The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will stir up some dust in the desert of Phoenix in the TicketGuardian 500 this week.
This weekend’s race is the fourth of the 2018 season and the teams are adjusting to the new rules implemented by NASCAR. Chevrolet drivers are also adjusting to the new Camaro ZL1 they are driving. However, you have to wonder if three races are enough for some of the drivers that seem to be struggling to get back on their “A game”? We will find out this weekend when they race at ISM Raceway.
Mistakes by drivers on the basically flat track of Phoenix can have disastrous results for their race.
Mistakes by the over the wall crew on the pit stops (now one less person than in the past) can put the driver into a hole they may not be able to get out of.
Mistakes by the crew chief on what adjustments to make to the car for their driver can also be massively detrimental to the result for the team in the race.
Here is a look at which active drivers have performed the best in their careers at this track.
Driver Rating at ISM Raceway
Kevin Harvick ……………….110.2
Chase Elliott………………….109.1
Jimmie Johnson…………….109.0
Kyle Busch…………………….99.6
Erik Jones……………………..98.0
Denny Hamlin………………..96.0
Kurt Busch…………………….95.7
Brad Keselowski…………….93.0
Joey Logano………………….91.3
Kyle Larson…………………..90.9
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2017 races (26 total) among active drivers at ISM Raceway.
Here are the race and track specific stats that the drivers and teams will be dealing with.
ISM Raceway (Phoenix)
Track Length: 1 Mile
Turns 1 & 2 banking: 10 to 11 degrees
Turns 3 & 4 banking: 8 to 9 degrees
TicketGuardian 500
Distance: 312 laps (312 miles)
Stage 1: 75 laps
Stage 2: 75 laps
Stage 3: 162 laps
When it comes to winning at Phoenix, Kevin Harvick is far ahead of the rest of the NASCAR Cup Series drivers. He has won in the sport’s top division at the track eight times. Six of his wins have come in the past 11 races at the track. However, his last win was in this race two years ago. I have also noticed that every one of his previous wins came behind the wheel of a Chevrolet. He now races a Ford. Could there be something in that fact that has been keeping him out of Victory Lane at the track over the past four races? Perhaps, but Kevin has won the past two races this season at Atlanta and Las Vegas. Because of that momentum I would say he has a better than good chance of making his return to Victory Lane at IMS Raceway and claiming his third consecutive win of the 2018 NASCAR Sprint Cup season.
Jimmie Johnson has the next highest win total at IMS Raceway with half the victories as Kevin. Jimmie has four wins at this track in his career and has been struggling a bit this season. Could this be the week he gets things under control with a win?
Ryan Newman is the defending winner of the 2017 running of this race which was his second at the track. He is the only other active driver with multiple wins at IMS Raceway and could be a serious contender for his third career win at Phoenix.
The five drivers that have scored a single NASCAR Cup Series win at Phoenic in their careers are Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Kurt Busch, Kasey Kahne and Joey Logano. Any of these drivers could move themselves into the “multiple Phoenix win” column this week.
Of Course there are many drivers that have yet to claim a checkered flag at Phoenix in NASCAR’s top division and will have a great shot at adding one to their resumes this weekend. Those drivers include the new generation and the veterans alike.
We will have to watch Sunday, March 11th starting at 2:30 PM central time (3:30 PM eastern time) to find out which driver will be victorious in the TicketGuardian 500 in the desert of Phoenix at ISM Raceway.
By: Buck Stevens
