The 2018 NASCAR Cup Series season all came down to Sunday’s race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. A battle between ‘The Big Three,’ and Joey Logano in the Team Penske Racing Ford. A 400-mile showdown on a racetrack that offers multiple grooves for drivers. Fans saw drivers paint the white line on the bottom, or drivers race so close to the wall that a piece of paper would not fit between. It is a great track for NASCAR’s championship race.

Kevin Harvick started yesterday’s race from the 12th position with him quickly moving his way up through the field. While Harvick was moving up, there was a battle for the lead from the drop of the green flag with Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin working against each other. But once Kevin Harvick entered the picture, the lead was his. Harvick won the first stage in the championship race.

Harvick retained his lead coming out of the stage break. The second stage of the race was a constant battle for the lead between the four championship drivers. They continuously stayed in the top-five all afternoon. Kyle Larson ran the top line smooth all afternoon and he had it working in the second stage. He raced hard and surpassed the championship four for the lead and won the second stage of the race.

The final stage of the race came down to one situation between Brad Keselowski and Daniel Suarez. Keselowski made contact with Suarez causing Suarez to spin. At this point, Harvick was still in the position to win the championship. This caution allowed for one final pit stop. Everyone came down pit road for service.

Kyle Busch won the race off pit road with Martin Truex Jr, Joey Logano, and Kevin Harvick close behind. The championship all came down to the final fifteen laps to decide who was bringing home the championship title.

Truex Jr. raced Busch down into turn one and beat him into the corner. Truex Jr. gained the lead as Logano was working on Busch. Logano made the pass for second and set his eyes on passing the defending champion, Truex Jr, for the top-spot. An epic battle took place as the two drivers were putting everything on the line.

Logano drove hard into turn one and took the high line. This was the winning move as he passed Truex Jr, and ran away with with a commanding lead. Logano closed out the remaining laps and took home his first NASCAR Monster EnergyCup Series Championship title.

What a year and what a playoff it was for everyone involved. Looking at the beginning of the season, it seemed as if someone from ‘The Big Three’ would take home the championship. There was not a lot of variety as to who was winning races. Then we made our way into the summer and some new faces started to emerge in victory lane. This led to a very exciting playoff schedule. Multiple races finished with drama as everyone wanted to make it to Miami.

Congrats to Joey Logano and his Team Penske crew. Not many people thought he would be the one hoisting the trophy, but his team made all the right moves during crunch time.

Next year will be a whole different year as the Cup Series implements a new package to the cars in an effort to make the racing more exciting. This year was a great year, and hopefully we see the improvements with the 2019 rules package.