NASCAR News: Four-Man Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship Finale Determined
The race at the Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday officially determined the four drivers who qualified for the Sprint Cup Championship finale. Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, and Martin Truex Jr. joined early qualifier Jeff Gordon to the Chase after the results of the shortened race that was delayed due to severe storms. Gordon secured the first spot even before the race because of a win in Martinsville.
When the race started under the lights, it rained once again, prompting NASCAR to end it only after 218 laps, to which at that point Harvick was running second to eventual winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. The two other qualifiers, Busch and Truex, finished the Phoenix race at fourth and 14th, respectively.
Because of the rain and delays, drivers saw themselves caught up by several stops and starts around the pit road. They were seen going into their cars several times and then forced back into the garage once again. It was not a pretty scene at all.
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Kurt Busch started the race by getting penalized for jumping the start but was able to redeem himself, managing to climb back with the leaders halfway in the race. The race's climax happened in about 120 laps to go when Joey Gase's car was seen sliding into the wall, which prompted a caution from race officials.
The Championship's finale will take place at the Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Meanwhile, another driver, Carl Edwards had the opportunity to grab the final spot heading into this race, but he only managed to get 12th place, officially making it short by five points to the final spot. Other notable drivers who were expected to reach the finale but failed are Kurt Busch, Brad Keselowski, and Joey Logano.
The finale next Sunday will pit the four drivers for the Cup championship; wherein the driver who obtains the best finish at the Speedway will eventually be the series champion for 2015.
