Checker O'Reilly 500 Fact Sheet

Not the taxicabs and not the actor: Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500.

Probably the best backdrop in NASCAR: Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale, Ariz.

Not miles, either: The “500” stands for kilometers, which translate to 312 laps and miles.

Ho hum: Jimmie Johnson has won more Phoenix races (3) than anyone else.

Big guns: Johnson, Denny Hamlin, Mark Martin, Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch and Jeff Gordon.

Long shots: Martin Truex Jr., Juan Pablo Montoya, Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth, Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick, Kasey Kahne, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Casey Mears and Ryan Newman.

The hunch here: Stewart.

Just the facts, please

            The 1-2 qualifiers drive cars “1” (Truex) and “2” (Kurt Busch).

Johnson’s average finish at Phoenix is a remarkable 5.4. Martin, at 9.0, is the only other driver in single digits.

            Since winning back-to-back races at PIR in 2003-04, Earnhardt Jr. finished fourth in 2005 but hasn’t fared better than sixth in the eight races since. Twice he’s been 40^th or worse.

            Jeff Gordon has finished 10^th or worse in four straight Phoenix races and 25^th or worse in the past two.

            Though he hasn’t won here, Hamlin has finished sixth or better in five of the past six races.

Snappy quotes

“It’s all a matter of how enthused you are about a particular race track. I enjoy racing here. I grew up racing here, so it’s one of places where it is not that big of a deal.” – Casey Mears.

“You know what? To be honest with you, when you’re 112 points out of the championship, you aren't really focused on anything other than trying to win the race and get the best finish you can.” – Jeff Gordon.

“I'm trying to soak it all in and yet, at the same time, get better as a driver. We're just getting our feet off the ground.” – Brad Keselowski.

“This is one of the most difficult race tracks I’ve ever been to in these kind of cars.” – Max Papis.

n  Monte Dutton, mdutton@gastongazette.com