Fantasy NASCAR Scouting Report – Phoenix

[themify_box]NOTE: This post is a recap of what happened last fall at Phoenix[/themify_box]

Phoenix Top Ten Starters

1. Ryan Blaney
2. Denny Hamlin
3. Kyle Larson
4. Chase Elliott
5. Martin Truex Jr.
6. Kevin Harvick
7. Matt Kenseth
8. Kyle Busch
9. Joey Logano
10. Daniel Suarez

Full Phoenix Starting Lineup

Phoenix Pre-race Notes

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. started in the rear of the field for an unapproved tire change.

Stage #1 Top Ten Finishers (Lap 75) = 42,11,24,20,4,18,77,78,31,48

Stage #2 Top Ten Finishers (Lap 150) = 11,20,77,78,18,4,1,31,24,14

Phoenix Race Notes

Ryan Blaney who started on the pole selected the high-line. He led the first 11 laps. In the race his car was good over short runs but not the best over long runs.

On lap 12 Chase Elliott passed Ryan Blaney for the lead. Elliott then led the next 14 laps.

Running order on lap 13: 24,21,11,42,4,78,18,20,77,48 … 88,22,1,19,14,2,31,5,41,43 … 3,27,38,47,95,10,13,6,17,37 … 34,32,72,23,15,7,66,33,00,51

On lap 26 & 27 Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott took turns leading laps.

On lap 28 Denny Hamlin solidly took the lead and drove away from Elliott. He then led the next 40 laps.

Running order on lap 31: 11,42,24,4,78,18,20,77,48,21 … 1,19,14,31,88,22,41,2,3,27 … 5,43,38,13,95,47,17,6,37,10 … 34,32

On lap 44 Brad Keselowski was in 18th and wasn’t happy with his car.

Running order on lap 53: 11,42,24,4,78,20,18,77,48,1 .. 31,21,19,14,22,41,88,2,3,27 … 13,5,43,38,17,95,47,6,37,34 … 32,72,10

Running order on lap 68: 42,11,24,4,20,18,77,78,48,31 … 1,14,21,19,22,41,2,3,13,27 … 88,43,17,5,38,95,47,6,37,34 … 32,72,10

On lap 68 Kyle Larson took the lead and he led the remainder of the segment.

Stage #1 Top Ten Finishers (Lap 75) = 42,11,24,20,4,18,77,78,31,48

Following the Stage #1 caution Denny Hamlin got the lead off pit road. He then led the next 152 laps.

Running order on lap 88: 11,18,42,20,4,77,24,78,48,22 … 14,21,31,1,2,19,41,88,3,27 … 13,43 (last driver on the lead lap),5,95,17,47,38,6,32,72 … 34,37

Running order on lap 104: 11,42,20,18,4,77,24,78,48,14 … 21,1,31,22,2,88

Big Moment: While running in 2nd on lap 104 Kyle Larson came to pit road because his engine blew up.

Running order on lap 107: 11,20,18,4,77,24,78,48,14,1 … 21,31,2,22,41,88,3,27,43,19 … 13,17,5,38,95,6,47,34,37,10 … 32

In a post DNF interview Larson said he thought he had the best car by far in the race.

Running order on lap 128: 11,20,18,77,4,78,24,1,48,14 … 31,21,2,22,41,3,27,43,13,19 … 88,17,5,38,6,34,95,37,47,10 … 72,32

Running order on lap 145: 11,20,77,78,18,4,1,31,24,14 … 48,21,3,2,22,41,27,43,13,19 … 88,17,6,5,38,34,95,37,47,10 … 72,32

Big Moment: On lap 149 while running in 11th, Jimmie Johnson had a blown tire and got into the wall hard.

Stage #2 Top Ten Finishers (Lap 150) = 11,20,77,78,18,4,1,31,24,14

On lap 164 Denny Hamlin was really confident with his car and said he planned on winning. He was leading at the time.