Changes coming to Phoenix?

After five-consecutive fall sell-outs at Phoenix International Raceway, the track is considering several capital improvement's for the half-century old track - including the possibility of moving the start-finish line to the backstretch. "I think we're going to take a really hard look at our master plan over the next couple of months and start to answer some of those questions about how best to maximize the opportunities here at Phoenix," PIR track president Bryan Sperber said. "If this were a baseball game, we're probably in the first inning of that. So, there will probably be a lot of different things that will surface and will vet a lot of the potential opportunities and land on a really good plan for Phoenix going forward." What's made the backstretch so attractive to fans is how the reconstruction of the one-mile track has enhanced the quality of racing. In 2010, ISC announced a $100 million project that widened the front stretch to 62 feet and expanded the dogleg by 95 feet which increased the radius to 500 feet. Progressive banking was added to the relatively flat track. Turns 1 and 2 were raised to 10-11 degrees, Turns 3 and 4 to 8-9 degrees. Work was completed in tim for the November 2011 race. "The fans love it - what they call the dive-bombing," Sperber says of the action on the backstretch where drivers use the apron to their advantage. "Whoever thought we could be four and five-wide at Phoenix. It's been tremendously exciting. We thought it would be good, but it vastly exceeded even my expectations. We've really been blessed with a great racetrack and I think the next step for us is to make sure the rest of the facility matches the high quality of what we're seeing in terms of the racing."

With the track holding approximately 60,000 fans along the front stretch into Turns 1 and 2, a row of motorcoaches on the backstretch and a smattering of spectators on Rattlesnake Hill between Turns 3 and 4, there's certainly room for expansion. While many tracks are tearing down stands, few areas boast the car culture of Phoenix and the valley. "We've looked at enhancing the front stretch," Sperber said. "We've looked at some concepts, like adding a double-decker stand on the frontstretch. Certainly, the idea of developing some things on the back - were even talked about back in the late '90s - Bill France Jr., even talked about that.(Motorsport)(11-16-2015)

Atlanta and Kentucky Will Be Repaved

From an interview with Danny James of the Lane Construction Corporation. James is the Mechanical Supervisor responsible for overseeing the paving of racetracks such as Daytona International Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway and Kansas Speedway. James is supervising the paving the Dominion Raceway in Spotsylvania, VA. During the interview, James said Lane Construction has been contracted to repave Atlanta Motor Speedway and Kentucky Speedway in 2016. See the full video interview on the Dominion Raceway Facebook page.(11-18-2015)

Clinching Scenarios for Phoenix

Jeff Gordon has already clinched a spot in the Championship 4. Kyle Busch will clinch with a finish of 3rd or better; 4th and at least one lap led; or 5th and most laps led. Kevin Harvick will clinch with a finish of 2nd or better; 3rd and at least one lap led; or 4th and most laps led. Martin Truex Jr., Carl Edwards, Brad Keselowski, Kurt Busch and Joey Logano only control their own destiny with a victory. Logano can ONLY make it to the Championship Round with a win at Phoenix.

Tune in Sunday at 2:30PM on NBC, MRN or SiriusXM to see which drivers will compete for the Sprint Cup Championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Penalty Announcement: Kenseth suspended 2 races; Patrick fined

Matt Kenseth , the driver of the #20 Dollar General Toyota, has been penalized for an infraction that occurred during the Nov. 1st race at Martinsville Speedway. This is a Behavioral Penalty (Sections 12.1, 12.8). Kenseth has been suspended from NASCAR through the completion of the next two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship events and placed on NASCAR probation for a six-month period following issuance of the penalty notice.

"Based upon our extensive review, we have concluded that the #20 car driver, who is no longer in the Chase, intentionally wrecked the #22 car driver, a Chase-eligible competitor who was leading the race at the time,"said Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. "The #20 car was nine laps down, and eliminated the #22 car's opportunity to continue to compete in the race.

"Additionally, we factored aspects of safety into our decision, and also the fact that the new Chase elimination format puts a premium on each and every race. These actions have no place in NASCAR."

Danica Patrick, the driver of the #10 car, has been penalized for an infraction that also took place during the Nov. 1 race at Martinsville Speedway. This is a Behavioral Penalty (Sections 12.1, 12.8). Patrick has been fined $50,000, assessed with the loss of 25 series championship driver points and placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31.(NASCAR)