Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona going into the Ruoff Mortgage 500 on Sunday, March 13 (3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Phoenix Raceway – Track Data
Season Race #: 04 of 36 (03-13-22)
Track Size: 1-mile
Banking/Turn 1 & 2: 9 degrees
Banking/Turn 3 & 4: 11 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 3 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 9 degrees
Race Length: 312 laps / 500 Kilometers
Stage 1 Length: 60 laps
Stage 2 Length: 125 laps
Final Stage Length: 127 laps
Phoenix Raceway Stats & Tidbits:
HISTORY
Construction was completed on Phoenix Raceway in January of 1964. The facility consisted of a one-mile oval and a 2.5-mile road course.NASCAR Hall of Famer Alan Kulwicki won the first NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway on November 6, 1988.The first spring race was held on April 23, 2005 and was also the first night race, which was won by Kurt Busch driving for Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing.The track underwent its first repave in 2011. The construction began in March and concluded in September of that year. The following changes were made during the construction period (March — Sept. 2011):Widened the frontstretch from 52 to 62 feet and reconfigured pit road with the installation of concrete pit stallsPushed the dog-leg curve between Turn 2 and Turn 3 out 95 feet and tightened the turn radius of the dog-leg from 800 to 500 feetImplemented banking, including 11-degree banking between Turn 1 and Turn 2; 10-11-degree banking in the apex of the dog-leg; and 9-degree banking in Turns 3 and 4.Following the 2017 season, the track was renamed from Phoenix Raceway to ISM Raceway. Then in 2019 the track was renamed from ISM Raceway back to Phoenix Raceway.Phoenix Raceway underwent reconstruction following the Spring race of 2018, with many new fan amenities added to the track, as well as the track itself being reconfigured so that the start/finish line is now just before the dog leg.There have been 51 NASCAR Cup Series races at Phoenix Raceway, one per season from 1988-2004 and two each season since.
STARTS
In total 234 different drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway; 180 have competed in more than one race at Phoenix.Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman lead the NASCAR Cup Series in starts at Phoenix Raceway with 38 starts each.A total of 25 different drivers have made their first NASCAR Cup Series start at Phoenix Raceway (in descending chronological order). Pos.DriversDate of First StartPos.DriversDate of First Start1Bayley CurreySunday, March 10, 201914Jack SpragueSunday, October 27, 19962Quin HouffSunday, March 10, 201915Lance HooperSunday, October 27, 19963Tanner BerryhillSunday, November 11, 201816Ernie CopeSunday, October 29, 19954D.J. KenningtonSunday, November 13, 201617Rich Woodland JrSunday, October 31, 19935Ryan EllisSunday, November 15, 201518Wayne JacksSunday, October 31, 19936Matt DiBenedettoSunday, March 15, 201519Jeff DavisSunday, November 1, 19927Cole WhittSunday, November 13, 201120Mike WallaceSunday, November 3, 19918Sam Hornish JrSunday, November 11, 200721Brent KaedingSunday, November 4, 19909Brandon WhittSunday, November 12, 200622Mark ReedSunday, November 4, 199010Jerry RobertsonSunday, November 13, 200523Bill SedgwickSunday, November 5, 198911Clint BowyerSaturday, April 23, 200524Bobby HamiltonSunday, November 5, 198912Christian FittipaldiSunday, November 10, 200225Gary CollinsSunday, November 6, 198813Ryan NewmanSunday, November 5, 2000Chase Elliott leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Phoenix Raceway with a 4.500 in 12 starts.RankAll-Time DriversAvg StartRacesRankActive DriversAvg StartRaces1Chase Elliott4.500121Chase Elliott4.500122Ryan Blaney6.000122Ryan Blaney6.000123Kyle Larson6.867153Kyle Larson6.867154Rusty Wallace8.053194Denny Hamlin9.697335Alan Kulwicki8.60055Kyle Busch10.364336Denny Hamlin9.697336Joey Logano10.423267Kyle Busch10.364337Christopher Bell11.00048Joey Logano10.423268Erik Jones11.545119Jeff Gordon10.794349Martin Truex Jr11.9063210Christopher Bell11.000410Kurt Busch12.05338
POLES
There have been 26 different NASCAR Cup Series Busch Light Pole Award winners at Phoenix Raceway;11 of the 26 NASCAR Cup Series Phoenix Raceway pole winners are active this weekend.RankActive Pole WinnersPolesSeasons1Kyle Busch42019, 2016, 2012, 20062Ryan Blaney22019, 20173Kevin Harvick22018, 20154Martin Truex Jr22018, 20095Denny Hamlin22014, 20056Kyle Larson120217Chase Elliott120208Joey Logano120179Alex Bowman1201610Brad Keselowski1201411AJ Allmendinger12010Ryan Newman (2002, 2003, 2004, 2008) and Kyle Busch (2006, 2012, 2016, 2019) lead the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Phoenix Raceway with four each.Geoffrey Bodine won the first NASCAR Cup Series Busch Light Pole Award at Phoenix Raceway in 1988 at a speed of 123.203 mph (29.220 secs.) in a Chevrolet.Youngest Phoenix