Who Makes NASCAR's Championship Four at Homestead?
Oct 23, 2016; Talladega, AL, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Joey Logano (22) and driver Kevin Harvick (4) lead the pack out of turn four during the Alabama 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
The 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chase moves into it’s final round this week at Martinsville. Who makes the championship four heading into Homestead?
As the 2016 Chase for the Sprint Cup winds down the intensity is ramping up. Only eight drivers remain and all eight are worthy of winning the Sprint Cup Series championship. However, only one will prevail.
The final round is made up of Martinsville, Texas, and Phoenix. Three distinctly different tracks each with their own challenges. Which four drivers will advance to Homestead with a shot at the championship? Will it be a Joe Gibbs Racing championship four or can the non-Gibbs drivers crash the party?
Oct 11, 2015; Concord, NC, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick (4) during the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick won’t be denied. There’s something about being backed into a corner that brings out the best in Harvick. He proved once again in the round of twelve that eliminating the No. 4 team is easier said than done.
Misfortune at the start of each round has left Harvick in a hole just to see him dig out of it the following week. A bad race at Chicago led to a win at New Hampshire and mechanical issues at Charlotte resulted in a win at Kansas. Let’s face it, you just can’t keep the guy down.
Then next three tracks (Martinsville, Texas, and Phoenix) are all places Harvick is strong at. Expect Harvick to advance onto Homestead with a win. Points haven’t mattered to him thus far and there’s no reason to start worrying about them now.
Oct 9, 2016; Concord, NC, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Jimmie Johnson (48) during the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
Jimmie Johnson
Here’s another guy who isn’t going down without a fight. The lone driver from Hendrick Motorsports is peaking at the right time. Johnson’s results throughout 2016 haven’t been spectacular but once the chase started we’ve seen a lot more of the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet up front.
A win at Charlotte propelled Johnson into the round of eight. He followed up the next week with a strong fourth place finish at Kansas.
Looking ahead it’s hard to mention Martinsville or Texas without thinking of Jimmie Johnson. He’s been so strong there in the past that it’s hard to believe he won’t advance to Homestead via a win in the next two weeks.
Oct 2, 2016; Dover, DE, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Kyle Busch (18) races during the Citizen Soldier 400 at Dover International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Kyle Busch
It goes without saying that Joe Gibbs Racing has been a major factor in the chase thus far. JGR has four drivers in the round of eight but only one will still be alive come Homestead. That’s defending Sprint Cup Series champion Kyle Busch.
He’s finished in the top ten in five out of the six chase races this year. Three of those top tens are also top fives.
Three top five finishes in the next three weeks will almost certainly mean a spot in the championship four at Homestead. Busch has the experience to both make it to Homestead and bring home the hardware. While I’m sure Busch enjoyed his Sunday drive at Talladega his days of riding in the back are over.
Sep 18, 2016; Joliet, IL, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Joey Logano (22) during the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Joey Logano
Last week’s winner takes the final spot in this year’s championship four. Every time it looks like Logano may be down and out he finds a way to move on. His win at Talladega is just what the No. 22 team needed to give them momentum and confidence heading into the final four races.
Remember who had the race at Martinsville in hand until Matt Kenseth intervened? That’s right, it was Joey Logono. Kenseth and Logano have since put their differences aside (we think) but a win would do wonders in helping Logano finally rise above last year’s controversy.
Look for Logano to make the most of Martinsville and Texas in order to take his place in the championship four at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
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