NASCAR at Phoenix 2015: Race Schedule, Live Stream Info and Drivers to Watch
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Phoenix International Raceway Sunday for the Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500, the final race of the Chase before the deciding showdown at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
It's been a wild ride over the past few races, with Jimmie Johnson stealing a checkered flag last weekend in Texas and sitting on the pole in Phoenix despite residing outside of the Chase.
Jeff Gordon finally got a win and has an automatic bid to Homestead, while other favorites such as Joey Logano cannot shake the ill will of others and bad luck while on the outside looking in before Sunday.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Below, let's take a look at everything to know about the event, including some of the top names to watch as the season nears its conclusion.
Viewing Details
Where: Phoenix International Raceway
When: Sunday, Nov. 15, at 2:30 p.m. ET
Watch: NBC
Live Stream: NBC Live Extra
Tickets: ScoreBig.com
Sprint Cup Standings
| 1 | Jeff Gordon | 4082 |
| 2 | Kyle Busch | 4080 |
| 3 | Kevin Harvick | 4079 |
| 4 | Martin Truex Jr. | 4076 |
| 5 | Carl Edwards | 4069 |
| 6 | Brad Keselowski | 4057 |
| 7 | Kurt Busch | 4048 |
| 8 | Joey Logano | 4013 |
| 9 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | 2259 |
| 10 | Denny Hamlin | 2257 |
| 11 | Ryan Newman | 2253 |
| 12 | Jimmie Johnson | 2240 |
| 13 | Jamie McMurray | 2235 |
| 14 | Paul Menard | 2208 |
| 15 | Matt Kenseth | 2197 |
| 16 | Clint Bowyer | 2153 |
Drivers to Watch
If anyone deserves to hit Homestead in contention, it's Kyle Busch.
After a wicked wreck near the start of the season at Daytona and battling back to even make the Chase, Busch has put on one of the most memorable seasons in recent history and is now on the brink of going further than he ever has.
By now in a normal season, Busch would have self-destructed in some sort of way. This isn't a normal season, though, and he's in a position to not even need a win to advance.
"We should be able to run that well, and we're just going to race the race and race our own race right now until it gets down to about the last 100 laps and then we'll start seeing what if we need to do to try to make up spots," Busch said, according ESPN.com's Bob Pockrass.
The fortunate situation, of course, won't stop Busch from gunning for the checkered flag. His overarching storyline and career-best outlook make him one of the top names to watch Sunday.
Brad Keselowski
One guy lost in the Logano drama?
How about Brad Keselowski. Most wouldn't even know the Penske Racing driver finished second in Texas last weekend given the impressive amount of headlines that go to other drivers as of late.
Even that doesn't tell the whole story, though, because Keselowski looked like the most dominant driver before finishing second to Johnson, experiencing a hiccup right at the worst time.
"I dominated all but the last 5 percent of Texas," Keselowski said, according to Pockrass. "So that shows the weekend is not over until it's over."
Keselowski later told Pockrass he has to "Win the race or go home," so it's quite clear how he plans on approaching this weekend's event.
Though Logano earned the spotlight by sweeping an entire round, it might be Keselowski who steals the headlines after Sunday. Don't blink when it comes to the No. 2 Ford.
Martin Truex Jr.
Nobody's really talking about the little guy among the giants this late in the game, the guy bringing Furniture Row Racing within two races of a championship.
Martin Truex Jr. isn't getting much attention at all, but he looks like he has the juice necessary to pull off an epic upset. He finished sixth in Martinsville and turned around last weekend with an eighth-place showing in Texas, improving on his starting spot of 23rd.
By now, it should be obvious that the man sitting in fourth place can compete with anyone, lesser-known team or not. He spoke with SportingNews.com's Jeff Owens about their chances: "However, we'll definitely have to step it up and it's just a matter of really not making mistakes and getting everything we can get out of the day. I have all the confidence in our team and our crew chief Cole Pearn. They keep on giving me fast racecars."
Everyone loves an underdog or an upset, so it's odd to see Truex flying so under the radar. By the sounds of it, though, he wouldn't have it any other way.
It might betray conventional thinking, but keep a close eye on Truex as he once again looks to put on a surprising performance. If he can get to Homestead, surely he'll see more attention.
Stats and info courtesy of ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