Raceway pole winner: Kyle Busch (April 22, 2006 — 20 years, 11 months, 20 days).Oldest Phoenix Raceway pole winner: Mark Martin (March 3, 2013 — 54 years, 1 month, 22 days).Ryan Newman, Jeff Gordon and Carl Edwards are the only drivers to win consecutive poles at Phoenix Raceway. Newman won three-straight (2002-04), Gordon won in the Fall of 2006 and the Spring of 2007. Edwards won in the Fall of 2010 and Spring of 2011.Four drivers have won their first career NASCAR Cup Series pole at Phoenix Raceway: Casey Atwood (October 2001), Denny Hamlin (November 2005), AJ Allmendinger (April 2010) and Alex Bowman (November 2016).A total of 17 different organizations have won a pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix Raceway., led by Hendrick Motorsports leads the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Phoenix Raceway with 13 among nine drivers: Geoff Bodine (1988), Ken Schrader (1989), Jeff Gordon (2005, 2006, 2007), Kyle Busch (2006), Jimmie Johnson (2008, 2013, 2015), Mark Martin (2009), Alex Bowman (2016), Chase Elliott (2020) and Kyle Larson (2021).Six active organizations have won poles in the NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix Raceway.Active OrganizationsPolesHendrick Motorsports13Team Penske9Joe Gibbs Racing6RFK Racing4Stewart-Haas Racing2Wood Brothers Racing1Five different manufacturers have won at least one pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix Raceway, led by Chevrolet with 19 poles; followed by Ford (15), Toyota (seven), Dodge (four) and Pontiac (four).
WINS
A total of 27 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won at Phoenix Raceway.Eight of the 27 NASCAR Cup Series Phoenix Raceway winner are active this weekend.RankActive DriversWinsSeasons1Kevin Harvick92018, 2016, 2015, 2014 sweep, 2013, 2012, 2006 sweep2Kyle Busch32019, 2018, 20053Joey Logano22020, 20164Denny Hamlin22019, 20125Kyle Larson120216Martin Truex Jr120217Chase Elliott120208Kurt Busch12005Kevin Harvick leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Phoenix Raceway with nine victories (2006 sweep, 2012 Playoff race, 2013 Playoff race, 2014 sweep, 2015 Spring race, 2016 Spring race, 2018 Spring race).A total of 13 drivers have multiple Cup wins at Phoenix Raceway: Kevin Harvick leads the series in wins with nine followed by Jimmie Johnson (four), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (three), Kyle Busch (three), Davey Allison (two), Jeff Burton (two), Jeff Gordon (two) Carl Edwards (two), Mark Martin (two), Matt Kenseth (two), Ryan Newman (two), Denny Hamlin (two) and Joey Logano (two).Six drivers have won consecutive Cup Series races at Phoenix Raceway:Davey Allison (1991,1992)Jeff Burton (2000, 2001)Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2003, 2004)Kevin Harvick (swept 2006, 2013 Playoff race, swept 2014 and 2015 spring race)Jimmie Johnson (fall race of 2007, swept 2008)Kyle Busch (2018 Playoff race, 2019)Alan Kulwicki (11/6/1988) and Bobby Hamilton (10/27/1996) are the only two drivers to post their first NASCAR Cup Series career win at Phoenix Raceway.25 of the 27 NASCAR Cup Series drivers who have won at Phoenix Raceway participated in at least two or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Alan Kulwicki (11/6/1988) and Tony Stewart (11/7/1999) are the only two drivers to win at Phoenix in their first appearance.Jeff Gordon and Joey Logano competed at Phoenix Raceway 16 times before winning; the longest span of any the 25 winners.Youngest NASCAR Cup Series Phoenix Raceway winner: Kyle Busch (November 13, 2005 — 20 years, 6 months, 11 days).Oldest NASCAR Cup Series Phoenix Raceway winner: Mark Martin (April 18, 2009 — 50 years, 3 months, 9 days).A total of 22 different positions on the starting grid have produced winners in the NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix Raceway. The first and third starting positions are the most proficient starting positions producing more winners (seven each) than any other position on the starting grid.Seven of the 51 NASCAR Cup Series races at Phoenix Raceway have been won from the pole or first starting position (13.7%): Jeff Gordon (Spring race of 2007), Jimmie Johnson (Playoff race of 2008), Mark Martin (Spring race of 2009), Carl Edwards (Playoff race of 2010), Kevin Harvick (Spring race of 2015), Chase Elliott (Championship finale 2020; started first due to Metric Qualifying), Kyle Larson (2021 Championship race).10 of the 51 (19.61%) NASCAR Cup Series races at Phoenix Raceway have been won from the front row: seven from the pole or first starting position and three from the second starting position.Ricky Rudd won the 1995 Phoenix Raceway race from the 29th-place starting position, the furthest back a NASCAR Cup Series race winner has started at the 1-mile raceway.Kevin Harvick won the 2012 Phoenix Raceway race from the 19th-place starting position, the furthest back an active NASCAR Cup Series race winner has started at Phoenix.
