The race to the championship round of NASCAR’s Chase ultimately was decided by the weather Sunday at Phoenix worldwide Raceway.
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It could be feast or starvation for three organizations trying to advance their drivers into NASCAR’s championship race of the Sprint Cup season.
Busch missed transferring by 21 points, as Martin Truex Jr. claimed the final spot in the four-driver championship field.
Joey Logano, who swept all three races in the Contender round of the Chase, had a disappointing Eliminator round in his attempt to make it into the final four for the second straight year. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was the lucky victor thanks to a race on pit road, edging Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano for the win.
A penalty Kurt Busch incurred for jumping the start of the race proved costly, as he failed to advance to the championship round of NASCAR’s playoffs. With one race left next week at Homestead, Buescher is 18 points ahead of defending series champion Chase Elliott, 22 in front of Ty Dillon, and 24 ahead of Regan Smith. Gordon earned his spot by winning at Martinsville Speedway two weeks ago, but that victory likely was going to Logano before he was wrecked while leading.
“We were still five points out, just like we were five points coming in”, Grubb said. I thought this was the best auto we’ve had and it probably was overall, but something about this place doesn’t work for us very well. He’s quietly contended his way to Homestead, much like Ryan Newman did in the inaugural year of this championship format, and now he has the one-in-four chance at a championship he would have only dreamed of in last year’s disastrous debut season at Richard Childress Racing affiliate Furniture Row Racing in which he finished 24th.
“I’m excited about our chances and our opportunity”, Gordon said. Truex, meanwhile, will for just the first time in his career finish in the top ten in the series standings after the race at Homestead ends.
“I had a great season, we won two races, sat on three poles”, Busch said.
Phoenix worldwide Raceway will be known as Jeff Gordon Raceway on Sunday.
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The race was scheduled for early Sunday afternoon, but a rain shower shortly before the start spoiled the day. Logano had a tire problem last week at Texas and is last in the eight-driver Chase field, needing a win today to advance.
