Phoenix International Raceway
Track Data:
Race #: 8 of 36 (4-23-05) Track Size: 1.0 Mile
Event: Subway Fresh 500 Number of Laps: 312
Location: Phoenix, AZ Length of Event: 312 Miles
Length of Front Stretch: 1,179 Feet Degree of Banking in Corners: 1-2: 11 degrees
Length of Back Stretch: 1,551 Feet 3-4: 9 degrees
Qualifying Data:
Last year's event pole winner: None – first spring race
Last year's event winner: None- first spring race
Track qualifying record: Ryan Newman 135.854 mph 11-5-04 26.499 seconds
Track record: Tony Stewart 118.132 mph 11-7-99 2 hrs, 38 min, 28 sec
Historical Data:
Previous winners at Phoenix:
Davey Allison (2) Jeff Burton (2) Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2) Dale Earnhardt (1) Bill Elliott (1)
Bobby Hamilton (1) Dale Jarrett (1) Alan Kulwicki (1) Mark Martin (1) Terry Labonte (1)
Ricky Rudd (1) Rusty Wallace (1) Tony Stewart (1) Matt Kenseth (1)
Races won from the pole: 0 of 17 events (0%)
Races won from the top 10: 6 of 17 events (35%)
Races won from outside the top 10: 11 of 17 events (65%)
Track Milestones
Geoffrey Bodine won the first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Bud Pole at the Phoenix International Raceway in
1988.
Alan Kulwicki won the inaugural NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at the Phoenix International Raceway, the
1988 Checker 500. It was also Kulwicki's first career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup victory.
2005 will be the first season for twice-a-year racing at Phoenix.
The spring race will be the first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup night race at Phoenix.
Track Update
Mark Martin has posted 13 top-10 finishes in 17 races at Phoenix International Raceway – three more
than any other driver. All six of the drivers who have competed in all 17 races at Phoenix have posted at least
four top-10 finishes there: Martin (13), Dale Jarrett (eight), Rusty Wallace (eight), Ricky Rudd (five), Terry
Labonte (five) and Ken Schrader (four). Only Labonte has completed all 17 Phoenix races without posting a
DNF there.
Manufacturer Update
Ford has won 11 of the 17 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at Phoenix and had at least two top-five
finishes in the first 16 races there. Ford's best finish in 2004 was 10th. Chevrolet has four victories at Phoenix,
including the past two races. The highest finishing Dodge driver in the four races that the manufacturer has
competed at Phoenix (2001-2004) was Ryan Newman (2nd in 2004). Pontiac had two Phoenix victories (1996
and 1999).
Qualifying Update
Ken Schrader has posted 12 top-10 qualifying efforts, including two Bud Poles (1989 and 1998), in the
first 14 races at Phoenix. His best start in the past three races there has been 18th.
The Money
Purse $4,795,076
NASCAR NEXTEL Leader Bonus $50,000
MBNA Mid-Race Leader Bonus $5,000
Car Owner Victories at This Track
Jack Roush 4
Robert Yates 3
Teresa Earnhardt 2
Melling Racing 1
Richard Childress 1
Rick Hendrick 1
Ricky Rudd 1
Alan Kulwicki 1
Petty Enterprises 1
Roger Penske 1
Joe Gibbs 1
TOTAL 17
Tire/Fuel Data
Other NEXTEL Cup Tracks with Same Tire Combination: New Hampshire International Speedway
Estimated Pit Window: Every 90-100, based on fuel mileage
Speed Limits: Pit Road – 45 mph; Caution Car – 50 mph
Would You Believe?
Ryan Newman started 10th in the 2000 Checker Auto Parts/Dura Lube 500, his career-first NASCAR
NEXTEL CUP start. That start came two seasons before his 2002 rookie season. In 2001 he started 25th. In the
three races since his official rookie season (2002-2004) he has won the Bud Pole there.
Mr. Phoenix
Mark Martin has posted eight top-five and 13 1op-10 finishes in 17 races at Phoenix, both more than
any other driver. Martin has one victory and five second-place finishes in the 17 races.
The Money
Purse $4,795,076
NASCAR NEXTEL Leader Bonus $50,000
MBNA Mid-Race Leader Bonus $5,000
Notebook
There have been 17 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at the Phoenix International Raceway, one per season
since the track hosted its inaugural race in 1988.
There have been 10 different Bud Pole winners in the 17 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at Phoenix.
