This weekend the Nascar Nextel Cup Series heads to the southwest for the Checker Auto Parts 500.  Held on 1 mile quad oval, Phoenix International Speedway, the Checker Auto Parts 500 is the 9th of 10 races run to determine the 2007 Nextel Cup Champion.  Heading into this race, the red-hot Jimmie Johnson has a 30 point lead over teammate Jeff Gordon thanks to wins in the past 3 races.  Both of these drivers run well at Phoenix, with Gordon winning the spring race, and with this race being a COT race, expect these two to be near the front when the checkered flag waves. 

When it comes to racing at Phoenix, a driver's ability to brake and accelerate hard coming out of the corner will be the number one factor to determining the winner.  A driver must display a lot of patience, stay off the walls and pick and choose when to move forward.  Passing in COT cars is not as easy as it was in the old cars, so good pit work could be crucial to keep and gain positions on the track.  A slight error during a green flag run that requires a stop in the pits will be very costly to a driver and he will more than likely find himself 2 laps down re-entering the track.  With Gordon and Johnson being the only two drivers with something to lose, expect a lot of drivers to go all out in attempt to gain a win before the season ends. 

Of the active teams and owners, Roush Racing has the best overall record at Phoenix.  DEI has won 2 of the last six races with Dale Earnhardt Jr taking the checker flag in both.  Kevin Harvick won both races for Childress Racing last season and Jeff Gordon and Kyle Busch have brought home wins for Hendrick Motorsports.  That said, this is a COT race so expect the usual suspects to run this weekend.  If you got starts left with Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick or Jeff Burton, use them this weekend.  If you got starts in group B with Denny Hamlin, Clint Bowyer, Kurt Busch, Ryan Newman or Casey Mears, use them this weekend. 

Ones to Watch

Jeff Gordon - Despite posting a string of six consecutive top-seven finishes (eight in his past nine starts), Gordon has not been able to hold off the teammate Jimmie Johnson for the point led.  He has raced to 16 consecutive top-17 finishes at Phoenix with 14 top-10 runs. Gordon has qualified inside of the top 10 in six of the past seven Phoenix events with three poles

Kyle Busch - He's run superbly at the end of the season, placing fourth in the Cup standings with just two remaining races. He's clinched an astounding six top fives in the last 10 Cup races, including a fourth at Texas last Sunday. Busch has also had excellent success at Phoenix. He won in November 2005 and has clinched three top 10s in only five career events at the track, including a seventh in April

Denny Hamlin - Despite making only four Cup starts at Phoenix, he's raced well at the track. He finished third in the last two Phoenix races, already owning two top fives in just four career events at the track

Clint Bowyer - Bowyer has raced superbly in the second segment, clinching six top 10s and four top fives in the last 11 Cup races. Unlike previous to the current second segment for many races, he's had some early success at Phoenix, recording one top five in four career events at the track

Bobby Labonte - Though Labonte has finished outside the top 10 in the past 10 Cup events, he's had success at Phoenix. He owns the second-most top 10s (five) in the past five seasons at the track, including an eighth in April

Jeff Burton - Burton is finishing the season strong, having raced to three top-six finishes in his past four starts. He averaged a 22.3-position improvement over qualifying to record these top-tier rides.  Burton has recorded 13 consecutive top-15 finishes here with eight top 10s. He also claimed victory in 2000 and 2001.

What the experts think

My Pick - Kyle Busch - The No. 5 Hendrick Chevy has made a phenomenal run in the Chase, claiming five top-4 finishes in eight events. Unfortunately, Busch also had three runs to 20th place or worse to keep him from battling Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson for the title. Most intriguing in his past three starts is the fact that Busch has led a total of 336 laps. I'm expecting this former Phoenix champion to be a factor this weekend

Sleeper - Dale Earnhardt Jr - The No. 8 DEI Chevy is limping to the end of the season, having raced to just one top-15 finish in his past five starts. Earnhardt, Jr. has produced 12 top-10 finishes this season (seven top 5s), and I expect him to challenge for a sixth this weekend at Phoenix. Earnhardt, Jr. is a two-time champion at Phoenix with five top 10s in 10 career starts.