Dale Earnhardt Jr. Wins Wet, Weird Phoenix Race

Originally written for CLNS Radio.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the rain-shortened Quicken-Loans 500 from Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday night.

 

Photo courtesy Chris Trotman/Getty Images

Earnhardt won after the race was stopped following rain at lap 219.  The start of the race was delayed by 6.5 hours earlier in the day due to rainstorms throughout the day.  Earnhardt took the lead by pitting before the final caution came out, and he said his team’s strategy got him to victory lane.

“My team guys are very proud of this because they gave me a great car,” Earnhardt said.  “It is a rain-shortened race…a win’s a win.  You’ll take it and put it in the record book.”

Following the race, four drivers were eliminated from the Chase for the Sprint Cup.  The four drivers eliminated were Carl Edwards, Kurt Busch, Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano.  

Next weekend at Homestead, the Sprint Cup Series championship will be decided among four drivers.  Whoever finishes first among Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. will be crowned the 2015 Sprint Cup Series champion. 

Unofficial results:

1. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

2. Kevin Harvick

3. Joey Logano

4. Kyle Busch

5. Jimmie Johnson

6. Jeff Gordon

7. Kurt Busch

8. Denny Hamlin

9. Brad Keselowski

10. Aric Almirola

11. Ryan Newman

12. Carl Edwards

13. Paul Menard

14. Martin Truex Jr.

15. Jamie McMurray

16. Danica Patrick

17. Justin Allgaier

18. David Ragan

19. Erik Jones

20. Austin Dillon

21. Kyle Larson

22. Casey Mears

23. Clint Bowyer

24. AJ Allmendinger

25. Greg Biffle

26. Kasey Kahne

27. Tony Stewart

28. Matt DiBenedetto

29. J.J. Yeley

30. David Gilliland

31. Sam Hornish Jr.

32. Michael Annett

33. Cole Whitt

34. Trevor Bayne

35. Landon Cassill

36. Brett Moffitt

37. Ryan Preece

38. Alex Bowman

39. Jeb Burton

40. Ryan Ellis

41. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

42. Joey Gase

43. Timmy Hill

Photo courtesy Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images