NASCAR: Winners And Losers From Phoenix

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Mar 13, 2016; Avondale, AZ, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr leads Carl Edwards during the Good Sam 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Loser: Brakes

When the track temperature had already reached 110 degrees before the green flag, drivers knew they would be in for a tough day in the brake department.

The heat on the track played a big role at Phoenix where we saw driver after driver struggling with their brakes. As mentioned previously, both Ryan Newman and Paul Menard suffered from melted beads, leading to their early exits from the race. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. suffered the same fate, which led to another crash into the wall.

Drivers who brought out the caution were not the only ones who had issues. Jimmie Johnson had problems in his backup car as well as Dale Earnhardt Jr., who had trouble with his front brakes all day, making it very loose for him going into the turns.

Braking is a major factor at any race, but short tracks is where it really comes into play. With high temperatures, we saw many drivers slowing down to a lower speed than normal. Some were able to handle their issues, while some were not.

Next: The Future Is Bright

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