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Pick 'em: Phoenix
Johnson expected to continue dominance in desert
By NASCAR.COM
November 8, 2008
05:17 PM EST
November 8, 2008
05:17 PM EST
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Each week the staff at NASCAR.COM will pick a race winner, a dark horse for the checkers and the ain't-got-a-chance driver (no scrubs; someone with a Q score).
Our scoring system: Experts receive as many points as the "winner" pick gets in the race.
Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500
| Writer | Winner | Here's why | Dark Horse | No Chance | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Pate | Jimmie Johnson | I really tried not to pick him these past couple of weeks, but at Phoenix, it's impossible. The guy is automatic there with a 6.0 average finish and four consecutive finishes of fourth or better (two wins). So Johnson nearly wraps it up this week. | Mark Martin | Tony Stewart | 5,086 |
| Raygan Swan | Carl Edwards | He's never won in the desert, and if he wants to continue to make the Chase interesting he has to keep his winning streak intact. | Casey Mears | Tony Stewart | 5,014 |
| Duane Cross | Greg Biffle | He steals some of the thunder from Jimmie Johnson and teammate Carl Edwards. | Mark Martin | Juan Montoya | 5,013 |
| Dave Rodman | Jimmie Johnson | Back to championship cruise control mode for Johnson -- not that he'll be cruising -- but he's just too good at Phoenix, and too focused. | Jamie McMurray | David Ragan | 4,875 |
| Joe Menzer | Kyle Busch | Earlier considered to be having one of the finest seasons in Cup history, he's due now to end his slump in this series and finish the season on a stronger note. | David Ragan | Mark Martin | 4,870 |
| Bill Kimm | Jeff Gordon | You can see in his results he's do for a win, and it's coming at Phoenix. Look for Edwards and Johnson to have unexpected trouble and for Gordon to sweep in and steal the headlines. | Jamie McMurray | Matt Kenseth | 4,838 |
| David Caraviello | Jimmie Johnson | The two-time defending champion, with a 6.0 average finish in the desert, sweeps at Phoenix this season and all but locks down a third consecutive title. Carl Edwards finishes second. | Mark Martin | Matt Kenseth | 4,784 |
| Jarrod Breeze | Jimmie Johnson | Texas didn't sit well with the 48 team, as if it needed any extra incentive. | A.J. Allmendinger | Jamie McMurray | 4,452 |
| Mark Aumann | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Led 87 laps here in the spring and has six top-10 finishes in 12 starts, including a pair of victories. | Johnny Sauter | Greg Biffle | 4,367 |
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Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500
Race Lineup
| Pos. | Driver | Make |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Jimmie Johnson | Chevrolet |
| 2. | Jamie McMurray | Ford |
| 3. | Kurt Busch | Dodge |
| 4. | David Reutimann | Toyota |
| 5. | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Chevrolet |
| 6. | Ryan Newman | Dodge |
| 7. | Jeff Gordon | Chevrolet |
| 8. | Denny Hamlin | Toyota |
| 9. | Paul Menard | Chevrolet |
| 10. | Mark Martin | Chevrolet |
Sprint Cup Series
Official Standings
| Pos. | +/- | Driver | Points | Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | -- | Jimmie Johnson | 6366 | Leader |
| 2. | -- | Carl Edwards | 6260 | -106 |
| 3. | -- | Greg Biffle | 6223 | -143 |
| 4. | -- | Jeff Burton | 6154 | -212 |
| 5. | +1 | Jeff Gordon | 6111 | -255 |
| 6. | +1 | Clint Bowyer | 6099 | -267 |
| 7. | -2 | Kevin Harvick | 6087 | -279 |
| 8. | +1 | Matt Kenseth | 5973 | -393 |
| 9. | -1 | Tony Stewart | 5962 | -404 |
| 10. | +2 | Kyle Busch | 5938 | -428 |
| 11. | -1 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | 5937 | -429 |
| 12. | -1 | Denny Hamlin | 5935 | -431 |
Updated: Thursday 4:51 pm
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