Ryan Newman and Rusty Wallace lead all other drivers, each with three Bud Poles at Phoenix. Geoffrey
Bodine, Bill Elliott and Ken Schrader each have two Bud Poles at Phoenix.
Ryan Newman was the Bud Pole winner for the Checker Auto Parts 500 last fall. Newman, the only driver to
win consecutive Bud Poles at Phoenix, is seeking his fourth straight.
There have been 14 different race winners in the 17 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at Phoenix.
The late Davey Allison (1991 and 1992), Jeff Burton (2000 and 2001) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2003 and
2004) are the only drivers to score two NASCAR NEXTEL Cup victories at Phoenix. All three posted backto-
back victories.
Eleven drivers have each posted one victory at Phoenix: Alan Kulwicki, Dale Earnhardt, Bill Elliott,
Bobby Hamilton, Dale Jarrett, Matt Kenseth, Terry Labonte, Mark Martin, Ricky Rudd, Tony Stewart
and Rusty Wallace.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., won the Checker Auto Parts 500 last fall.
The race has never been won from the Bud Pole at Phoenix. The winner has started in the third-place starting
position three times and from 11th and 13th place twice each.
Only one NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Phoenix has been won from a front-row starting position (Jeff
Burton started second and won in 1999).
The race at Phoenix has been won from a top-10 starting position only six of 17 times.
Ricky Rudd won the 1995 DuraLube 500 from the 29th-place starting position, the furthest back a race
winner has started at Phoenix.
Mark Martin (13 of 17), Jeff Gordon (10 of 12), Tony Stewart (four of six), Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch
and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (each three of five) are the active drivers that have posted top-10 finishes in at least
half of their races at Phoenix.
The average starting position of the 17 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races winners at Phoenix has been 12.58.
Two races have been won from the 13th-starting position and six have been won from a starting position
further back than 13th. Only six races have been won from a top-10 starting position.
Rusty Wallace has posted a top-10 qualifying effort in 15 of 17 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races held at
Phoenix, including three Bud Poles (1990, 1992 and 2000), the most of all drivers. Wallace failed to make the
top-10 in two of the past three seasons when he started 29th (2002) and 15th (2004).
Track Update of the Week
Phoenix is one of only four active tracks where Jeff Gordon has not scored a NASCAR NEXTEL
Cup victory. Chicago, Homestead and Texas are the others. Gordon has posted 10 top-10 finishes in 12 races at
Phoenix. His best finish there was third in 2002 and 2004.
Phoenix Participation
Only six drivers have participated in all 17 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at Phoenix International Raceway: Dale
Jarrett, Terry Labonte, Mark Martin, Ricky Rudd, Ken Schrader and Rusty Wallace.
Phoenix Milestones
Dale Jarrett is expected to make his 575th NASCAR NEXTEL CUP career start this week at Phoenix International
Raceway.
Jeff Burton is expected to make his 375th NASCAR NEXTEL CUP career start this week at Phoenix International
Raceway.
Ricky Rudd is expected to make his 760th consecutive career start this week at Phoenix International Raceway,
extending the all-time record for consecutive starts by a NASCAR driver.
Strong Starter at Phoenix International Raceway
Rusty Wallace has posted 15 top-10 starts in 17 races at Phoenix. Wallace scored three Bud Poles and is tied with
Ryan Newman for the most Bud Poles there. Wallace’s only starts outside the top 10 came in two of his last three races
there.
Top 10 Lap Leaders at Phoenix International Raceway
Driver Starts Laps Led
1. Rusty Wallace 17 868
2. Mark Martin 17 471
3. Ricky Rudd 17 387
4. Dale Earnhardt 13 337
5. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 5 310
6. Kurt Busch 5 229
7. Jeff Burton 11 215
8. Davey Allison 5 192
9. Alan Kulwicki 5 187
10. Terry Labonte 17 177
Winning From Up Front - Tough at Phoenix International Raceway
Only six of 17 races at Phoenix have been won from a top-10 starting position. The second-place starting position is
the highest that a race winner has started: Jeff Burton (2000).
Phoenix Domination
Mark Martin has an 8.25 average finish at Phoenix, the best average finish among drivers with more than five starts
there. Despite his strong record at Phoenix, Martin has scored only one victory there (1993).
Manufacturer Update
A Ford has won 11 of the 17 races at Phoenix, including three of the last four. A Dodge has never won there.
