Sprint Cup Can-Am 500 at Phoenix: Takeaways and observations
By Ted Fleming
![Feb 18, 2016; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Jimmie Johnson (48) and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kyle Busch (18) during the Cam-Am Duels at Daytona race two at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports Feb 18, 2016; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Jimmie Johnson (48) and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kyle Busch (18) during the Cam-Am Duels at Daytona race two at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/7dcc9f3a41027c007d5965a22beab4f6489dd05f0ac8bc76f0dc9ebf37db871d.jpg)
Here are five things that stood out after the Can-Am 500, the next to last Sprint Cup race before a champion is crowned for 2016.
5. A Championship Cheetah
Homestead-Miami Speedway is the scene of the final Sprint Cup race of the where a new (or repeat) champion will be crowned. Joey Logano, Carl Edwards and Jimmie Johnson are looking to unseat Kyle Busch who came home with the title a year ago, but before that happens there will be thousands of predictions as to who will take the crown.
One of those prognosticators is based in Miami and is just four-years old and he will be the star seer on Tuesday now that the field has been set following Sunday’s race in Phoenix.
In partnership with Homestead-Miami Speedway, Zoo Miami will be hosting an event that features a South African cheetah named “Koda” as he make his pick.
Koda will be presented with replicas of cars of the four title hopefuls and will pick the winner by touching one of them. With the ability to go from 0-60 in four seconds, the world’s fastest land animal is perfect for the task.
Cheetahs are highly endangered cats with only an estimated 12,000 found in isolated pockets of Eastern and Southern Africa.