The sunrise was beautiful over Phoenix International Raceway Sunday morning. A great way to start race day. The only event on the schedule is the 1pm MT/3pm ET AdvoCare 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on the one-mile desert oval track. It’s the penultimate round in the Chase For the Championship. The race will be televised live on ESPN.The countdown show starts at noon local time, 2pm ET, with the race show at 1pm MT/3pm ET. It will also be aired live on MRN Radio. The Sirius XM NASCAR Radio coverage begins with pre-race at 10am MT/noon ET, and continuing with race coverage at noon MT/2pm ET. Channel 90.
At sunrise the temps were in the mid-fifties range, with a breeze. It’s expected to reach 81 degrees F by race time, with a high of 88.
Chase Points Leader, JIMMIE JOHNSON/No.48e Lowes/Kobalts Chevrolet is the Pole Sitter for the 500-mile race. His lead over Chase Contender MATT KENSETH/No.20 Dollar General Toyota is seven points. KEVIN HARVICK/No.29 Budweiser Chevrolet still has an outside chance at the goal, 40 points back.
All Chase points are earned during the race – none are awarded for winning the pole position.
JEFF GORDON, driver of No.24 Chevrolet in the RICK HENDRICK stable, is the owner of Johnson’s No.48 Chevrolet, which is also in the Hendrick stable. Gordon is leading the Owner Championship Standings, with 2,342 points and six wins this season in 34 races.
JOE GIBBS, owner of No.20 raced by Kenseth, is second in the standings, with 2,335 points and seven victories.
RICHARD CHILDRESS, owner of No.29 raced by Harvick, is third with 2,302 points and three wins.
Let the games begin!
