So it comes down to this. The last race of this long NASCAR season. After 35 points paying races, the last 4 drivers who will race for the championship Sunday happen to be determined.
Since the removal format to pick a winner was released two years ago the champion has even won the race. Odds are then that the winner of the race Sunday will also wear the Cup crown. Others could win, but three of those previous five race winners dating back to Tony Stewart in 2011, have also won the name, so don’t be shocked if the motorist celebrating a race win in victory lane Sunday, is also celebrating his championship.
Here’s how it shakes out among the four finalists for Sunday’s 36th race of this year for your betting or fantasy racing leagues. Driver Ratings are accumulated from 2005-2016 races (23 total) among active drivers at Phoenix. The Driver Rating is a number based on a formula developed by NASCAR which unites”loop data” components like average running position, average speed under green, number of fastest laps, and other stats. There’s a maximum of 150 points a driver can make for each race. The chances are present as of Wednesday.
1. Carl Edwards (7-1). Edwards has two wins here and the maximum driver evaluation among the 4, 109.4. The only driver among the Championship 4 having multiple wins at Homestead, Edwards still has memories of losing the race, and the name, to Tony Stewart at 2011. Section of the Joe Gibbs Racing team, Edwards will be looking for salvation Sunday, and he might just get it.
2. Jimmie Johnson (7-2). Homestead is one of the few tracks in NASCAR that Johnson has never won at. He runs well here and has the second highest driver evaluation of this 4, 96.7. Johnson will be looking to make history Sunday with a seventh title. If he brings his”A” game and may avoid some of the miscues that the group has suffered this year at times, Johnson could just pull it off.
3. Kyle Busch (5-1). Busch is seeking to defend his title, made with a win at Homestead last year. He’s got the third highest driver rating, 95.5. But he barely made the Championship 4, also has struggled at times. But with one last race and an opportunity to add another name, and Joe Gibbs Racing behind himBusch could be in position to add another triumph, and yet another name.
4. Joey Logano (7-1). Logano is possibly the underdog one of the Championship 4. He’s never won at Homestead, has the lowest motorist evaluation one of the field, 83.5. But Logano finished fourth last year and headed the second most laps in the race, 72. Logano was astonishing at times this season and he could certainly be a surprise Sunday by winning his first Cup title.
OTHERS: There will be a total of 36 other drivers seeking to win Sunday. Chief among them, Matt Kenseth (12-1). Kenseth has the second greatest driver evaluation one of the area, 108.4, also won here in 2007. Coming off a disappointing finish at Phoenix a week, Kenseth will be seeking to make a powerful statement. Kevin Harvick (6-1) was also disappointed a week as he failed to make the cut for the first time since the elimination format started. He won the raceand the title in 2014, has the fifth best driver evaluation, 104.3, and may add another win for his Homestead resume Sunday.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Ford EcoBoost 400 in Homestead-Miami Speedway will be conducted on Sunday, November 20. Live coverage is going to be on NBC starting at 2:00 p.m. ET with all the green flag coming only after 2:30 p.m. ET.
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