Following last week’s race, the post race technical inspection determined that the overall height of the Truex car was too low. The result was a $50,000 fine for crew chief Kevin “Bono” Manion as well as a loss of 50 championship and owner’s points.
Congratulations to driver Casey Mears, his fiancee Trish Grablander and their daughter Samantha who announce a January 2010 wedding date. Right after last Sunday’s Texas race, the Mears family flew to Phoenix to visit family and friends. It was in Phoenix where the couple met and started their romance. So naturally it was in Phoenix this week when they announced their wedding plans.
THE VEGAS BREAKDOWN
The Las Vegas based WSE-World Sports Exchange, to no real surprise has Jimmie Johnson on the top of their list at four to one odds for Sunday’s Phoenix race. That’s perfectly understandable. Johnson leads all NASCAR drivers with three wins at Phoenix and is the defending champion of the race. Despite what happened in Texas last Sunday, he still continues to lead the NASCAR power ranking, based on the last five Phoenix races, with a rating of 284.
The WSE has Mark Martin rated at 5 to 1 for the Phoenix race. That’s based on the fact that “the kid” has two wins there including winning the most recent race last April. Martin also leads all drivers in top five finishes, 10, and top tens, 16. He goes into next Sunday’s race with a power ranking of 275.
The final part of the Hendrick Motorsports 1-2-3 Chase ranking is Jeff Gordon who has been placed at 9 to 1 odds by the WSE. Gordon knows how to finish strong at Phoenix. He has a win along with eight top five finishes, 15 top tens and a power ranking of 269.
Some other noteworthy WSE rankings this week includes Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin at 8 to 1 whose Phoenix power rankings are a healthy 269 and 268 respectively. Last week’s Texas winner Kurt Busch is set at 10 to 1 while his brother Kyle, along with Juan Pablo Montoya, are ranked at 12 to 1 odds. Carl Edwards, who’s running out of time to get that first series win of the season, comes in at 15 to 1. For you card carrying members of the Junior Nation, your driver is ranked at 18 to 1. That’s the WSE’s way of saying the horrible bad luck has to end sometime.
Now for the weekly disclaimer. NASCAR wants us to remind you that these odds ratings are for informational and entertainment purposes only. They neither encourage or condone the placing of wagers on their events. That’s a diplomatic way of saying only crazy people bet on stock car races. Last week’s Texas race is a prime example of how a race bet can get turned around very quickly.
THE RACE BREAKDOWN
The Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500k is 312 laps, 312 miles/500km, around the Phoenix International Raceway’s basically flat one mile oval. Turns one and two are banked 11 degrees while the third and fourth turns have nine degrees of banking.
The race has 46 entries. 11 of the entries are on the go or go home list meaning they are outside of NASCAR’s top 35 in owner’s points and must earn a starting berth in the race based on qualifying speed.
NASCAR’s recently established double file restart policy will officially make its debut at Phoenix this weekend. It’s already been speculated that the lower line will be the preferred choice for restarts.
Weather is not expected to be any real concern this weekend. The Phoenix area forecast calls for partly cloudy skies and 75 degrees for Friday’s qualifying day. Sunny skies and tempeatues in the low 70’s are expected for the remainder of the weekend.
The start of Sunday’s race will have some political overtones to it. Arizona Senator, and former Presidential candidate, John McCain is the Grand Marshall and will give the command to start engines.
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