NASCAR Notebook: Phoenix
Barry F. Hess
April 21, 2006
Under the Lights
After a week off for Easter Sunday the NASCAR circuit begins eight straight weeks of racing in Phoenix, Arizona under the lights Saturday night.
After a rough start with his new race team Kurt Busch has slowly but surly begun to claw his way back to the top of the Nextel Cup Point Standings.
Currently 17th, look for Busch, who won the race last year, to stay near the front of the pack all night and contend for the win.
In recent weeks the No. 2 Miller Light team has built a solid set up for qualifying but failed to make the necessary adjustments come race day.
After two weeks of preparation time Busch and his crew have no excuses not to finish well.
Jeff Burton quietly moved up five positions in the point standings two weeks ago in Texas and will look to win his first Nextel Cup Race since 2001 on the very same race track he won that last race.
Though Burton qualified in 37th position look for his car to pass through traffic early in the race and compete for a top 10 finish.
It?s always tricky to go from the back to the front but if it can avoid getting into trouble the No. 31 Cingular Chevy is capable of challenging for the win.
Matt Kenseth qualified fourth and heads into Saturday night just 15 points behind Jimmie Johnson for the points lead.
Kenseth has run strong just about every week this season and watching him race can?t help but remind you of the way his teammate Greg Biffle ran last year.
Kenseth is capable of leading the most laps and running away with the race if he and crew chief Robbie Reiser hit the proper set up.
After leading at least one lap in every race this season but one Kenseth heads into Phoenix with somewhat of a chip on his shoulder.
Possibly capable of winning two or three races at this point the No. 17 Dewalt team has a lone California win to its credit.
Phoenix is a Roush Racing type of track and since Kenseth has been the poster boy for the struggling team this season there is no reason why he won?t be out in front leading more laps this weekend.
Fresh off his second win of the season and the best start of his career Kasey Kahne has to be considered a legitimate threat to win this Saturday?s race.
Both his wins this year came at mile-and-a-half tracks similar to Phoenix, the only difference was he started each of those races on the pole.
Kahne qualified 22nd and will have a tougher road to the checkered flag this go around but that doesn?t mean he can?t compete for the win.
Kahne has proven week after week that he and the No. 9 Dodge Dealers Dodge is no flash in the pan but rather is here to compete for a Nextel Cup title all season long.
Currently third in points Kahne could potentially leave the Arizona desert with the points lead for the first time in his short career.
Prediction: Though Saturday night is one of the most wide open races to date one name stands out as the most dangerous?Kyle Busch.
Busch has challenged for the win at every mile-and-a-half track on the circuit thus far but came up short each time.
After earning the pole on Thursday afternoon Busch put himself in the best possible position to take his first win of the season and the third in his career after his last win came at the fall race in Phoenix last season.
No driver has ever won in Phoenix from the pole but if anyone can it?s the No. 5 Kellogg?s Chevy team.
We have a good race car,? said Busch after taking the pole. ?It?s the sister car to the one we won with last year so hopefully it?s just as good.?
Memories
My oh my, what a difference a year can make.
Lets see, this time last season Greg Biffle and the No. 16 National Guard Ford race team already had two wins to its credit and was inside the top five in points.
Three more wins, taking the points lead, surrendering the points lead and a loose lug nut later and Biffle ended 2005 just shy of the Nextel Cup Title.
Heading into Daytona and the 2006 season Biffle was the popular pick to win the title and continue the strong performances week after week just as he did in 2005.
Unfortunately it hasn?t quite worked out that way.
Biffle is currently 23rd in points and if the Race for the Chase started this week he would not even qualify.
Luckily Biffle and his crew have 19 additional races to try and get into the Chase, a fact each member of that crew reminds themselves with each passing race and each passing opportunity to improve their points position.
It's a shame, you know. Man, so many times this year we've been like this. We've had a good car and we just can't complete it,? said Biffle. ?We certainly don't have the luck going our way this year, but you know what, we can turn it around.?
Biffle?s bad luck started in Daytona and carried over into California.
After lapping car after car in the second week of the season Biffle blew an engine and went on to finish dead last.
