Drivers feel frustration ahead of NASCAR Cup race at Phoenix

Arizona is notorious for its heat, which is fitting, because going into Phoenix Raceway, frustrations seem magnified across the NASCAR Cup Series garage following a tough weekend on the track.

Since the inception of the seventh-generation car, NASCAR has implemented biannual modifications to its short-track package used at the Avondale-based track in an effort to increase passing and produce a better product for fans.

While the hope was to have more answers than questions after practice and qualifying, the opposite appears to be the case, leaving many of the world’s best stock-car drivers frustrated ahead of Sunday's Shriners Children’s 500 (12:30 p.m., FOX).

Reaction to new short-track package

In December, six teams returned to Phoenix to test a variety of potential changes to the short-track package. The end result — what fans will see on the track Sunday — is the addition of a simplified diffuser and a three-inch spoiler.

The goal with these changes was to make the cars handle better in traffic, or behind each other, so drivers could have more opportunities to pass, rather than fighting tight, tough-to-turn conditions.

After a 50-minute practice session, the feedback on the changes was mixed, but a majority of the competitors didn’t seem to notice any difference from when they last raced at Phoenix in November.

“ No difference at all,” said William Byron, last year’s winner of this race. “I couldn't get within two, three car lengths of anyone. Once I got close to anyone, it was really hard to pass. I passed one car, but there was maybe a six or seven-lap tire difference.”

However, there were a number of drivers who did notice a slight improvement in how the cars handled. Namely, Chase Briscoe, the winner of this race two years ago in the Next Gen car’s debut at Phoenix.

“In traffic, I thought it was better,” Briscoe said. "I didn’t get into a ton of traffic in practice, but what little I was, I thought it wasn’t nearly as bad as what we’ve had in the past. I think it’s going to move the needle.

“I was kind of surprised at how many people were negative about it, but I’m excited for the race to see where that all ends up stacking up. When we start racing, that’s when we’re really going to know. But I thought it was encouraging to kind of see the difference (from November).”

Tire changes have impact

Adjustments to the short-track package weren’t the only changes drivers had to acclimate to throughout the weekend. Goodyear also brought out a new tire with a thicker gage (tread), designed to keep heat in the tires and increase lap-time fall-off.

This would make tire management more of a factor in the 312-lap event, forcing drivers to be mindful of how to preserve their tires on longer runs — which Phoenix is known for.

According to a bulk of the field, the general consensus is these new, thicker tires have potential to be the difference-maker in the quality of the racing.

“Honestly, I feel like the biggest difference is that we have maybe a little bit more speed in the front-end because the tire is softer,” Atlanta race winner and driver of the No. 99 Daniel Suarez said. “It fell off a little bit more, which is good. I think that's going to produce good racing, but … the car is very bad in traffic.

“I think Goodyear is the one that can really move the needle there big time with the softer tire, and I feel like that was a move in the right direction,” Suarez said. "It's going to be a challenge.  But I like the fact that we'll have to manage our tires a little bit more.”

While most were in favor of the new tire and noticed at least some change in how the cars handled compared to last time in Phoenix, Chase Elliott, six-time most-popular driver and former champion, had a strong, differing opinion on the matter.

"Man, I'll shoot you super straight,” Elliott said. “They change the tire all the time. Not only does it not make the racing look any different, but it's really hard to tell from inside the car. Regardless of whatever compound they put on -- and I'm not saying it doesn't change things, because it does — but they are such minute things.

"It's not gonna look any different. You're never gonna hear about it. I don't mean that negatively, but the cars are what they are. We're racing on asphalt and there are four tires. It can only be so different,'' he said.

“Typically, the same guys run good every week whether there's a tire compound change or not."

Hamlin starts P1, Logano leads practice

Two-time champion and three-time Phoenix winner Joey Logano continued his torrid pace to start the season by posting the fastest time in the only practice session of the weekend with a 27.446-second (131.167 mph) lap.

Logano, coming off his first top-10 finish of the year, had won two-of-three poles this season with only outlier being a second-place starting spot. His streak of starting on the front row was broken on Saturday, after qualifying 23rd for today’s race.

As for who won the pole, that would be NASCAR’s “villain” Denny Hamlin.

