Richard Childress Racing Another Team To Watch At Phoenix

While Hendrick Motorsports has claimed four consecutive victories at Phoenix International Raceway — three for Jimmie Johnson and one for Jeff Gordon — Richard Childress Racing shouldn’t be ignored.

Two RCR drivers, Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton, have won back-to-back races there, and teammate Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet) has challenged for victories.

Harvick, who heads into Saturday in 14th place in the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings, is looking to vault back into the top 12, and Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup eligibility.

Phoenix is a good place for a boost. Harvick has two wins, three top fives and six top 10s in 12 series starts there. According to pre-race NASCAR Loop Data statistics for Phoenix, he also owns the second-best Driver Rating (105.4), Average Running Position (7.9) and Laps in the Top 15 (2,113 or 84.6%).

Burton has two wins, five top fives and 11 top 10s in 19 series starts at Phoenix.

Bowyer, who has yet to win there, has been a factor. He made his series debut at Phoenix on April 23, 2005, finishing 22nd, and has two top fives in seven Phoenix starts — a runner-up finish last April and a fifth-place finish in April 2006.

Bowyer also has had some lousy Phoenix luck. In November 2006, he was 10th with eight laps remaining. A collision with Burton knocked an oil line loose and he ended the race in the garage — his last DNF (did not finish).

A year later, a potential top-five November finish was spoiled by late-race brake issues; Bowyer finished 11th.

Note: Coincidentally, Bowyer could tie Harvick’s record of consecutive races running at the finish this week. Bowyer has 80 consecutive starts running at the finish; Harvick has 81.