Here we are in Phoenix for the next to the last race of the 2008 season. Can Jimmie Johnson seal it up Sunday? We'll see if Carl can close the gap even more. Here is the starting line-up: (no stats)

11/09/08-Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil-Phoenix International Raceway-ABC/3 p.m.

1) 48-Jimmie Johnson-Chevrolet-Lowe's
2) 26-Jamie McMurray-Ford-IRWIN Industrial Tools
3) 2-Kurt Busch-Dodge-Miller Lite
4) 44-David Reutimann-Toyota-UPS
5) 88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.-Chevrolet-AMP Energy / National Guard
6) 12-Ryan Newman-Dodge-Alltel
7) 24-Jeff Gordon-Chevrolet-DuPont
8) 11-Denny Hamlin-Toyota-FedEx Ground
9) 15-Paul Menard-Chevrolet-PEAK / Menards
10) 8-Mark Martin-Chevrolet-U.S. Army
11) 9-Kasey Kahne-Dodge-Budweiser
12) 41-Reed Sorenson-Dodge-Target / AMP
13) 10-A.J. Allmendinger-Dodge-McDonald's
14) 18-Kyle Busch-Toyota-Pedigree
15) 99-Carl Edwards-Ford-Office Depot
16) 5-Casey Mears-Chevrolet-Cheez-It / CARQUEST
17) 66-Scott Riggs-Chevrolet-State Water Heaters
18) 347-Marcos Ambrose-Toyota-Little Debbie
19) 29-Kevin Harvick-Chevrolet-Shell / Pennzoil
20) 1-Martin Truex Jr.-Chevrolet-Bass Pro Shops / Tracker
21) 01-Regan Smith*-Chevrolet-DEI / Principal Financial Group
22) 19-Elliott Sadler-Dodge-Siemens
23) 22-Dave Blaney-Toyota-Bad Boy Mowers
24) 31-Jeff Burton-Chevrolet-AT&T Mobility
25) 55-Michael Waltrip-Toyota-NAPA AUTO PARTS
26) 42-Juan Montoya-Dodge-Texaco / Havoline
27) 7-Robby Gordon-Dodge-Jim Beam / Operation Homefront
28) 07-Clint Bowyer-Chevrolet-Jack Daniel's
29) 20-Tony Stewart-Toyota-The Home Depot
30) 6-David Ragan-Ford-AAA Insurance
31) 16-Greg Biffle-Ford-3M / Red Cross
32) 96-Ken Schrader-Toyota-DLP HDTV
33) 77-Sam Hornish Jr.*-Dodge-Mobil 1
34) 17-Matt Kenseth-Ford-DEWALT
35) 45-Kyle Petty-Dodge-Wells Fargo
36) 83-Brian Vickers-Toyota-Red Bull
37) 109-Sterling Marlin-Chevrolet-Miccosukee Resort & Gaming
38) 84-Scott Speed-Toyota-Red Bull
39) 21-Bill Elliott-Ford-Little Debbie
40) 28-Travis Kvapil-Ford-All Sport
41) 43-Bobby Labonte-Dodge-Cheerios / Betty Crocker
42) 38-David Gilliland-Ford-Digital TV Transition
43) 70-Johnny Sauter-Chevrolet-Haas Automation

Rookies:
Marcos Ambrose
Regan Smith
Sam Hornish Jr.
Scott Speed

Nationwide qualifiers:

11/08/08-Hefty Odor Block 200-Phoenix International Raceway-ESPN2/4 p.m.

