Here's a look at the Chasers going into the race this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway (stats provided by NASCAR):
1 - Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet) 6366 points, 2008 Rundown:
Six wins, 14 top fives, 21 top 10s
Average finish of 10.7
Led 27 races for 1,736 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
Driver Rating of 118.0
Two wins, five top fives, eight top 10s
Average finish of 6.0
Won April's Phoenix race
2 - Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford) 6260 points, 2008 Rundown:
Eight wins, 17 top fives, 25 top 10s
Average finish of 9.9
Led 20 races for 1,125 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
Driver Rating of 103.3
Three top fives, five top 10s; one pole
Average finish of 14.5
Finished fourth in April
3 - Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford) 6223 points, 2008 Rundown:
Two wins, 12 top fives, 17 top 10s
Average finish of 12.8
Led 19 races for 458 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
Driver Rating of 102.4
Two top fives, three top 10s
Average finish of 16.4
Finished ninth in April
4 - Jeff Burton (No. 31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet) 6154 points, 2008 Rundown:
Two wins, seven top fives, 17 top 10s
Average finish of 11.8
Led 11 races for 140 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
Driver Rating of 85.2
Two wins, five top fives, 10 tops 10s
Average finish of 11.1
Finished sixth in April
5 - Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet) 6111 points, 2008 Rundown:
12 top fives, 18 top 10s
Average finish of 14.1
Led 19 races for 431 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
Driver Rating of 104.0
One win, eight top fives, 15 top 10s; three poles
Average finish of 8.5
Finished 13th in April
6 - Clint Bowyer (No. 07 Jack Daniel's Chevrolet) 6099 points, 2008 Rundown:
One win, six top fives, 16 top 10s
Average finish of 14.4
Led six races for 188 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
Driver Rating of 84.4
Two top fives
Average finish of 15.8
Finished second in April
7 - Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet) 6087 points, 2008 Rundown:
Six top fives, 17 top 10s
Average finish of 12.8
Led seven races for 191 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
Driver Rating of 106.7
Two wins, three top fives, five top 10s
Average finish of 13.7
Finished 19th in April
8 - Matt Kenseth (No. 14 DEWALT Ford) 5973 points, 2008 Rundown:
Nine top fives, 20 top 10s
Average finish of 16.2
Led 18 races for 531 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
Driver Rating of 88.1
One win, five top fives, six top 10s
Average finish of 18.8
Finished 38th in April
9 - Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Toyota) 5962 points, 2008 Rundown:
One win, 10 top fives, 15 top 10s
Average finish of 14.9
Led 14 races for 622 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
Driver Rating of 101.6
One win, six top fives, eight top 10s
Average finish of 9.8
Finished 14th in April
10 - Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M's Toyota) 5938 points, 2008 Rundown:
Eight wins, 17 top fives, 20 top 10s
Average finish of 12.4
Led 23 races for 1,673 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
Driver Rating of 90.3
One win, five top 10s; one pole
Average finish of 15.4
Finished 10th in April
11 - Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet) 5937 points, 2008 Rundown:
One win, 10 top fives, 15 top 10s
Average finish of 13.5
Led 22 races for 896 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
Driver Rating of 89.1
Two wins, four top fives, six top 10s
Average finish of 18.0
Finished seventh in April
12 - Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Toyota) 5935 points, 2008 Rundown:
One win, 11 top fives, 17 top 10s
Average finish of 15.8
Led 15 races for 766 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
Driver Rating of 94.1
Three top fives; one pole
Average finish of 12.0
Finished third in April
Here's the NASCAR Newscast: Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Race 8 Recap:
Qualifying for the Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 is set for 5:30 p.m. this afternoon.
I'm picking the same driver I picked last week to win, Jeff Burton. He has a good record here and finished in the top ten in April. I had a hard time picking this week. I don't want Johnson or Edwards to win this weekend. It's time to have someone different in victory lane.....p l e a s e.
I am having a hard time picking too even though Edwards or Johnson would be logical choices. They both have to go for it, I just don't want to see another win for one of them either.
The driver I planned to pick doesn't have a great average at Phoenix, but has done well at other similar tracks so I think I will wait and see what qualifying and practice looks like.Starting up front can make the difference.
Smoke steals it. One last win for JGR as a driver.
Posted by Jacko November 8, 2008 06:13 AM
Okay, I didn't want to do it, but I'll pick Johnson.Being out front means alot and everyone will really have to be on their game to beat Jimmie and Chad.
Is Kenseth your fantasy pick DW? Jimmie will be mine.
Jennifer is the newsroom
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