NASCAR Cup Series Wins by Starting Positions at Phoenix Raceway
Starting PositionWinsWinning %Starting PositionWinsWinning %1713.73%1359.80%235.88%1423.92%3713.73%1535.88%423.92%1711.96%511.96%1811.96%635.88%1923.92%723.92%2011.96%923.92%2111.96%1023.92%2211.96%1123.92%2811.96%1211.96%2911.96%StatsWinning %WinsWinning from the Pole:13.73%7Winning from the Front Row:19.61%10Winning from a Top-Five Starting Position:39.22%20Winning from a Top-10 Starting Position:56.86%29Winning After Starting Outside the Top 10:43.14%22Winning After Starting Outside the Top 20:7.84%4Of the 12 drivers with multiple Cup wins at Phoenix Raceway, four drivers have won in multiple manufacturers:Mark Martin – Ford (1993) and Chevrolet (2009).Kevin Harvick — Chevrolet (2006 sweep, 2012, 2013, 2014 sweep, 2015, 2016) and Ford (2018)Kyle Busch — Chevrolet (2005) and Toyota (2018, 2019)Matt Kenseth — Ford (2002) and Toyota (2017)Kevin Harvick became the ninth different driver to win nine or more times at a single track in the NASCAR Cup Series when he won in 2018 at Phoenix Raceway — the only active driver with nine or more wins at a single track.This weekend, he can attempt to become just the sixth driver to win 10 or more races at a single track in the NASCAR Cup Series with a win this weekend.NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty holds the NASCAR Cup Series record for the most tracks with 10 or more wins with five.
Drivers with 10 or More NASCAR Cup Series Wins at a Single Track
Race WinnersNo. of TracksTracks With 10 or More WinsRichard Petty5Martinsville (15), North Wilkesboro (15), Richmond (13), Rockingham (11) Daytona (10)Darrell Waltrip3Bristol (12), Martinsville (11), North Wilkesboro (10)Jimmie Johnson1Dover (11)David Pearson1Darlington (10)Dale Earnhardt1Talladega (10)A total of 13 different organizations have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix Raceway; led by Hendrick Motorsports with 12 victories; including the season finale the last two years — Terry Labonte (1994), Kyle Busch (2005), Jeff Gordon (2007, 2011), Jimmie Johnson (2007, 2008 sweep, 2009), Mark Martin (2009), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2015), Chase Elliott (2020), Kyle Larson (2021).RankOrganizationsWins1Hendrick Motorsports122Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing73Joe Gibbs Racing74Richard Childress Racing65Stewart-Haas Racing66Robert Yates Racing37Team Penske38Dale Earnhardt, Inc.29AK Racing110Melling Racing111Petty Enterprises112Red Bull Racing113Rudd Performance Motorsports1Four different manufacturers have won at least one race in the NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix, led by Chevrolet with 25 victories; followed by Ford (17), Toyota (seven) and Pontiac (two).
ADDITIONAL FINISHING POSITIONS
Runner-Up Finishes
A total of 30 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have finished runner-up at Phoenix Raceway.NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin leads the series in runner-up finishes at Phoenix Raceway with five second-place finishes.Kyle Busch leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers with four second-place finishes at Phoenix Raceway.
Top Five in Runner-Up Finishes at Phoenix Raceway (All-Time & Active)
RankAll-Time DriversRunner-UpsRankActive DriversRunner-Ups1Mark Martin51Kyle Busch42Kyle Busch42Kevin Harvick33Jimmie Johnson33Brad Keselowski2Kevin Harvick3Martin Truex Jr2Tony Stewart35Chase Elliott1Denny Hamlin1Joey Logano1Kurt Busch1Kyle Larson1
Top-Five Finishes
A total of 51 different drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series have finished inside the top-five at Phoenix Raceway.Kevin Harvick leads the NASCAR Cup Series in top-five finishes at Phoenix Raceway with 18 top fives.
