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Kevin Harvick burned rubber last year at Phoenix; he also had a burning sensation in the COT at Martinsville.By the Numbers: Phoenix
Thanks to Bristol and M'ville, we also present ... BTN: COT
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This week's historical and factual look at the Cup Series as it pertains to Phoenix International Raceway cannot solely be depicted on the 21 races held at NASCAR's oasis.
Not with the Car of Tomorrow returning and, for the first time, running on a 1-mile oval. The aerodynamic uncertainties change the dynamics of the Subway Fresh Fit 500, just as the COT's introduction at Bristol and then, to a lesser extent, Martinsville brought uneasiness.
So, before we delve into the numbers that have given Phoenix its track record, let us reflect upon the first two COT races, By the Numbers-style:
Interesting Fact
1-2Denny Hamlin (1) and Kyle Busch (2) had the best Driver Rating and Average Running Position in the first two COT races. Jeff Gordon was the only other driver in the top five in both categories.
Fun Fact
1951Year the Car of Tomorrow officially debuted, as in the cartoon of the same name by the legendary animator Tex Avery, who as only he can envisions what the future holds for the automobile.
All the Facts
.001Difference in average margin of victory in the first two COT races: Bristol (.064); Martinsville (.065).
1Driver entered in both COT races not to finish either of them: David Gilliland, Bristol (crash); Martinsville (engine).
2Toyota drivers whose only two starts this season have been the COT races in which they qualified on time: Jeremy Mayfield; A.J. Allmendinger.
2Victories by Hendrick Motorsports in the first two COT races: Kyle Busch (Bristol); Jimmie Johnson (Martinsville).
5Best finish by a Ford driver in the first two COT races: Greg Biffle at Bristol.
8Best finish by a Dodge driver in the first two COT races: Scott Riggs at Martinsville.
9Place of finish in both COT races by Jamie McMurray, the only non-Chevy driver to finish in the top 10 in both races.
15Best finish by a Toyota driver in the first two COT races: Brian Vickers at Bristol.
15Top-10 finishes in the first two COT races for Chevrolet. Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, Jeff Burton and Dale Earnhardt finished in the top 10 in both races. Chevrolets accounted for nine of the 10 top-fives.
302Laps led by Denny Hamlin in the first two COT races, most of any driver.
And now, in honor of Eddie Van Halen, who will serve as the Honorary Race Official for the Subway Fresh Fit 500, we present the main attraction, headlined by Kevin Harvick. Buoyed by his Phoenix sweep in 2006, Harvick has the best Average Running Position (6.043) and Driver Rating (114.7) in the past four desert races.
Interesting Fact
1988First year NASCAR raced at Phoenix International Raceway, although the track opened in 1964. Alan Kulwicki won the inaugural event, and it was there he debuted his Polish Victory Lap.
Fun Fact
220Calories per serving size in a peanut butter, sugar and white macadamia nut cookie, the highest in any Subway restaurants dessert, not to be confused with desert, a dry land for which Phoenix is noted.
All the Facts
0Wins at Phoenix from the pole. Three races have been won from the outside of the front row.
0Wins at Phoenix by Jeff Gordon, one of three current tracks -- Texas and Homestead -- at which he has not won. Gordon, who won the first Busch race at PIR, has 13 top-10s in 16 starts for an 8.6 average finish there.
2Wins by a manufacturer at Phoenix, other than Ford (12) and Chevrolet (7), both by Pontiac: Bobby Hamilton (1996); Tony Stewart (1999).
3Drivers to have started all 21 races at Phoenix: Dale Jarrett; Mark Martin; Ken Schrader.
4Drivers to have posted multiple victories at Phoenix: Davey Allison (1991-92); Jeff Burton (2000-01); Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2003-04); Kevin Harvick (2006, sweep). All four did so in back-to-back races.
4Consecutive top-10 finishes at Phoenix by Carl Edwards, the longest active streak.
5.3Average start for Brian Vickers at Phoenix, best of any driver with more than one start there. Only once has Vickers started outside the top 10, but only once has he finished in the top 10.
6Top-10s in 36 combined starts at Phoenix by the three Bodine brothers, all courtesy of Geoffrey.
7.7Average finish of Jimmie Johnson in seven starts at Phoenix, second-best of all time. Alan Kulwicki had a 5.2 average finish in five starts.
10Active drivers with a victory at Phoenix: Mark Martin (1993); Ricky Rudd (1995); Dale Jarrett (1997); Tony Stewart (1999); Jeff Burton (2000-01); Matt Kenseth (2002); Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2003-04); Kurt Busch (2005); Kyle Busch (2005); Kevin Harvick (2006).
12Starts at Phoenix by Ward Burton, most of any current driver without a top-10 finish there.
15Races started at Phoenix by Joe Nemechek, the most of any driver without having ever led a lap there.
18Lead-lap finishes at Phoenix by Mark Martin, best of any driver. Martin has the most top-fives there with eight and top-10s with 14.
185Green Flag Passes in the past four races at Phoenix by Jeff Burton, most of any driver.
194Fastest Laps Run in the past four races at Phoenix by Greg Biffle, most of any driver.
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Phoenix International Raceway
Past Winners
| Year | Pole | Winner | Start |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | G. Bodine | A. Kulwicki | 21 |
| 1989 | K. Schrader | B. Elliott | 13 |
| 1990 | R. Wallace | D. Earnhardt | 3 |
| 1991 | G. Bodine | D. Allison | 13 |
| 1992 | R. Wallace | D. Allison | 12 |
| 1993 | B. Elliott | M. Martin | 3 |
| 1994 | S. Marlin | T. Labonte | 19 |
| 1995 | B. Elliott | R. Rudd | 29 |
| 1996 | B. Labonte | B. Hamilton | 17 |
| 1997 | B. Hamilton | D. Jarrett | 9 |
| 1998 | K. Schrader | R. Wallace | 6 |
| 1999 | J. Andretti | T. Stewart | 11 |
| 2000 | R. Wallace | J. Burton | 2 |
| 2001 | C. Atwood | J. Burton | 3 |
| 2002 | R. Newman | M. Kenseth | 28 |
| 2003 | R. Newman | D. Earnhardt Jr. | 11 |
| 2004 | R. Newman | D. Earnhardt Jr. | 14 |
| 2005 | J. Gordon | Ku. Busch | 2 |
| D. Hamlin | Ky. Busch | 15 | |
| 2006 | Ky. Busch | K. Harvick | 15 |
| J. Gordon | K. Harvick | 2 |
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Car of Tomorrow
2007 races with the COT
| Date | Track |
|---|---|
| March 25 | Bristol |
| April 1 | Martinsville |
| April 21 | Phoenix |
| May 5 | Richmond |
| May 12 | Darlington |
| June 3 | Dover |
| June 24 | Sonoma |
| July 1 | New Hampshire |
| Aug. 12 | Watkins Glen |
| Aug. 25 | Bristol |
| Sept. 8 | Richmond |
| Sept. 16 | New Hampshire * |
| Sept. 23 | Dover * |
| Oct. 7 | Talladega * |
| Oct. 21 | Martinsville * |
| Nov. 11 | Phoenix * |
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