NASCAR: Each Round of 8 driver’s track history at Phoenix
By Asher Fair
How have each of the five Round of 8 NASCAR Cup Series drivers who have not yet clinched a spot in the Championship 4 fared at Phoenix over the years?
The third and final race of the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 8 at Phoenix International Raceway this Sunday will determine the fourth and final driver who will advance to the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in under two weeks.
Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex Jr. have already locked up their spots in the Championship 4, leaving Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott and Jimmie Johnson to battle at Phoenix for the fourth and final spot in the round.
Here are the current standings among the five drivers fighting for that fourth and final Championship 4 spot.
| Rank | Driver | Car, Team, Engine | Points | Behind |
| 4 | Brad Keselowski | #2, Team Penske, Ford | 4111 | IN |
| 5 | Denny Hamlin | #11, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota | 4092 | -19 |
| 6 | Ryan Blaney | #21, Wood Brothers Racing, Ford | 4089 | -22 |
| 7 | Chase Elliott | #24, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet | 4062 | -49 |
| 8 | Jimmie Johnson | #48, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet | 4060 | -51 |
NOTE: Italics denote that that driver is currently in the fourth and final Championship 4 spot.
How have Keselowski, Hamlin, Blaney, Elliott and Johnson fared over the course of their NASCAR Cup Series careers at Phoenix? Check out their career numbers below. All average finishes are from DriverAverages.com.
Brad Keselowski
- Races: 16
- Average finish: 14.00
- Wins: 0
- Top 5: 5
- Top 10: 8
- Top 20: 13
- Best finish: 3rd (2014)
Denny Hamlin
- Races: 24
- Average finish: 10.83
- Wins: 1
- Top 5: 10
- Top 10: 14
- Top 20: 20
- Best finish: 1st (2012)
Ryan Blaney
- Races: 3
- Average finish: 13.67
- Wins: 0
- Top 5: 0
- Top 10: 2
- Top 20: 2
- Best finish: 8th (2016)
Chase Elliott
- Races: 3
- Average finish: 9.67
- Wins: 0
- Top 5: 0
- Top 10: 2
- Top 20: 3
- Best finish: 8th (2016)
Jimmie Johnson
- Races: 28
- Average finish: 8.96
- Wins: 4
- Top 5: 15
- Top 10: 20
- Top 20: 25
- Best finish: 1st (2007, 2008, 2008, 2009)
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Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson has clearly had the best track history among those five drivers at Phoenix, accounting for four of the five wins, 15 of the 30 top 5 finishes, 20 of the 46 top 10 finishes and 25 of the 63 top 20 finishes among them. Denny Hamlin also has a win at the track, but Brad Keselowski does not.
Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott, on the other hand, are also winless at the track, but they really haven’t had the chance to prove themselves there having only competed in three races apiece. They both do, however, have two top 10 finishes there in their three races.
Next: 5 most overhyped Cup Series drivers
Don’t miss the Can-Am 500 from Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Arizona this Sunday, November 12th at 2:30 PM ET on NBC to find out who the fourth and final Championship 4 driver will be.