Hamlin put down a 27.138-second (132.655 mph) lap, which was enough to earn him his third pole at Phoenix and Toyota's 150th in the Cup Series. Like Logano, the driver of the No. 11 is coming off his first top-10 of the season and hoping speed all weekend will amount to his 52nd win.

The good news for Hamlin is that the winner of every Phoenix race in the seventh-generation car hasn’t qualified lower than eighth, and the best starting spot in the field comes with its own special advantage.

“I think that this track is one of the biggest advantages to the number one pit stall,” Hamlin said. “They have the pit-out camera so close to the (stall) that it's just an overwhelming advantage for those guys.

“We've seen championships won that way. If we're racing someone for a win, if it comes down to pit road, we're certainly not at a disadvantage.”

What to watch for

Although Chevrolet has won the opening three races this season, it certainly seems like Toyota has the best shot at winning the Shriners Children’s 500 at Phoenix Sunday.

Toyota teams accounted for six of the top-10 fastest times in practice, led by pole sitter Hamlin. In addition to single-lap speed, they also dominated the consecutive lap averages, which are crucial for long, green-flag runs at the one-mile track.

Bubba Wallace, who got the most track time of the weekend with 63 laps in practice, posted the best 10-lap average and was ninth-fastest overall. While he’ll have his work cut out for him starting 22nd, he’s one of only two drivers with top-five finishes in two races this season.

Christopher Bell showcased the best long-run speed throughout the weekend after laying down the best 15,20 and 25-lap averages. It’s also worth noting the driver of the No. 20 was part of the short-track package test held at Phoenix in December and has been a part of the Championship 4 the past two seasons.

Ryan Blaney is riding three consecutive runner-up finishes at Phoenix with no finish worse than fourth in the seventh-generation car, which amounts to an astounding 2.5 average finish. It will be a tough climb to the front starting 23rd at a place where passing has proven to be difficult, but if anyone can make their way through the field, it’s the Team Penske driver.

Smith wins second career Xfinity Series race

Chandler Smith won his second career Xfinity Series race on Saturday, earning a surprise victory for Toyota and Joe Gibbs Racing after Justin Allgaier crashed while holding a big lead with just four laps remaining.

The 21-year-old Smith took the lead after Allgaier’s stunning crash and got a huge jump on the overtime restart, easily holding off Jesse Love and Sheldon Creed over the final two laps.

Allgaier’s misfortune was caused by an ill-timed flat tire.

“I hate that happened to (Allgaier) — he definitely had it in the bag,” Smith said. “But I’m so proud of everybody at Joe Gibbs Racing. It’s good, finally, to get this first one off my back with these guys. Let’s keep racking them up.”

Love finished second in his No. 2 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing. Creed ended up third, giving Joe Gibbs Racing two of the top three cars. Austin Hill, who won the first two Xfinity races of the season, finished fourth.

It was an eventful afternoon for Smith, who was involved in a major wreck late in the race that collected several of the leaders, including teammate John Hunter Nemechek, Aric Almirola and Riley Herbst.

Nemechek looked like he might have the car to beat after gaining four spots on a pit stop, but the race changed drastically a few minutes later when Nemechek and Smith made contact after the restart. It caused Nemechek to spin out in front of the field and hit multiple cars.

In all, 13 cars were involved and it brought out a red flag for track cleanup.

That opened the door for Allgaier, who looked like he would cruise to his third career victory in Phoenix. He was winning by about three seconds before his left rear tire went flat, causing the wreck.

“Going through the dogleg, I felt it come apart,” said Allgaier, who finished 29th. “I hate it that we tore up a race car. I hate that we’re not in victory lane.”

Frankie Muniz, the actor-turned-race-car-driver, finished 30th in his second Xfinity start. The 38-year-old is most known for his role in “Malcolm in the Middle” from 2000-06.

ARCA race ends in rain

The ARCA Menards Series kicked off the competitive festivities on Friday night with the General Tire 150 won by 17-year-old William Sawalich. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver started from the pole and led 66 laps en route to this fifth victory, after the race was shortened with less than 40 to go for inclement weather.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Sunday's race

At Phoenix Raceway, Avondale

6 a.m. — Parking lots open

8 a.m. — Gates open

12:30 p.m. — NASCAR Cup Series race, Shriners Children’s 500 (Fox)

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Drivers feel frustration ahead of NASCAR Cup race at Phoenix