Snapshot: Phoenix

Coming through

It's probable that the Chasers looking to advance will be have an opportunity to move a competitor for points. But what if it's a teammate? Denny Hamlin was coy about it during an interview while teammate Kyle Busch 'absolutely' would. See all the key story lines for Sunday.

Where: Phoenix International Raceway, a 1-mile layout located in Avondale, Arizona
Green flag: 2:45 p.m. ET
TV/Radio: NBC, NBC Sports App, MRN, SIRIUS XM NASCAR Radio
Forecast: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon, according to NOAA.gov.
National anthem: Member of the Military Intelligence Corps Band, Fort. Huachuca, Arizona -- SFC Dana Fischl
Grand marshal: Inspiration for the new motion picture Bleed for This, five-time world champion, Vinny Paz
Honorary starter: President and CEO of BRP, Jose Boisjoli
Race Distance: 312 laps, 312 miles
Pit road speed: 45 mph
Caution car speed: 50 mph

You know the deal

Next weekend's Championship 4 race all comes down to Sunday's Round of 8 finale at Phoenix and drivers are willing to put it all on the line and vie for the win.

'You just give it your all. There's no second-guessing things. You go for it, don't look back, and you try to be your best at that moment,' Kurt Busch said Friday.

Guess who

Hey, remember this guy? Assuming a Chase driver will win at Homestead, Sunday's race is quite possibly Tony Stewart's last shot at winning a race before he hangs up the fire suit. 'Smoke' hasn't won here since '99, but it'd be nice.

To the back for the backup

Not only is Martin Truex Jr. no longer in the Chase, but his weekend has been a series of unfortunate events. Truex got into the wall during first practice, forcing him to resort to a backup. Said backup then failed to pass pre-qualifying inspection, causing him to start last on Sunday.

Hello, it's me

After contact between Kevin Harvick and Austin Dillon at Texas, Dillon was heated and had some words for his former teammate.

'I reached out to him and he didn't reach back,' Harvick said post-qualifying at Phoenix. 'So it is what it is.'

Bowman the Poleman

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the defending race victor so it's not a surprise to see his No. 88 on the pole for Sunday's race. It is a surprise, however, that Alex Bowman piloted the Chevy to the fast lap amongst a competitive Chase field.

'To do this in Phoenix, so close to home, means so much to me,' the Tucson, Arizona, native said.

It's a dry heat

There's hardly any humidity in the desert, but the tension in the air is so palpable, you could cut it with a cactus. Sunday will certainly be filled with drama, between teammates opining on whether or not they should wreck each other to advance, another driver putting Junior's car on the pole and a potential feud escalation between former teammates. Buckle up.