Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR try to sustain momentum at Phoenix

NASCAR and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are still basking in the glow of one of the most thrilling opening-season races in recent years.

Earnhardt and other drivers called Sunday's Daytona 500 one of the most intense races they have ever run, and the whole sport is riding a wave of momentum following Earnhardt's dramatic win.

'It was electric, man,' Earnhardt said. 'I don't know what the hell was going on or why it was like that. I wish I knew because that's what NASCAR wants to bottle and sell.'

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After a race in which Earnhardt said, 'the intensity level was at a max,' what can NASCAR do for an encore?

Can it sustain that intensity and momentum at Phoenix International Raceway, site of Sunday's The Profit on CNBC 500?

It's doubtful. The Daytona 500 is NASCAR's biggest race, and it's almost an event unto itself, with teams spending months preparing and its unique rules creating an atmosphere conducive to exciting racing and a dramatic finish.

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Instead, Phoenix is where the real season begins, where teams get back to the type of racing that makes up the bulk of the 36-race Cup schedule.

There will be two big storylines this weekend: The debut of NASCAR's new qualifying format for the Sprint Cup Series; and new aero rules that could impact how the cars drive and handle.

There also will be drivers trying to sustain the momentum of a strong showing at Daytona, while others will be trying to bounce back from a disappointing start to the season.

Here's a look at the favorites and drivers to watch at Phoenix:

Favorites

Carl Edwards - Edwards won this race last year, leading 122 laps, to jumpstart a strong regular season. He was strong all season on short, flat tracks, also winning at Richmond and scoring two top-10 finishes at New Hampshire. Edwards and crew chief Jimmy Fennig should be even better in their second season together. If they can adapt quickly to the new aero package, Edwards could be the driver to beat again.

Kevin Harvick - If Harvick were still with Richard Childress Racing, he would be the overwhelming favorite at Phoenix, where he has won two of the last four races and finished second in another. He has moved to Stewart-Haas Racing, however, and is adapting to a new team. Still, Harvick was fast in offseason testing. Phoenix, where he has four career victories, is a good opportunity to show what he has brought to Stewart-Haas.

Denny Hamlin - Until Earnhardt's win, Hamlin was the star of Speedweeks, winning the Sprint Unlimited and one of the Budweiser Duel qualifying races. He finished second in the Daytona 500 and has tremendous momentum heading to a track where he won in 2011. Hamlin also won the last unrestricted race, winning at Homestead in the 2013 season finale. No one, except Earnhardt Jr., has more momentum heading to Phoenix.

Jimmie Johnson - Johnson used to own the Phoenix track, winning three straight races and four of five from 2007-09. He has not had the same success since the track was reconfigured in 2011, but he still has three top-five finishes in the past four races there. Johnson's team also is one of the best at adapting to new rules. Expect him to be on top of his game at Phoenix.

Sleepers

Dale Earnhardt Jr. - After winning NASCAR's biggest race, Earnhardt will carry tremendous confidence to a track where he has run well recently. Earnhardt won at Phoenix twice early in his career and finished in the top five in both races last year.

Kyle Busch - Busch typically is not considered a sleeper at any track, but he has not won at Phoenix since his rookie season in 2005. He has three top-10s in the last four races there, however, and dominated the November 2012 race, leading 237 laps.

Kasey Kahne - Kahne also runs well at Phoenix, where he won in 2011 and finished second to Harvick there in November.

Predictions

Bob Pockrass : Denny Hamlin. The place where his 2010 title run went into a tailspin is the place where his attempt at a 2014 title run will begin. This guy has confidence and he runs well at PIR - he won the March 2012 race there and followed that with second-place and third-place finishes before a 28th last November.

Jeff Owens : Denny Hamlin. Remember Hamlin climbing from his car after this race last year and ripping NASCAR's new car (for which he was fined). That won't happen this time. Pockrass and I rarely agree when it comes to predictions, but I agree that Hamlin wins this one. He has more confidence and momentum than any driver not named Earnhardt.

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