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The Flat Track in the Desert: For thesecond week in a row Nascar Nextel Cup racing will happen on atrack that received a second race date for this year.

The last time we were here, Phoenix marked anumber of firsts for the track. That was the first spring raceever held there. This is the first time that there will be twoNEXTEL Cup races there in a year. With these firsts you can expecta lot of excitement in Phoenix on Sunday.

The Track: Phoenix is a relatively flatone mile oval with a bend in the back stretch. Turns one and twoare tight with 11 degrees of banking while turns three and fourare long and sweeping with just 9 degrees of banking. Comparethis with last week's race in South Carolina which has 24 degreesof banking in the corners, which more than double. This makeshandling a very critical part of the package there.

The current points top ten are:

1) Tony Stewart 5777
2) Jimmie Johnson 5777
3) Greg Biffle 5766
(4) Ryan Newman 5760
5) Mark Martin 5726
6) Carl Edwards 5723
7) Rusty Wallace 5685
8) Jeremy Mayfield 5662
9) Matt Kenseth 5653
10) Kurt Busch 5635

The media will be buzzing about Nextel Cup racefor the cup this weekend, lights, fall racing, etc. Maybe therewill be another first/second? This is one of the race tracks whereJeff Gordon won earlier this year, maybe he can get his second?

This weekend will also see the spotlight turnto Dale Earnhardt Jr. He won the last two Nextel Cup races heldat this track but has really been struggling in 2005.

Last Year: Dale Earnhardt Jr. won in Phoenixfor the second year in a row in the fall will he do it again?

Predictions: It's anybody's game thisweekend but I'm going to bet on the old guys. How about Dale EarnhardtJr. as a winner this weekend? My backup pick is another guy thatknows a lot about setting up a race car and adapting to changingtrack conditions, Jeff Gordon who won here earlier this year.

Good luck in your action!