It was much of the same in the following weeks before an altercation with former teammate Kurt Busch put him out of the race and the Chase?at least for the moment.
If anyone is capable of pulling off a comeback of major proportions its Biffle and his experienced crew.
Just as teammate Matt Kenseth did last season Biffle will have to be next to flawless in the upcoming weeks if his dreams of competing for a Nextel Cup Title are to come to fruition.
Several of the tracks in the upcoming weeks suit Biffle and his Roush Racing set up but with lady luck nowhere to be found it may take more than a good set up to muscle his way back into contention.
Seven races into 2006 Biffle?s crew isn?t the only team in the Roush Racing stable struggling for answers.
Both Carl Edwards, fresh off an amazing rookie season and a third place finish in the points, and newcomer to the team Jamie McMurray can?t get things going either.
Last week Roush announced a surprising shake up to get both drivers on the right track.
Bob Osborne was moved from crew chief of the No. 99 team to the No. 26 team of McMurray while lead Roush engineer Wally Brown will take over as crew chief for Edwards.
This leaves 20 year veteran crew chief Jimmy Fenig, who helped earn Jack Roush a second Nextel Cup title in as many years when Kurt Busch won the Chase in 2004, demoted to the Busch Series.
Jack is known for deciding the time has come for a change,? Roush President Geoff Smith said. ?His general philosophy is, if we don't get a couple things better, we're going to have a couple drivers miss out on the Chase this year. Not everybody was on the same page with regard to what was going on underneath the [No. 26] car. Jack said the fastest way to get Jamie's fleet closer to what Carl's is, what most of Mark Martin's is, what Matt Kenseth's is, is to change the crew chief there.?
The move came after McMurray finished 41st in Texas two weeks ago, his worst finish of the season.
Edwards hasn?t been much better.
Currently 23 in points and on the outside of the Chase looking in Edwards is optimistic of his chances for a rebound and believes the change is for the good of the team.
It has to do with getting Jamie going,? Edwards said. ?That's all this is. That's something I want to make real clear because Bob is doing an unbelievable job. This is a compliment to Bob, if anything.?
While the shake up may have outsiders scratching their heads others on the inside are putting their trust in the Cat in the Hat.
This change came unexpectedly to me but usually when Jack explains his rationalization things become a lot clearer, Mark Martin said. ?Jamie is a great driver, and we've got to get him where he can reach his potential. For some reason, we haven't been able to get him where he can get it done. So Jack has obviously taken some action to do that.?
Kahne's CAreer Begining to Sprout
Every athlete goes through a process of maturation en route to defining who they are and what they are capable of doing.
Sometimes that process isn?t always easy and sometimes it can destroy an athlete before he even reaches his full potential.
But the ones that try and try again after at first they don?t succeed, those are the ones that usually go on to have a successful career.
At some point in that process every athlete receives a gut check where it becomes do or die and they either break out of their shell or fold under pressure and go home with their tail between their legs.
Two weeks ago at the Texas Motor Speedway Kasey Kahne broke out of his shell.
Kahne won his second race of the season after a come from behind win in Texas, is currently third in points and has Evernham Motor Sports back on the map.
I've learned a ton since 2004,? said Kahne. ?I was really new to this stuff and I feel like I've got a lot more experience and I'm a better, more mature Nextel Cup driver now.?
Kahne isn?t the only one who feels the winds of changing sweeping through team headquarters.
I'm really proud of Kenny [crew chief Kenny Francis] and Kasey. They have both matured quite a bit over the last couple of years and I think right now they are as good as anybody out there,? said Ray Evernham. ?With the job they're doing now, they've certainly got their sights set on that championship chase.?
After bursting on the scene in 2004, where he won Rookie of the Year honors, Kahne struggled in 2005 despite earning his first career win in Richmond.
2006 has been his most consistent and successful year by far, winning both Texas and Atlanta and finishing inside top in three other races thus far.
Everybody is doing a great job.? Kahne said. ?Things can change. I've been on the other side of it a lot. I hope we can keep this momentum going. We knew this team had the potential to do what we're doing. Now we've just got to keep on doing it.?
Kahne will start 22nd Saturday night and will likely compete for another top 10 finish as he?s performed the best this season at mile-and-a-half tracks.
