2009 O'Reilly Checker Auto Parts 500:
Tickets:
Buy online from TicketsNow (direct link)
The Track:
These challenging specs means that your car has to handle well in order to survive a long 500 kilometer race there. It is possible to pass if you are faster, but there is no outside groove for side-by-side racing.
Race Distance:
The Big Picture:
The top twelve:
- Jimmie Johnson
- Mark Martin -73
- Jeff Gordon -112
- Kurt Busch -171
- Tony Stewart -178
- Juan Montoya -236
- Greg Biffle -247
- Denny Hamlin -322
- Ryan Newman -324
- Kasey Kahne -399
- Carl Edwards -440
- Brian Vickers -520
Storylines:
Mark Martin is bringing the same car back to a race track that he dominated in the spring and picked up his first win of 2009. Another performance like that and he would cut further into Jimmie Johnson's Championship lead.
Can Mark complete the Phoenix sweep and put the pressure on Johnson to perform in Homestead?
Media Coverage:
Radio: MRN and SIRIUS Satellite
Actual Race: 3:15 p.m. Eastern
Recent Events:
2008 Winner: Jimmie Johnson
2008 Polesitter: Jimmie Johnson
Last Year:
The race itself was marked by two red flags. One for weather and another for a late race crash that saw two cars on top of each other. As a result ABC dumped the race in the middle and sent race fans scurrying to ESPN2 in order to catch the finish.
Predictions:
Jimmie Johnson has won three of the last four phoenix races and finished fourth in the remaining event. Johnson is coming off a miserable finish in Texas and will hit Phoenix with guns blazing to regain momentum in the Chase. Jimmie Johnson is definitely getting the start on my fantasy team this weekend.
The one race of the last four that Jimmie didn't win went to his teammate and chief Chase competitor. Mark Martin lead over half of the laps when the Sprint Cup series visited Phoenix in April and picked up the win. If Jimmie doesn't extend his point lead with the Phoenix win then Mark Martin will certainly cut into that lead with a win of his own.
