NASCAR at Phoenix FanShield 500 predictions: Who will win, how to watch, raceway info
The one-mile oval at Phoenix Raceway is the shortest track drivers will run so far this season. It also provides the first opportunity to see how their equipment operates with a new 2020 rules package, which includes smaller spoilers, splitters and other aerodynamic devices to emphasize driver handling and enhance competition.
“The cars this time around compared to last year have smaller spoilers,” No. 42 driver Kyle Larson said. “A lot less downforce than we had last year, so we’re sliding around a lot more.”
In addition to Phoenix, five other tracks—Bristol, Dover, Martinsville, New Hampshire and Richmond—will use the new short-track rules package, so teams that run well this weekend could have similar success at those races.
After last week’s race in Southern California, in which No. 88 driver Alex Bowman dominated the final stage to coast to his second Cup series victory, Hendrick Motorsports continues to field the most drivers in the top-10—Bowman (110 points), Jimmie Johnson (106 points) and Chase Elliott (105 points).
Team Penske’s No. 12 driver Ryan Blaney (122 points) is leading the Cup Series in points, followed by No. 22 teammate Joey Logano (111 points). Although the points leader, Blaney has yet to cinch a Cup victory this season.
In addition to Blaney, we’re following two other drivers this weekend.
NO. 18 KYLE BUSCH
Busch squeezed out a second place finish at last week’s Fontana race and is a 7-2 favorite in the SportsLine Vegas odds at Phoenix. For the second week in a row, Busch enters race weekend as the defending champion.
Busch has not yet had first-place finish this season, but he has finished either first or second in the last four races on Phoenix Raceway and has three Cup wins at Phoenix.
NO. 19 MARTIN TRUEX JR.
Truex Jr. finished second at last year’s Phoenix race and his odds are 9-2 behind Busch. Despite finishing in the top six in four of his last five races in Phoenix, Truex has never won at the track in 28 career starts. This year could be a turning point with a new short-track pacakge.
“I think we’re better than the last two weeks,” Truex told FOX after Saturday’s qualifying round. “So that’s a positive aspect.”
Truex Jr. will start at the back of the field for Sunday’s race due to an engine change. His No. 19 Joe Gibbs team changed out the power unit of its Toyota Camry before inspection.
LAST YEAR’S FANSHIELD 500:
Busch swept last year’s first Phoenix races, winning both the Xfinity and Cup Series events. In Sunday’s Cup race, Busch moved ahead of Ryan Blaney with 17 laps left and remained in the lead through the checkered flag.
“It doesn’t matter what kind of noise they’re making,” Busch said about the fan reaction to his sweep last season. “As long as they’re making noise.”
Blaney and Busch won the first two stages in that order. Martin Truex Jr., Blaney, Aric Almirola and Denny Hamlin followed Busch, respectively, to round out the top five.
THIS WEEK’S NASCAR RACE IN PHOENIX: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Race: FanShield 500
Distance: 312 laps, or 312 miles (stage breaks on laps 75, 190 and 312)
Where: Phoenix Raceway
When: Sunday at 3:30 p.m. EST
TV: FOX
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Last year’s winner: Kyle Busch (Joe Gibbs Racing)
Worth mentioning: Earlier in the week, Team Penske announced a multi-year contract extension for No. driver Ryan Blaney. The terms of the deal were not specified, but Team Penske said in a statement the deal will “keep him an integral part of the organization for years to come.”
Before Saturday’s Qualifying round, Blaney told FOX it was something he and Team Penske were “working on for a while.”
“Definitely nice to be able to tell everybody about the contract deal instead of keeping it under wraps,” Blaney said.
This story was originally published March 8, 2020 at 6:00 AM.