After a week off for Easter Sunday the NASCAR circuit begins eight straight weeks of racing in Phoenix, Arizona under the lights Saturday night.
After a rough start with his new race team Kurt Busch has slowly but surly begun to claw his way back to the top of the Nextel Cup Point Standings.
Currently 17th, look for Busch, who won the race last year, to stay near the front of the pack all night and contend for the win.
In recent weeks the No. 2 Miller Light team has built a solid set up for qualifying but failed to make the necessary adjustments come race day.
After two weeks of preparation time Busch and his crew have no excuses not to finish well.
Jeff Burton quietly moved up five positions in the point standings two weeks ago in Texas and will look to win his first Nextel Cup Race since 2001 on the very same race track he won that last race.
Though Burton qualified in 37th position look for his car to pass through traffic early in the race and compete for a top 10 finish.
It?s always tricky to go from the back to the front but if it can avoid getting into trouble the No. 31 Cingular Chevy is capable of challenging for the win.
Matt Kenseth qualified fourth and heads into Saturday night just 15 points behind Jimmie Johnson for the points lead.
Kenseth has run strong just about every week this season and watching him race can?t help but remind you of the way his teammate Greg Biffle ran last year.
Kenseth is capable of leading the most laps and running away with the race if he and crew chief Robbie Reiser hit the proper set up.
After leading at least one lap in every race this season but one Kenseth heads into Phoenix with somewhat of a chip on his shoulder.
Possibly capable of winning two or three races at this point the No. 17 Dewalt team has a lone California win to its credit.
Phoenix is a Roush Racing type of track and since Kenseth has been the poster boy for the struggling team this season there is no reason why he won?t be out in front leading more laps this weekend.
Fresh off his second win of the season and the best start of his career Kasey Kahne has to be considered a legitimate threat to win this Saturday?s race.
Both his wins this year came at mile-and-a-half tracks similar to Phoenix, the only difference was he started each of those races on the pole.
Kahne qualified 22nd and will have a tougher road to the checkered flag this go around but that doesn?t mean he can?t compete for the win.
Kahne has proven week after week that he and the No. 9 Dodge Dealers Dodge is no flash in the pan but rather is here to compete for a Nextel Cup title all season long.
Currently third in points Kahne could potentially leave the Arizona desert with the points lead for the first time in his short career.
Prediction: Though Saturday night is one of the most wide open races to date one name stands out as the most dangerous?Kyle Busch.
Busch has challenged for the win at every mile-and-a-half track on the circuit thus far but came up short each time.
After earning the pole on Thursday afternoon Busch put himself in the best possible position to take his first win of the season and the third in his career after his last win came at the fall race in Phoenix last season.
No driver has ever won in Phoenix from the pole but if anyone can it?s the No. 5 Kellogg?s Chevy team.
We have a good race car,? said Busch after taking the pole. ?It?s the sister car to the one we won with last year so hopefully it?s just as good.?
Memories
My oh my, what a difference a year can make.
Lets see, this time last season Greg Biffle and the No. 16 National Guard Ford race team already had two wins to its credit and was inside the top five in points.
Three more wins, taking the points lead, surrendering the points lead and a loose lug nut later and Biffle ended 2005 just shy of the Nextel Cup Title.
Heading into Daytona and the 2006 season Biffle was the popular pick to win the title and continue the strong performances week after week just as he did in 2005.
Unfortunately it hasn?t quite worked out that way.
Biffle is currently 23rd in points and if the Race for the Chase started this week he would not even qualify.
Luckily Biffle and his crew have 19 additional races to try and get into the Chase, a fact each member of that crew reminds themselves with each passing race and each passing opportunity to improve their points position.
It's a shame, you know. Man, so many times this year we've been like this. We've had a good car and we just can't complete it,? said Biffle. ?We certainly don't have the luck going our way this year, but you know what, we can turn it around.?
Biffle?s bad luck started in Daytona and carried over into California.
After lapping car after car in the second week of the season Biffle blew an engine and went on to finish dead last.
It was much of the same in the following weeks before an altercation with former teammate Kurt Busch put him out of the race and the Chase?at least for the moment.
