This weekend two more drivers will race their way into the Championship Four in the 2019 NASCAR Playoffs at ISM Raceway in Phoenix, Arizona after the elimination race in the Round of Eight.
Two drivers don’t have to worry about performing in the Bluegreen Vacations 500. Martin Truex Jr. (won at Martinsville) and Kevin Harvick (won at Texas) locked themselves into the Championship Four. That means they will race for the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship in the final race of the year.
However, the remaining six drivers in the Round of Eight have some work to do this weekend.
Kyle Busch and Joey Logano need to have a pretty good day and avoid disaster for the chance to advance without winning.
Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney and Kyle Larson need to have a really good day paired with Kyle Busch and Joey Logano having a disaster of a day to advance without winning.
Chase Elliott faces the hardest task. His destiny is in his own hands though. He has to win to advance, period. Of course any of the previously mentioned drivers before Chase can also control their own destiny by winning to advance.
This is what all the NASCAR drivers will be facing no matter if they are still in the post-season hunt or not.
ISM Raceway Data Season
Track Size: 1-mile
Banking/Turn 1 & 2: 9 degrees
Banking/Turn 3 & 4: 11 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 3 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 9 degrees
Bluegreen Vacations 500 Data
Race #: 35 of 36 (11-10-19)
Race Length: 312 laps / 500 Kilometers
Stage 1 & 2 Length: 75 laps (each)
Final Stage Length: 162 laps
These are the active drivers that have performed the best during their cup series careers at ISM Raceway. Seven of the top 10 are current championship contenders.
Top 10 Driver Ratings at ISM Raceway
Kevin Harvick ………………………… 110.8
Jimmie Johnson …………………….. 106.3
Chase Elliott …………………………. 104.1
Kyle Busch ……………………………. 103.9
Denny Hamlin …………………………. 97.1
Kurt Busch ……………………………… 95.2
Brad Keselowski ……………………… 93.0
Kyle Larson …………………………….. 91.5
Ryan Blaney …………………………… 89.2
Joey Logano …………………………… 89.0
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2019 races (29 total) among active drivers at ISM Raceway. Driver names in RED above are currently in championship contention in the playoffs.
These are the active drivers that have previously won at ISM Raceway in Phoenix during their careers in the cup series. Four of the eight names are current championship contenders. Three of those four could use another Phoenix win to clinch a spot in the Championship four.
Active Drivers with ISM Raceway Win(s)
Kevin Harvick – 9 Wins (All-Time Leader at track)
Jimmie Johnson – 4 Wins
Kyle Busch – 3 Wins (including March 2018 & this race 2019)
Ryan Newman – 2 Wins
Denny Hamlin – 1 Win
Joey Logano – 1 Win
Kurt Busch – 1 Win
Driver names in RED above are currently in championship contention in the playoffs.
Six drivers racing for the two spots remaining in the Championship Four. There will be 34 other drivers on the track with their own agendas. Sounds like a recipe for drama and excitement to me. Especially on a track that is basically a one-mile flat track.
We will see what happens and who races their way in for a chance at the championship Sunday, November 10th starting at 1:30 PM central time (2:30 PM eastern time) at ISM Raceway in Phoenix, Arizona in the Bluegreen Vacations 500.
By: Buck Stevens