Top Five in Top-Five Finishes at Phoenix Raceway (All-Time & Active)
RankAll-Time DriversTop FivesRankActive DriversTop Fives1Kevin Harvick181Kevin Harvick182Denny Hamlin162Denny Hamlin16Jimmie Johnson163Kyle Busch124Jeff Gordon124Brad Keselowski8Kyle Busch125Joey Logano7Mark Martin12Kurt Busch7
Top-10 Finishes
A total of 86 different drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series have finished inside the top-10 at Phoenix Raceway.Kevin Harvick leads the NASCAR Cup Series in top-10 finishes at Phoenix Raceway with 27.
Top Five in Top-10 Finishes at Phoenix Raceway (All-Time & Active)
RankAll-Time DriversTop 10sRankActive DriversTop 10s1Kevin Harvick271Kevin Harvick272Jeff Gordon242Kyle Busch233Kyle Busch233Denny Hamlin204Jimmie Johnson224Kurt Busch205Mark Martin215Joey Logano14Martin Truex Jr14
Average Finishing Position
Alan Kulwicki (five starts) leads the series in average finishing position at Phoenix Raceway with a 5.200.Kevin Harvick (38 starts) leads all active drivers in average finishing position at Phoenix Raceway with an 8.816.
Top 10 in Average Finishing Position at Phoenix (All-Time & Active)
RankAll-Time DriversAvg FinishRacesRankActive DriversAvg FinishRaces1Alan Kulwicki5.20051Kevin Harvick8.816382Kevin Harvick8.816382Denny Hamlin10.545333Dale Earnhardt9.538133Chase Elliott10.667124Mark Martin9.588344Kyle Busch10.848335Jimmie Johnson10.229355Kyle Larson10.933156Denny Hamlin10.545336Brad Keselowski12.520257Chase Elliott10.667127William Byron13.25088Jeff Gordon10.765348Joey Logano13.308269Kyle Busch10.848339Kurt Busch13.7113810Kyle Larson10.9331510Aric Almirola14.22723
LAP LEADERS
A total of 94 different drivers have led at least one lap in the NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix Raceway.Kevin Harvick (38 starts) leads the series in laps led at Phoenix Raceway with 1,663.The most laps led in a single NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway was 264 of the scheduled 312 laps (84.6%) by Kevin Harvick in November of 2014. He started third and won the event.The most laps led in a single NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway by a driver that did not win was 237 of the scheduled 319 laps (74.3%) by Kyle Busch in November of 2012. He started first and finished third in the event.The fewest laps led in a single NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway by the race winning driver was four laps of the scheduled 378 laps (1.05%) by Ryan Newman in April of 2010. He started 14th and won the event.
Top 10 All-Time Lap Leaders at Phoenix Raceway
RankAll-Time DriversRacesLedCompleted% Led1Kevin Harvick381,66311,84214%2Kyle Busch331,19010,09712%3Jimmie Johnson3599810,6199%4Mark Martin3491110,4779%5Rusty Wallace198675,40616%6Denny Hamlin3385410,2378%7Kurt Busch3881811,7827%8Joey Logano267177,7799%9Dale Earnhardt Jr305698,7347%10Tony Stewart285558,6906%
Top 10 Active Lap Leaders at Phoenix Raceway
RankActive DriversRacesLedCompleted% Led1Kevin Harvick381,66311,84214%2Kyle Busch331,19010,09712%3Denny Hamlin3385410,2378%4Kurt Busch3881811,7827%5Joey Logano267177,7799%6Chase Elliott124963,61314%7Brad Keselowski252837,4674%8Martin Truex Jr322599,2573%9Alex Bowman131943,7345%10Kyle Larson151794,3964%
TRACK & EVENT STATS
Finishes
Since the advent of electronic scoring in 1993, the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix Raceway was the Spring race of 2016 (03/13/16) when Kevin Harvick beat Carl Edwards to the line by 0.010-second.
