By Brian Polking
November 10, 2009 8:30am CST

Sandwiched between two 1.5-mile tracks on the Sprint Cup Series schedule is Phoenix International Raceway. There is nothing cookie-cutter about this flat, one-mile track. With two different sets of corners, drivers and crew chiefs are left searching for a comfortable setup most of the race. Even the eventual race winner is usually heard complaining about the handling of their car.

With handling a constant issue, passing is difficult at PIR, and track position is extremely valuable. A bad pit stop at any point in the race can end up costing a driver a shot at the win. It takes a total team effort to run well at a track as unique as Phoenix.

It should come as no surprise then that NASCAR's best team won this event last season. Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 team dominated the competition. Johnson led 217 of the 313 laps on his way to the win, which made it three straight at PIR for Johnson and company. Kurt Busch was second, and Roush Fenway Racing teammates Jamie McMurray and Carl Edwards were third and fourth. Denny Hamlin completed the top-five finishers. The Roushcateers had a strong performance, putting all five drivers in the top 15.

Earlier this year, the newest addition to Hendrick Motorsports ended the three-race winning streak of his teammate. Mark Martin sat on the pole and led the most laps on his way to the win, while Johnson settled for a fourth-place finish instead of a four-peat. Tony Stewart ended up second, and Kurt Busch led a chunk of laps and came home third. Greg Biffle rounded out the top five. Dale Earnhardt Jr. led 63 laps as well, but he lost the handle on the No. 88 late in the race and was bumped into the wall in the closing laps.

The Favorites

Phoenix has a date in the Chase, so it should come as no surprise that Jimmie Johnson has had a lot of success here. In 11 starts at PIR, he has never finished outside the top 15, and his 5.4 finishing average is the best among active drivers. Johnson has finished inside the top five in six straight races at the track, including three trips to victory lane.

Mark Martin made it clear in April that he can handle the toughest track in the desert. He won from the pole and led the most laps, notching his second top five in his last three PIR races. Martin has been consistent at the track throughout his career, averaging a top-10 finish.

He has yet to make it to victory lane at PIR, but Denny Hamlin has been close on multiple occasions. In his last six starts, he had finished sixth or better in five of them. Hamlin has three third-place finishes at Phoenix, and he could finally close the deal this weekend.

The Dark Horses

No one can question Jeff Burton's consistency at PIR. He has finished in the top 15 in every start at the track in the 11 years. Burton has two wins during that span, and his 8.4 finishing average is the second only to Johnson's mark.

Since winning at Phoenix in his rookie season Tony Stewart has been unable to make a return trip. However, that doesn't mean Stewart has been struggling at the track. He has 10 top-15 finishes in his last 13 starts at PIR, including three runner-up efforts.

Kurt Busch and Carl Edwards have both been running well at Phoenix lately. Edwards has three straight top-10 finishes, including two fourth-place efforts. Meanwhile, Busch has been on the doorstep of a victory at the track, finishing second and third in his last two starts.

The Sleepers

The "Tasmanian Devil" has been very comfortable in the desert. Marcos Ambrose finished 18th in his track debut and 14th earlier this year. The flat corners at PIR are similar to those found at road courses, which could explain Ambrose's success.

Two drivers that had unexpected top-10 finishes in April's race were David Reutimaan and Sam Hornish Jr. It was the first time that either driver had finished inside the top 15 at the track. Considering that both drivers are relatively new to the Cup Series, it may have taken them a few starts to get the hang of the tricky track.

In his last four starts, Martin Truex Jr. has three top-10 finishes. Earlier this year, he matched his career best finish at PIR with a seventh-place effort. Consistency hasn't been Truex Jr.'s strong suit this year, but he should be motivated to finish his tenure at Earnhardt Ganassi on a high note.

Struggling Drivers

Casey Mears has been solid in the Chase, but he has struggled at PIR. In 10 starts, he has never managed to crack the top 10. To make matters worse, Mears has eight finishes outside the top 20.

He has three top-five finishes at Phoenix, but Ryan Newman also has 10 finishes outside the top 10. His 22.9 finishing average illustrates his struggles at the one-mile track, and he hasn't cracked the top 15 in his last three starts. Newman has six finishes outside the top 30 at PIR.

It has been one problem after another for Elliott Sadler at PIR. His best finishes in his career at the track is a 10th-place effort, which is one of only two top 15s in 14 starts. Sadler has 10 finishes of 27th or worse at Phoenix.