This weekend, the NASCAR Cup Series returns to Arizona to determine the champion.  Coverage of the Phoenix Raceway 500k begins with NASCAR America Sunday on NBC at 1:30 p.m.  That is immediately followed by Countdown to Green at 2 p.m.  The green flag should fly around 3:10.  Radio coverage will be provided by local MRN Radio affiliates and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).
 

Records and facts

Last year's Bluegreen Vacations 500k was dominated by three drivers.  They were Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch and Joey Logano.  Together, they combined to lead all but seven laps of the race.  Busch dominated early from the pole, but Hamlin had nearly the whole second half of the race to himself.

Hamlin was able to take the lead from Joey Logano on lap 177.  From there, he only surrendered the lead to make his final pit stop.  A late caution due to a John Hunter Nemechek meant that he had to hold on over the final three laps, but he was able to take the win. Busch was second, followed by Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson and Kevin Harvick.

Harvick is the winningest driver at Phoenix International Raceway all-time with nine victories on the tricky tri-oval.  Jimmie Johnson has four victories in his own right, while Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr. each have three.

Nine drivers have two victories in Phoenix.  Denny Hamlin, Joey Loigano, Matt Kenseth and Ryan Newman are the active drivers in the group.  The others are Davey Allison, Jeff Burton, Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin.

Track Facts 
Track / Race Length: 1 mile tri-oval, 312 laps (312 miles, 502.32 kilometers)
Banking: 10-11 degrees in the backstretch dogleg, 8-9 degrees in Turns 1-2, 10-11 degrees in Turns 3-4

Frontstretch: 1,551 ft., banked 9-11 degrees

Backstretch: 1,179 ft., banked 3 degrees

Grandstand Seating: 45,000

Pit Road Speed: 45 mph
Pace Car Speed: 50 mph
Opened: 1964 (first Cup race in 1988)

Website: http://www.ismraceway.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ISMRaceway

Twitter: http://twitter.com/ISMRaceway

Say What?!

"I’m excited, honestly. It’s been an amazing journey and one that I could have never dreamed of. To be here at the end of what has been a crazy year, going out on my terms, is really special. I’ve had the great support of Hendrick Motorsports, Ally, Cliff Daniels and my team. So many people have been there for me, especially my incredible family and friends. I’m happy. I’m in a great head space. Will it hit me in Phoenix? I’m sure it will, but I’m glad I will have my loved ones there to celebrate all we have accomplished and toast to the future." - Jimmie Johnson

"I’m still kind of wrapping my head around everything, I feel like. I’ve never been in this position before, so I think myself, much like a lot of people around me are kind of learning this together. For me, I’m just taking it a day at a time and just enjoying the moment. I’ve been saying that a lot lately, and I think it’s really important to do that. I’ve heard my dad say that over the years that he wished he enjoyed certain moments more and didn’t just run through them. So I’m just trying to enjoy it. This is a big opportunity – it’s not an easy thing to make the final four, it’s not something you should ever take for granted, may not ever be here again, so I recognize that and I recognize that we have a very solid team. As the No. 9 team in general, I think we are very capable of going and contending this weekend and I believe that and I think we just have to make the most of a great opportunity and enjoy it and try to thrive in the moment and hope for the best." - Chase Elliott

"I really like Phoenix and we won there a couple of times the last couple of years. So much has changed since then. It’s entirely different now, so maybe we can still be good when we go back there, hopefully, but a lot’s going on in the development of everybody’s cars and things like that. We’ll see what we have this weekend with our M&M’S Camry and we would like nothing better to spoil the fun and take another trophy home." - Kyle Busch