A glance at the 12 drivers competing in NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup championship heading into this weekend’s race at Phoenix (in order of points):
DRIVER: Carl Edwards
CHASE POINTS: First, 2,316 points
POSITION CHANGE: None
CAR: No. 99 Aflac Ford
TEAM: Roush Fenway Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Edwards finished second and it wasn’t good enough: Tony Stewart shaved five points off of Edwards’ lead.
CAREER PHOENIX STARTS: 14
BEST PHOENIX FINISH: 1st (2010)
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DRIVER: Tony Stewart
CHASE POINTS: Second, -3
POSITION CHANGE: None.
CAR: No. 14 Mobil 1/Office Depot Chevrolet
TEAM: Stewart-Haas Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Backed up his trash-talking with his fourth victory of the Chase.
CAREER PHOENIX STARTS: 19
BEST PHOENIX FINISH: 1st (1999)
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DRIVER: Kevin Harvick
CHASE POINTS: Third, -33
POSITION CHANGE: None
CAR: No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet
TEAM: Richard Childress Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Faded at the end of the race to 13th after running in top 10.
CAREER PHOENIX STARTS: 17
BEST PHOENIX FINISH: 1st (2006-twice)
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DRIVER: Matt Kenseth
CHASE POINTS: Fourth, -38
POSITION CHANGE: Plus 1
CAR: No. 17 Crown Royal Ford
TEAM: Roush Fenway Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Appeared poised to race for the win early, but finished fourth.
CAREER PHOENIX STARTS: 18
BEST PHOENIX FINISH: 1st (2002)
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DRIVER: Brad Keselowski
CHASE POINTS: Fifth, -49
POSITION CHANGE: Minus 1
CAR: No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge
TEAM: Penske Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Had an accident with Denny Hamlin on pit road and finished 24th.
CAREER PHOENIX STARTS: 4
BEST PHOENIX FINISH: 2nd (2011)
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DRIVER: Jimmie Johnson
CHASE POINTS: Sixth, -55
POSITION CHANGE: None
CAR: No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet
TEAM: Hendrick Motorsports
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Was running in top 10 when he spun on his own, and finished 14th.
CAREER PHOENIX STARTS: 16
BEST PHOENIX FINISH: 1st (2007, 2008-twice, 2009)
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DRIVER: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
CHASE POINTS: Seventh, -79
POSITION CHANGE: Plus 2
CAR: No. 88 AMP Chevrolet
TEAM: Hendrick Motorsports
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Finished seventh for the second consecutive week, his third top-10 of the Chase.
CAREER PHOENIX STARTS: 18
BEST PHOENIX FINISH: 1st (2003, 2004)
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DRIVER: Jeff Gordon
CHASE POINTS: Eighth, -81
POSITION CHANGE: Plus 2
CAR: No. 24 Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet
TEAM: Hendrick Motorsports
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Didn’t contend for the win despite running near the front. He finished sixth.
CAREER PHOENIX STARTS: 25
BEST PHOENIX FINISH: 1st (2007, 2011)
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DRIVER: Kurt Busch
CHASE POINTS: Ninth, -87
POSITION CHANGE: Minus 1
CAR: No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge
TEAM: Penske Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Struggled most of the race and finished 30th.
CAREER PHOENIX STARTS: 17
BEST PHOENIX FINISH: 1st (2005)
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DRIVER: Denny Hamlin
CHASE POINTS: 10th, -99
POSITION CHANGE: Plus 1
CAR: No. 11 FedEx Toyota
TEAM: Joe Gibbs Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Was mathematically eliminated from title contention after his 20th-place finish.
CAREER PHOENIX STARTS: 12
BEST PHOENIX FINISH: 3rd (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)
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DRIVER: Kyle Busch
CHASE POINTS: 11th, -100
POSITION CHANGE: Minus 4
CAR: No. 18 M&Ms Toyota
TEAM: Joe Gibbs Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Was suspended from the race by NASCAR after wrecking Ron Hornaday Jr. in the Truck Series race.
CAREER PHOENIX STARTS: 13
BEST PHOENIX FINISH: 1st (2005)
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DRIVER: Ryan Newman
CHASE POINTS: 12th, -103
POSITION CHANGE: None
CAR: No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet
TEAM: Stewart-Haas Racing
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Was mathematically eliminated from title contention after finishing 16th.
CAREER PHOENIX STARTS: 18
BEST PHOENIX FINISH: 1st (2010)