Race Day | Picks and Saturday specifics

Saturday, Apr. 18, 2009

A little more to think about while waiting for the race to roll off at PIR:

3 Things To Watch

1. There was a time when Jimmie Johnson didn't have the best of performances at Phoenix – but not lately. He will go for his fourth consecutive Cup win at the track Saturday night – all after starting seventh or better, including Nov. 9 after starting on the pole.

2. Kevin Harvick fell out of the top 12 in points after the Texas race, but Phoenix is one of his most successful tracks. He's won there in all three of NASCAR's national series – Cup, Nationwide and Truck. Don't be surprised if he rebounds this weekend.

3. For a change, rookie Joey Logano actually will have a baseline from which to work during Saturday night's race. His No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing team participated in the Goodyear tire test at the track this season. With no testing allowed at tracks that host NASCAR races, tire tests are a valuable commodity.

NASCAR SPRINT CUP Observations

Start times defy reason

While on the West Coast, I love to hear the reasons for having the Nationwide and Cup races start at ridiculously late hours on the East Coast.

The alleged theory - it attracts more West Coast viewers - is a failure no one cares to admit. For instance, since Fox's TV ratings are off about 10 percent this season, if the West Coast has added viewers, then how many East Coast viewers have been run off?

Testing another theory

When NASCAR announced the testing ban, my response was all the teams that were good last year would remain good, while others less fortunate would not be able to make up ground. So far, that generally has held up except for the teams of David Reutimann and Kurt Busch.

Now, on to bigger issues

Now that Helio Castroneves was found not guilty of tax evasion charges, perhaps the open-wheel world can get back to bigger issues like: When is he moving to NASCAR?

Just the facts

WHAT: Subway 500.

WHERE: Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale, Ariz.

TRACK TYPE: 1-mile oval.

RACE DISTANCE: 312 laps (500k).

WHEN: Green flag scheduled for 8:44 p.m.

WEATHER: Clear, high in the mid-80s.

TV: Coverage will begin at 8 p.m. on Fox.

RADIO: Motor Racing Network.

Picks

DAVID POOLE

The chalk pick would be Jimmie Johnson, but I think the guy on the pole is going to convert this time.

Winner: Mark Martin.

JIM UTTER

Each of his three previous longest winless streaks – 31, 25 and 22 races – were ended by consecutive victories. There's no reason to doubt that logic.

Winner: Jeff Gordon.

BOB HENRY

The reigning champion and his No. 48 team are pretty danged good here - and that's beyond understating it. If you think that puts me out on any kind of a limb, let me introduce you to my arborist.

Winner: Jimmie Johnson.

Notes

ARCA returns to 'The Rock'

Rockingham Speedway will host the first of its two Automobile Racing Club of America events at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Among drivers planning to compete are NASCAR veteran Ken Schrader, former AMA Motocross champion and current NASCAR Truck series driver Ricky Carmichael, nine-time ARCA champion Frank Kimmel and the series' most recent winner, Patrick Sheltra.

Tickets for the Carolina 200 start at $20 with kids 12 and under admitted for $15 in any section with a paid adult admission. Tickets for the UARA race and ARCA practice and qualifying today are $15.

For more information, call 910-205-8800. J.U.

19 drivers eligible for all-star race

With four races left before the May 16 NASCAR Sprint All-Star race, the opportunities for drivers to qualify for the event and its $1 million top prize are dwindling.

There are 19 eligible drivers. Greg Biffle, Clint Bowyer, Jeff Burton, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Ryan Newman and Tony Stewart are in for having won last season or this one.

Kevin Harvick, Mark Martin and Terry Labonte are eligible as winners of the event since 1999. Bobby Labonte and Dale Jarrett are eligible as series champions since 1999.

Disclaimer