Sweeps The Norm Rather Than Exception At Phoenix

Although it looks benign nestled against the Estrella Mountains, Phoenix International Raceway can be as tough as any wildlife lurking in nearby peaks.

The flat, one-mile track features tight turns and a unique dog-leg-shaped backstretch that forces concentration from beginning to end of each lap.

Yet once drivers “tune in” to those nuances, they tend to stay attuned. Just ask Jimmie Johnson, who hopes Sunday’s SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 will be his fourth consecutive victory there.

Sweeping seems contagious at Phoenix. There have been two season sweeps since the venue began hosting two NASCAR Sprint Cup events in 2005. (PIR had its first series race in 1988).

Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet) was the first driver to do so, winning both 2006 events. Johnson became the second driver with a Phoenix season sweep, capturing both 2008 events. He split with Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon in 2007, winning the fall event while Gordon won the spring race.

But back-to-back Phoenix victories weren’t unusual before the track had two races each year. Davey Allison was the first to do it in 1991 and ‘92. Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet) won the 2000 and ‘01 events, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet) won in 2003 and ‘04.