If anyone is capable of pulling off a comeback of major proportions its Biffle and his experienced crew.
Just as teammate Matt Kenseth did last season Biffle will have to be next to flawless in the upcoming weeks if his dreams of competing for a Nextel Cup Title are to come to fruition.
Several of the tracks in the upcoming weeks suit Biffle and his Roush Racing set up but with lady luck nowhere to be found it may take more than a good set up to muscle his way back into contention.
Seven races into 2006 Biffle?s crew isn?t the only team in the Roush Racing stable struggling for answers.
Both Carl Edwards, fresh off an amazing rookie season and a third place finish in the points, and newcomer to the team Jamie McMurray can?t get things going either.
Last week Roush announced a surprising shake up to get both drivers on the right track.
Bob Osborne was moved from crew chief of the No. 99 team to the No. 26 team of McMurray while lead Roush engineer Wally Brown will take over as crew chief for Edwards.
This leaves 20 year veteran crew chief Jimmy Fenig, who helped earn Jack Roush a second Nextel Cup title in as many years when Kurt Busch won the Chase in 2004, demoted to the Busch Series.
Jack is known for deciding the time has come for a change,? Roush President Geoff Smith said. ?His general philosophy is, if we don't get a couple things better, we're going to have a couple drivers miss out on the Chase this year. Not everybody was on the same page with regard to what was going on underneath the [No. 26] car. Jack said the fastest way to get Jamie's fleet closer to what Carl's is, what most of Mark Martin's is, what Matt Kenseth's is, is to change the crew chief there.?
The move came after McMurray finished 41st in Texas two weeks ago, his worst finish of the season.
Edwards hasn?t been much better.
Currently 23 in points and on the outside of the Chase looking in Edwards is optimistic of his chances for a rebound and believes the change is for the good of the team.
It has to do with getting Jamie going,? Edwards said. ?That's all this is. That's something I want to make real clear because Bob is doing an unbelievable job. This is a compliment to Bob, if anything.?
While the shake up may have outsiders scratching their heads others on the inside are putting their trust in the Cat in the Hat.
This change came unexpectedly to me but usually when Jack explains his rationalization things become a lot clearer, Mark Martin said. ?Jamie is a great driver, and we've got to get him where he can reach his potential. For some reason, we haven't been able to get him where he can get it done. So Jack has obviously taken some action to do that.?
Kahne's CAreer Begining to Sprout
Every athlete goes through a process of maturation en route to defining who they are and what they are capable of doing.
Sometimes that process isn?t always easy and sometimes it can destroy an athlete before he even reaches his full potential.
But the ones that try and try again after at first they don?t succeed, those are the ones that usually go on to have a successful career.
At some point in that process every athlete receives a gut check where it becomes do or die and they either break out of their shell or fold under pressure and go home with their tail between their legs.
Two weeks ago at the Texas Motor Speedway Kasey Kahne broke out of his shell.
Kahne won his second race of the season after a come from behind win in Texas, is currently third in points and has Evernham Motor Sports back on the map.
I've learned a ton since 2004,? said Kahne. ?I was really new to this stuff and I feel like I've got a lot more experience and I'm a better, more mature Nextel Cup driver now.?
Kahne isn?t the only one who feels the winds of changing sweeping through team headquarters.
I'm really proud of Kenny [crew chief Kenny Francis] and Kasey. They have both matured quite a bit over the last couple of years and I think right now they are as good as anybody out there,? said Ray Evernham. ?With the job they're doing now, they've certainly got their sights set on that championship chase.?
After bursting on the scene in 2004, where he won Rookie of the Year honors, Kahne struggled in 2005 despite earning his first career win in Richmond.
2006 has been his most consistent and successful year by far, winning both Texas and Atlanta and finishing inside top in three other races thus far.
Everybody is doing a great job.? Kahne said. ?Things can change. I've been on the other side of it a lot. I hope we can keep this momentum going. We knew this team had the potential to do what we're doing. Now we've just got to keep on doing it.?
Kahne will start 22nd Saturday night and will likely compete for another top 10 finish as he?s performed the best this season at mile-and-a-half tracks.
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