18: The point spread between Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin (tied for first in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings) and eighth-place Kevin Harvick. With eight drivers competing that closely for four spots in the season finale at Homestead, Sunday’s final Eliminator Round event at Phoenix promises to be the wildest yet.
14: The number of positions gained by Brad Keselowski by staying out on old tires under caution on Lap 253 of Sunday’s AAA Texas 500. That call by crew chief Paul Wolfe turned the race around for the #2 Team Penske Ford, eventually leading to Keselowski’s third-place finish.
9: The finishing position of Chase driver Carl Edwards, who at one point in Sunday’s race was two laps down in 30th place. Edwards used wave-around and a free pass as the highest-scored lapped car to return to the lead lap. Over the last 81 laps, the #99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford showed a net gain of 21 positions.
191: The number of laps led by race winner Jimmie Johnson in Sunday’s AAA Texas 500. That brings his career total to 889, most ever at the 1.5-mile track. Bragging rights for most career laps led at Texas actually changed hands twice during the race, with polesitter Matt Kenseth briefly holding the honor at 834 before Johnson surpassed him.
8: The finishing position of Kurt Busch in his maiden voyage with crew chief Tony Gibson, after Stewart-Haas drivers Busch and Danica Patrick swapped crew chiefs and road crews before the Texas race. Patrick wasn’t as fortunate in her first outing with Daniel Knost on her pit box. After hitting the wall, Patrick finished 36th, nine laps down.(NASCAR Wire Service)(11-4-2014)
