In the bubble – Phoenix
This weekend, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to action at Phoenix International Raceway. The eighth race of the 2009 season, things are starting to heat up around the limit for the top 35 in owner points. With forty-eight cars on the preliminary entry list for this weekend’s Subway Fresh Fit 500, thirteen go-home or go-home cars will compete for eight spots.
In the bubble this weekend is Raybestos Rookie of the Year contender Joey Logano. After finishing in 30th place two weeks ago at Texas, the driver of the No. 20 Home Depot Toyota owned by Joe Gibbs dropped one spot in the owner standings. With only twenty-three points to keep him from being a go-or-go-homer, Logano is optimistic he’s heading to one of his favorite tracks on the circuit.
“I love Phoenix,” Logano explained. “It could be one of my favorite tracks, if not my favorite. There’s something about it: I came to that place great. I ran the Camping World West race there and won. I should have won the Nationwide race there last year.” like we’ve been fast every time we’ve been there. I did the tire test there and it’s just one place that seems to be doing really well for me. It has two different ends: one is very sharp and you have to keep working on your forward momentum from that one, and the other is wide, more like a New Hampshire corner. It’s great and wears the tires quite a bit and you have to be smart with your tyres. I really enjoy that place. batch.”
The man chasing Logano and looking to return to the top 35 is David Gilliland and his TRG Motorsports team. Only twenty-three points separate Gilliland from the top-35.
Behind Gilliland in 36th is Earnhardt Ganassi Racing’s No. 8 Chevrolet. Team officials recently announced that the team was shut down due to a lack of sponsorship funds. The iconic number made famous by Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be vacant from the track this weekend and the following weekends unless the team can find a company willing to support his cause. By not competing, this team will simply drop down the standings and allow others like Scott Speed in 37th to have a better chance of getting back into the top 35.
For the other rookie contender, the season hasn’t exactly gone to plan. Speed has struggled in the early stages of the season and was unable to make the show two weeks ago in Texas. Ninety-six points behind Logano in 35th, Speed needs to step up as the season is about to enter a long stretch of racing. He’s not out of the picture by any means, but better racing and more efficient qualifying efforts are required if he wants the No. 82 Red Bull Toyota back into the top 35.
On the safe side of the top-35, Paul Menard was the big mover to leave Texas. A thirteenth-place finish moved the driver of the No. 98 Yates Racing Ford three places in the owner standings to 32nd.
Following a disappointing 39th-place finish at Texas, owner/driver Robby Gordon dropped three places to 34th in the standings. Now just forty-four points ahead of Gilliland, Gordon has suffered back-to-back engine failures and is looking to turn his desert season around.
Those thirteen drivers required to qualify for Saturday night’s race include; Brandon Ash, Trevor Boys, Sterling Marlin, Scott Riggs, Jeremy Mayfield, Dexter Bean, Todd Bodine, Dave Blaney, David Gilliland, Tony Raines, Regan Smith, Scott Speed, and Joe Nemechek.
Qualifying for the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway is scheduled for 7:10 pm ET