And Beat Goes On
Terry Labonte competed in all 17 races at the Arizona track since it opened in 1988 without posting a DNF. Joe
Nemechek has been running at the finish in all 11 of his races at Phoenix, the best among active drivers.
Different Winners at Phoenix
There have been 14 different winners in 17 races at Phoenix International Raceway. Only Dale Earnhardt Jr.,
Davey Allison and Jeff Burton (two each) have posted multiple victories there. All three won back-to-back there.
Selected Records at Phoenix International Raceway
Rusty Wallace and Ryan Newman lead all drivers, each with three Bud Poles at Phoenix.
Jeff Burton and Dale Earnhardt Jr. lead all active drivers, each with two victories at Phoenix International
Raceway. Davey Allison also scored two victories at Phoenix.
Mark Martin leads all drivers with eight top-five and 13 top-10 finishes at Phoenix.
Rusty Wallace has led 868 laps at Phoenix International Raceway, more than any other driver.
Rusty Wallace has a 6.9 starting average in 17 races at Phoenix, the best of all drivers with more than two starts
there.
Mark Martin has an 8.6 average finish in 17 races at Phoenix International Raceway, the best of all drivers with
more than five starts there.
Skunked at Phoenix International Raceway
Ken Schrader is the only driver among the six that have competed in all 17 races at Phoenix that has not scored a
victory at the Arizona speedway.
Jeff Gordon has not won in his 12 races at Phoenix. It is one of only four tracks where he has not won and the only
track where he has competed in 10 or more races without a victory. Chicagoland, Texas and Homestead Phoenix are
the other tracks where Gordon has not won.
Strong Starter at Phoenix
Ryan Newman has scored three straight Bud Poles Phoenix International Raceway. No other driver has scored
back-to-back Bud Poles at the Arizona track.
Don’t Tell Me You Can’t
Eleven of the 17 races (65 percent) at Phoenix International Raceway were won from a starting position outside the
top 10, including the last three.
Jack Roush Winning Owner at Phoenix
Jack Roush-owned cars have scored four victories at Phoenix, the most of any car owner. Jeff Burton (two), Mark
Martin and Matt Kenseth (one each) have all won for Roush in Arizona.
Manufacturer Update
Ford has 11 victories, Chevrolet has four and Pontiac has one at Phoenix. A Dodge has not scored a victory at
Phoenix.
Defending NEXTEL Cup Champion at Texas
Kurt Busch has competed in five races at Phoenix scoring three top-10 finishes, all in the last three races there.
Point Leader at Texas
Jimmie Johnson has scored two top-10 finishes in his three races at Phoenix International Raceway.
Starting Up Front Never Hurt
Only Ryan Newman has started every race in 2005 from a top-10 starting position.
Phoenix May Spell Trouble for Some of the Top 10
Greg Biffle has not scored a top-10 finish at Phoenix.
Elliott Sadler has scored only one top-10 finish in six races at Phoenix International Raceway (10th in 2002).
Sterling Marlin has not scored a top-10 finish in his last nine races at Phoenix.
Streaks
Jimmie Johnson has posted 13 consecutive top-10 finishes, extending a streak that began at Charlotte last October.
Mark Martin has been running at the finish in 29 consecutive races, the longest current streak.
Get Those Bonus Points
Jimmie Johnson and Greg Biffle are the only drivers to lead at least one lap in five of the seven races in 2005.
Maintaining a Top-10 Standard
Kurt Busch has ranked in the top-10 of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series point standings for 41 consecutive races
since Rockingham in February 2004, the longest current streak.
Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin and Rusty Wallace have each ranked in the top 10 in the NASCAR
NEXTEL Cup point standings after every race in 2005.
2005 Struggles
Matt Kenseth ranks 21st in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings after seven races in 2005. One year ago he
was second.
Bobby Labonte has posted four DNFs in seven races in 2005 and ranks 37th in the point standings. He ranks lowest
among the drivers that have competed in all seven races in 2005. Five of his seven finishes have been 33rd or worse.
One year ago he was 15th.
2005 Superspeedway Standouts
In the first five superspeedway races in 2005:
Most Points Earned - Jimmie Johnson - 845 (57 more than Greg Biffle)
Most Bud Poles –Ryan Newman (three)
Most Victories – Greg Biffle (two)
Most Top-fives –Jimmie Johnson (five)
Most Top-10s – Jimmie Johnson (five)
Most Races Led – Jimmie Johnson and Greg Biffle (four)
Winning Manufacturers – Ford (three); Chevrolet (two)
