So it comes down to this. The final race of this lengthy NASCAR season. After 35 points paying races, the last 4 drivers that will race for the championship Sunday happen to be decided.
Considering that the removal format to pick a champion was introduced two years ago the champion has even won the race. Odds are then that the winner of this race Sunday will also wear the Cup crown. Others could win, but three of the last five race winners dating back to Tony Stewart at 2011, have also won the title, so don’t be shocked if the motorist celebrating a race win in victory lane Sunday, is also celebrating his championship.
Here is how it shakes out among the four finalists for Sunday’s 36th race of this year for your gambling or fantasy racing leagues. Driver Ratings are compiled 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 info” elements like average running position, average rate under green, number of workouts, and other stats. There is a maximum of 150 points that a driver can make for each race. The odds are current as of Wednesday.
1. Carl Edwards (7-1). Edwards has just two wins here along with the maximum driver evaluation one of the 4, 109.4. The only driver among the Championship 4 having a number of wins at Homestead, Edwards still has memories of losing the race, along with the title, to Tony Stewart at 2011. Part of the Joe Gibbs Racing team, Edwards will be looking for salvation Sunday, and he may just get it.
2. Jimmie Johnson (7-2). Homestead is one of those few tracks in NASCAR that Johnson hasn’t won at. He works well here though and gets the 2nd greatest driver rating of this 4, 96.7. Johnson will be looking to make history Sunday with a title. When he brings his”A” game and can avoid a few of the miscues that the group has suffered this season at times, Johnson could just pull it off.
3. Kyle Busch (5-1). Busch is looking to defend his name, earned with a win at Homestead last year. He’s got the third highest driver evaluation, 95.5. However he hardly left the Championship 4, and has struggled sometimes. However, with one final race and a chance to add another title, and Joe Gibbs Racing behind him, Busch could be able to add another win, and another name.
4. Joey Logano (7-1). Logano is perhaps the underdog one of the Championship 4. He’s never won at Homestead, has the lowest motorist evaluation among the field, 83.5. However, Logano finished fourth here last year and headed the 2nd 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 motorists seeking to acquire Sunday. Chief among them, Matt Kenseth (12-1). Kenseth has the second greatest driver rating among the area, 108.4, and acquired here in 2007. Coming off a disappointing finish at Phoenix last week, Kenseth will be looking to make a powerful statement. Kevin Harvick (6-1) was frustrated last week as he failed to make the cut for the first time since the removal format started. He also won the race, and the name in 2014, has the fifth best driver evaluation, 104.3, and could add another win to his Homestead restart Sunday.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway will be run on Sunday, November 20. Live coverage is going to be on NBC starting at 2:00 p.m. ET with the green flag coming only after 2:30 p.m. ET.
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