‘Chaos,’ drama welcome

Phoenix affected by rule changes

NASCAR’s semifinal race at Phoenix Raceway in the fall was a bit of a snooze. The racing wasn’t very compelling because it was so hard to pass, and it was a big reason the sport decided to shake up its rules package for short tracks in an effort to get a little more excitement.

Phoenix will be the testing ground Sunday for those changes. Veteran driver Clint Bowyer said it was hard to tell much difference during early runs in the desert, though he wouldn’t be surprised if things change in a big way when the race begins.

“Who knows?” Bowyer said. “Maybe there will be some more chaos.”

A little more drama would be a welcome development at the 1-mile Phoenix Raceway that also will play host to the championship-deciding race in November.

The rules package introduced last season was altered during the offseason when NASCAR made changes to the specifications for short tracks, including a significantly smaller rear spoiler for the cars. NASCAR said the changes mirror similar rules that were used during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Phoenix is the first of nine tracks on the schedule that will be affected by the changes.

Chase Elliott and his No. 9 Chevrolet have the pole position. He’ll start alongside Kevin Harvick’s Ford. Harvick has nine wins in

Phoenix.

Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin — who qualified third in a Toyota — said drivers who tried the smaller spoiler in simulators said it’s a big adjustment.

“I think the guys that run good or win this weekend are either going to have a setup that they hit on that is really good or they acclimated quicker to this package back to where we were,” Hamlin said.

Bowyer said the changes will be hard to simulate until everyone’s on the track fighting for the same position.

“When we line them up and fan out on restarts, you’re going to see a different thing,” he said. “You’re not just going to be able to drive that thing in there three-or four-wide comfortably like we could with all that downforce.”

Gibbs all the way

Brandon Jones passed Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota teammate Kyle Busch with 20 laps remaining and pulled away for his second career Xfinity Series victory Saturday at Phoenix Raceway.

Rookie Harrison Burton finished second and Busch was third, giving Joe Gibbs Racing the top three finishers.

Busch started on the pole and led a race-high 78 laps. But the 23-year-old Jones gained momentum on a 47lap green-flag stretch that ended the race, passing Busch was relative ease.