1) 99-David Reutimann-Toyota-Best Western
2) 24-Eric McClure-Chevrolet-Hefty Odorblock
3) 20-Joey Logano-Toyota-Rock Band 2 / GameStop
4) 7-Mike Wallace-Toyota-GEICO
5) 81-D.J. Kennington-Dodge-Northern Provincial Pipelines
6) 38-Jason Leffler-Toyota-Great Clips
7) 29-Jeff Burton-Chevrolet-Holiday Inn / Holiday Inn Express
8) 64-David Stremme-Chevrolet-Avis
9) 4-Patrick Sheltra-Dodge-Briggs Equipment / Case / Quality Turf
10) 32-Kyle Busch-Toyota-Beringer Vineyards
11) 52-Scott Gaylord-Chevrolet-Best Western Tempe by the Mall
12) 2-Clint Bowyer-Chevrolet-BB&T
13) 47-Kelly Bires-Ford-Glad Odor Shield
14) 88-Brad Keselowski-Chevrolet-U.S. Navy
15) 5-Landon Cassill*-Chevrolet-Nat'l Guard / 300th Military Intelligence Brigade
16) 33-Kevin Harvick-Chevrolet-Camping World/ RVs.com
17) 161-Brandon Whitt-Ford-Specialty Racing
18) 6-David Ragan-Ford-Discount Tire
19) 111-Scott Lagasse Jr.-Chevrolet-America's Incredible Pizza Company
20) 9-A.J. Allmendinger-Dodge-Valvoline
21) 60-Carl Edwards-Ford-World Financial Group
22) 66-Steve Wallace-Chevrolet-5-Hour Energy
23) 40-Bryan Clauson*-Dodge-Fastenal
24) 25-Bobby Hamilton Jr.-Ford-Team Rensi Motorsports
25) 22-Marc Davis-Dodge-Supercuts
26) 27-Jason Keller-Ford-Kleenex / Bashas'
27) 28-Kenny Wallace-Chevrolet-U.S. Border Patrol
28) 01-Larry Gunselman-Chevrolet-Troon Construction
29) 1-Mike Bliss-Chevrolet-Miccosukee Resort & Gaming
30) 59-Marcos Ambrose-Ford-Kingsford Tailgate at Home
31) 17-Jamie McMurray-Ford-CitiFinancial
32) 05-Burney Lamar-Ford-31-W Insulation / CertainTeed
33) 283-John Borneman III-Ford-Borneman Plastering / Red Line Oil
34) 91-Justin Hobgood-Chevrolet-MSRP Motorsports
35) 331-Kenny Hendrick-Chevrolet-St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
36) 000-Josh Wise-Toyota-NAPA AUTO PARTS
37) 018-Denny Hamlin-Toyota-DLP HDTV
38) 30-Stanton Barrett-Chevrolet-INTERUSH.net
39) 209-John Wes Townley-Ford-Zaxby's
40) 282-Derrike Cope-Chevrolet-Sheltra Motorsports.com
41) 89-Morgan Shepherd-Dodge-Racing With Jesus / Lagina Plumbing
42) 149-Kertus Davis-Chevrolet-In Memory of Kenneth Campbell
43) 12-Justin Allgaier-Dodge-Penske Truck Rental
44) 165-Stan Silva Jr.-Chevrolet-A & S Metals / Stan Silva Trucking
45) 173-Kevin Lepage-Dodge-Metal Jeans
46) 155-Brian Ickler-Dodge-Robby Gordon Motorsports
47) 0-Danny Efland-Chevrolet-In Memory of Daniel Powell
48) 90-Johnny Chapman-Chevrolet-MSRP Motorsports
49) 178-Jason White-Dodge-VangleVault /Vangle.com
50) 35-Danny O'Quinn Jr.-Ford-Team Rensi Motorsports

I want Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Marcos Ambrose in Sprint.

Carl Edwards in Nationwide.

I'll take Kurt Busch in the Sprint race with Scott Speed as the rookie.

In Nationwide I pick Joey Lagano.

May I please have 60-Carl Edwards-Ford-World Financial Group in the National Race.

For Tomorrows Checker O'Reilly 500 I would like 48-Jimmie Johnson-Chevrolet-Lowe's and 347-Marcos Ambrose-Toyota-Little Debbie for Rookie


Grazie

Loki

Well hell! I think I go off on a toot and choose Jamie McMurray to win in the #26 Irwin Tools Ford, if for no other reason, I'm partial to his sponsor.

And I might as well go along with Marcus Ambrose because he seems to be the popular subject of discussion these days.

Here were the picks for both races:

(Sprint)
Ray: Jamie McMurray, Marcos Ambrose
Rose: J. Johnson, Regan Smith
Blizz: C. Edwards, S. Hornish Jr.
Deifan:Dale Earnhardt Jr, Marcos Ambrose
Phalcon: Carl Edwards, Regan Smith
Loki: Jimmie Johnson, Marcos Ambrose
Matt: Jimmie Johnson, Regan Smith
Jokul: Kurt Busch, Scot Speed
Silver: Jamie McMurray, Regan Smith
Windy: Jeff Gordon
Diva: David Ragan
Bluemonick: Jimmie Johnson, Regan Smith

(Nationwide)
1) Jokul: Joey Logano
2) Deifan: Carl Edwards
3) Blizz: Carl Edwards
4) Silver: Joey Logano
5) Phalcon: Clint Bowyer
6) Loki: Carl Edwards
7) Rose: Carl Edwards
8) Windy: Carl Edwards
9) Ray: Mark Martin
10) Matt: Jimmie Johnson
11) CG: Joey Logano

Here are the points after:

(Sprint)
1) Ray: 6050+210= 6260 (3)
2) Blizz: 5894+180= 6074 (4)
3) Rose: 5803+225= 6028 (1)
4) Phalcon: 5681+200= 5881 (4)
5) Deifan: 5570+190= 5760 (6)
6) Loki: 5474+235= 5709 (1)
7) Matt: 5465+225= 5690 (1)
8) Jokul: 5148+185= 5333 (2)
9) Silver: 4915+200= 5115 (3)
10) Windy: 4680+40= 4720 (41)
11) Diva: 3576+134= 3710 (10)
12) Bluemonick: 3062+225= 3287 (1)

(Nationwide)
1) Jokul: 4709+134= 4843 (10)
2) Deifan: 4568+195= 4763 (1)
3) Blizz: 4347+195= 4542 (1)
4) (+1) Phalcon: 4184+160= 4344 (4)
5) (-1) Silver S: 4186+134= 4320 (10)
6) Rose: 3810+195= 4005 (1)
7) Loki: 3658+195= 3853 (1)
8) Windy: 3135+195= 3230 (1)
9) Ray: 2171
10) CG: 1890+134= 2024 (10)
11) Matt: 1672