Sunday’s final Cup Series race before next week’s championship race was hosted by ISM Raceway in Phoenix, Arizona. After a renovation made by the track, the series was making their first start on the new layout. A new start/finish line was placed just after the old ‘turn one.’ The new layout definitely added an extra sense excitement heading into the race. ISM Raceway hosted another sell out for what was an exciting race heading into the championship.

Kevin Harvick started on the pole yesterday after needing to bounce back after suffering from his penalty last week. He paced the field for the entirety of the first stage. However, he cut a tire with only two laps left in the stage. Chase Elliott was lurking in the second place position and he was able to pass Harvick late and pick up the first stage win.

Harvick went into thesecond stage a lap down after cutting a tire. Coming off pit road in the lead, Kyle Busch restarted the secondstage from the first position and led wire to wire picking up the second stagevictory.

During the third stage, Chase Elliott was moving back through the field. He had a really good car and looked as if he could win the race. But he was caught speeding coming down pit road and had to work his way back through the field. However, midway through the final stage, Elliott and Kurt Busch were both wrecked out of the race ending their championship run.

Multiple cautions occurred late in the race allowing for crucial restarts between the drivers left in the playoffs. Aric Almirola was the only playoff driver not within the first four that was left on the track. He needed a great restart late in the race, but Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski were too strong for Almirola to keep up. Busch took the lead with Keselowski right on his tail. Busch was able to hang on and win yesterday at ISM Raceway. This win setting the championship four next week in Homestead-Miami.

The four drivers racing for the championship are Joey Logano, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., and Kevin Harvick. All drivers are even in points and first to finish will win the 2018 champion. Homestead-Miami Speedway is a track that gives drivers many different lines to run. All drivers in the final four each race differently than the other. Many different lines and strategies are to be seen next week. It has been a quick season, and it all comes down to one race. Joey Logano and ‘The Big Three,’  will definitely put on a show.