCAR March Madness
Full RCR Division									Loaded Division
1	Brad Keselowski								1	Kyle Larson
8	Chris Buescher		1	Keselowski		1	Larson		8	David Ragan
			5	Newman		5	Johnson
4	Paul Menard								4	Denny Hamlin
5	Ryan Newman								5	Jimmie Johnson
3	Kasey Kahne								3	Jamie McMurray
6	Austin Dillon		6	Dillon		3	McMurray		6	Ty Dillon
			2	Harvick		7	Earnhardt Jr
2	Kevin Harvick								2	Kurt Busch
7	Cole Whitt								7	Dale Earnhardt Jr
Double Jr. Division									Young Guns Division
1	Martin Truex Jr								1	Chase Elliott
8	Ricky Stenhouse Jr		8	Stenhouse Jr		1	Elliott		8	Danica Patrick
			5	Jones		5	Busch
4	Matt Kenseth								4	Aric Almirola
5	Erik Jones								5	Kyle Busch
3	Clint Bowyer								3	Trevor Bayne
6	Michael McDowell		3	Bowyer		3	Bayne		6	Matt DiBenedetto
			7	Suarez		2	Blaney
2	Joey Logano								2	Ryan Blaney
7	Daniel Suarez								7	Landon Cassill

Bracket Notes:

The first round had some pretty crazy up's and downs at Phoenix. Early on Joey Logano looked locked in but bye the end he was upset by a young gun, Daniel Suarez. In that very same region Martin Truex Jr was upset by a strong run by Ricky Stenhouse Jr and Matt Kenseth was taken over by another young gun in Erik Jones. That leaves Stenhouse, Jones, Suarez, or Bowyer left for a shot at the Final Four. Not a ton of other huge upset's really happened on Sunday in the other regions.


Previous NASCAR Behind the Wall March Madness Champions

• 2016 Champion: Joey Logano
• 2nd: Kyle Busch
• Final Four: Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch, and Joey Logano
• 2015 Champion: Brad Keselowski
• 2nd: Joey Logano
• Final Four: Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, and Aric Almirola
• 2014 Champion: Tony Stewart
• 2nd: Carl Edwards
• Final Four: Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Brian Vickers, Carl Edwards, and Tony Stewart
• 2013 Champion: Brad Keselowski
• 2nd: Kasey Kahne
• Final Four: Brad Keselowski, Kasey Kahne, Kyle Busch, and Kurt Busch

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

2017 NASCAR Schedule: Phoenix

Camping World 500

By Richard Tix

All Times are Eastern Timezone (ET)


Friday March 17, 2017

• 1-1:55 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series practice- FS1
• 2-3:25 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice- FS1
• 4-4:55 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series practice- FS1
• 6-6:55 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series final practice- FS1
• 7:45 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying- FS1

Saturday March 18, 2017

• 12-12:55 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice- FS2
• 1:05 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying- FS2
• 2:30-3:20 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice- FS2
• 4 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series DC Solar 200 (200 laps)- FOX

Sunday March 19, 2017

• 3:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Camping World 500 (312 laps)- FOX

2016 Pit Road Week 35: Phoenix

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

Can-Am 500

By Richard Tix

Phoenix International Raceway has come and gone for the 2016 season. No rain (this year) but plenty of tears could be cried after 500 miles on Sunday. Four drivers gave everything they had and advanced to next weekend while four did the same but won't be in position to win the Championship.

At this point, I want to remind everyone that in a normal "points only" standings, or even the old Chase rules, the Championship would 90% of the time be locked up for this race. Is this Chase completely fair to those who have run well all year? Nope. Then again, what sport is? 

One of my favorite times as a little kid in sports was playing in tournaments. The spotlight of each game means more. The intensity and pressure all in one moment. A simple at bat can feel like the biggest moment in a game. Lastly, the fact that any one team could get hot and make a run gives everyone an optimistic outlook. Leaders step up and late season hero's are made.

I know most (not all) NASCAR traditionalist's hate this and will say, "well NASCAR isn't another sport. Racing is different then stick and ball sports." That's true, but it's 2016 and NASCAR thought they needed to do something. Like it or not, NASCAR was one of the few sports around who didn't have some type of elimination playoff, so that was where they focused, that and winning. Making wins matter more and have some added pressure in elimination situations is what they set out to do and successfully accomplished.

It's a long season and sometimes a tough and bitter pill to swallow when one or two of the best drivers all year get knocked out before Miami. I 100% agree it isn't always fair with this format, but in general I still am a supporter and have been open minded from the start. From that start I thought it could use some tweaks, and we have yet to see any of those, but time will tell how this era will play out and if NASCAR will make adjustments or scrap it all together.