Top Five Closest Cup Series Margins of Victory at Phoenix Raceway
Margin of VictoryRace WinnerRunner-UpDate0.010Kevin HarvickCarl EdwardsSunday, March 13, 20160.130Ryan NewmanJeff GordonSaturday, April 10, 20100.170Mark MartinErnie IrvanSunday, October 31, 19930.250Kevin HarvickJimmie JohnsonSunday, November 12, 20060.276Joey LoganoKevin HarvickSunday, March 8, 2020Nine of the 51 NASCAR Cup Series races at Phoenix Raceway have ended with NASCAR Overtime:DateScheduled LapsActual LapsOvertime LapsWinnerRunner-Up3/8/20203123164Joey LoganoKevin Harvick3/19/20173123142Ryan NewmanKyle Larson11/13/201631232412Joey LoganoKyle Busch3/13/20163123131Kevin HarvickCarl Edwards3/3/20133123164Carl EdwardsJimmie Johnson11/11/20123123197Kevin HarvickDenny Hamlin4/10/20103753783Ryan NewmanJeff Gordon11/9/20083123131Jimmie JohnsonKurt Busch11/7/20043123153Dale Earnhardt JrRyan Newman
Weather/Postponements
Qualifying has never been cancelled due to weather at Phoenix Raceway.The 2020 season finale and the 2021 Spring race at Phoenix Raceway had the starting lineups decided by Metric Qualifying due to pandemic restrictions.Only two of the 51 NASCAR Cup Series races at Phoenix Raceway have been shortened due to weather:DateScheduled LapsActual LapsFewer LapsWinnerRunner-UpSunday, November 15, 2015312219-93Dale Earnhardt JrKevin HarvickSunday, October 25, 1998312257-55Rusty WallaceMark Martin
Cautions
The most cautions in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix was 12 – twice on Nov. 9, 2014 and March 8, 2020.The fewest cautions in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix was two — twice on Nov. 7, 1999 and Nov. 15, 2015.Seven of the last 12 NASCAR Cup Series Spring races at Phoenix Raceway have had a caution come out within the last 15 laps of regulation (see chart below):SeasonsLast Caution During Regulation Came Out On LapRemaining Laps of RaceFinish Comments202128825Finished as Scheduled20203111Went to Overtime201923478Finished as Scheduled2018192120Finished as Scheduled20173084Went to Overtime20163084Went to Overtime201529715Finished as Scheduled201429814Finished as Scheduled20133111Went to Overtime201225755Finished as Scheduled201128725Finished as Scheduled20103735Finished as Scheduled
Lead Changes
The most lead changes at Phoenix Raceway in a NASCAR Cup Series race were 28 on Feb. 27, 2011; the fewest in a Cup race at Phoenix was one lead change on Nov. 4, 1990.
Leaders
The most leaders in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway were 15 on March 4, 2012 and the fewest was 2 on Nov. 4, 1990.
FEMALE COMPETITORS
Danica Patrick is the only female driver in the NASCAR Cup Series to compete at Phoenix Raceway. She made 11 starts at Phoenix Raceway in her career.DateDriverStarting PositionFinishing PositionDriver RatingSunday, November 12, 2017Danica Patrick242548.2Monday, March 13, 2017Danica Patrick262252.8Sunday, November 13, 2016Danica Patrick162948.9Sunday, March 13, 2016Danica Patrick361960.3Sunday, November 15, 2015Danica Patrick211666.4Sunday, March 15, 2015Danica Patrick232659.6Sunday, November 9, 2014Danica Patrick322260.5Sunday, March 2, 2014Danica Patrick333651.7Sunday, November 10, 2013Danica Patrick323333.2Sunday, March 3, 2013Danica Patrick403944.2Sunday, November 11, 2012Danica Patrick371758.0AVERAGES29.125.853.1
NASCAR IN ARIZONA
There have been 130 NASCAR national series races among four tracks in the state of Arizona dating as far back as 1951.The first NASCAR national series race held in the state of Arizona was a NASCAR Cup Series race at Arizona State Fairgrounds in 1951. Arizona State Fairgrounds is a 1-mile dirt track. The race was 150 laps and had 33 entries. Marshall Teague won the race in a 1951 Hudson.Track NameCityCupXfinityTruckTotal RacesFirst YearPhoenix RacewayAvondale5140311221988Arizona State FairgroundsPhoenix40041951Tucson Raceway ParkTucson00331995Tucson Rodeo GroundsTucson10011955Totals564034130
— NASCAR —
ARIZONA DRIVERS IN NASCAR
A total of 33 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Arizona.Of the 33 Arizona drivers, only two have won a NASCAR national series race; including Michael McDowell‘s 2021 Daytona 500 victory and last weekend‘s Las Vegas Motor Speedway winner Alex Bowman.
DriverCupXfinityTruckCombinedAlex Bowman (Tucson)7108Michael McDowell (Glendale)1102Totals82010