Moving onto the race itself, the pressure was evident in the closing laps. Matt Kenseth had the lead on a late G-W-C restart with young gun Alex Bowman on the inside looking for his first NASCAR Cup win. Behind Alex was a hungry Kyle Busch trying to have the chance for back to back Championships but that meant advancing in the field and keeping his position.

Phoenix turn one can be a tricky spot, especially on restarts. Coming off the front stretch going into one the best spot's going into that turn are low and narrow so going in two wide isn't exactly what you want to get a good run to the back stretch.

We saw just how quickly it gets narrow into one on the late G-W-C restart. Alex Bowman appeared to get a bad restart and possibly spun his tires and Kyle Busch quickly jumped on his bumper. When Bowman got loose from contact with Busch he quickly tried to get back to block Kyle and keep his shot at winning his first race alive all before they reached turn one. 

At the same time as all of this commotion was going on Matt Kenseth thought he was clear to go low into turn one because that's what was relayed from his spotter. Well, Alex Bowman was still there and coming in hot on the bottom with Kyle following. All of these things mixed under the pressure of the situation and it lead to Bowman getting into Kenseth and turning him around.

It wasn't the spotters fault. It wasn't Kyle's fault for pushing so hard. It wasn't Alex's fault for coming into turn one too hot. It was a mix of all of them rolled into one small moment that feels like a blur now. 

That's what happens in these moments and though not fair, that was 100% racing the way it should be. Everyone wanting to win late in a race and racing hard side by side. Sure, we all hope for a clean finish with hard racing, but sometimes the smallest error (or combination of errors) stop that from happening.

In the end, Kenseth didn't advance, Bowman didn't get his first win, and Busch made his way to the finale in Homestead. No matter the situation at Phoenix, some drivers and teams were going home unhappy with the results, but at least we know everyone was giving it all they could to win late on Sunday because a shot at the Championship means that much.

If we have no Chase, when do those moments happen? Most of the time drivers just wrap it up and say that was a good points run and move on. Sure, they're disappointed, but not near as devastated as they're now knowing they just missed the Championship by seconds, by inches, by one pressure filled moment. Every situation has it's up's and down's including this Chase. But to me, that G-W-C moment was like when I was a kid coming up to bat in the bottom of the 9th, tie score, two down, and a runner on third with a chance to win it and go to the Championship game. It was a defining moment that will stick with the drivers and sport forever.

Pit Road Power Rankings Week 35 (Week 34)

1. Joey Logano (LW-2)- JoLo is hitting his stride at the right time. He now has two wins and four top 10's in the last four races and five straight top 10's to boot. He has been in this spot before at Homestead, will he capitalize this time?
2. Kyle Busch (LW-4)- Speaking of been there done that, Rowdy is back in the Finale at Homestead with a chance to go back to back, this time in a full season.
3. Jimmie Johnson (LW-1)- Speaking again of been there done that, is it JJ's time to get number seven? He was in cruise control the last two weeks, can he turn it on again this weekend when he needs it?
4. Carl Edwards (LW-3)- Carl has not been that fast all season, not compared to the best cars, but he is here and that's all that matters. One fast race can win him a Championship. Will he be joining Twitter soon?
5. Kevin Harvick (LW-5)- Try and make your argument for unfair, but in the Chase he had finishes of 20th, 20th, 37th, and 38th. He may have been one of the best cars all season long, but the Chase has done him in this time and it was too much to overcome. How's the switch to Ford going to go?
6. Denny Hamlin (LW-7)- 3rd, 7th, and 9th, those are Hamlin's finishes this past round. That was not enough to get into Homestead. Proving a point, winning is key and points days won't always get you to the Finale (just don't tell Ryan Newman that).
7. Matt Kenseth (LW-6)- Man, what a finish. Matt held his cool on the radio but you know he had to be super frustrated with how everything unfolded. He was so close to a win and joining three other drivers in Homestead and then McDowell lost a tire. 
8. Chase Elliott (LW-9)- It's going to be fun to see him develop along with Kyle Larson, Austin Dillon, and Ryan Blaney. He is head of the class so far, but still trails guys like Joey Logano, Kyle Busch, and Denny Hamlin. For now...
9. Brad Keselowski (LW-11)- His season has gone downhill since dropping out of the Chase, but it was shaping up to be a good one before that. Let's see on Sunday how hard he races other guys while trying to give JoLo a chance at a Championship.
10. Kyle Larson (LW-NR)- Larson had one heck of a day and still finished 3rd. It was an impressive run but we have seen this late in a season with Kyle before. Can he translate it into next season's success?
11. Kurt Busch (LW-8)- He was almost a non factor all Chase, yet made the final eight. Not a bad season when you aren't always that fast but find a way to give yourself a shot.
12. Alex Bowman (LW-NR)- His first appearance on Behind the Wall's rankings is well deserved. What a fun run up front on Sunday after his first career pole. If you weren't on the "get him a full time quality ride" bandwagon before this race, why the heck aren't you on it now?