Tag Archives: Matt Kenseth

In Championship 4, Joe Gibbs Racing Must Deal with Unprecedented Success

Posted on by
Photo - Robert Laberge/Getty Images

Photo – Robert Laberge/Getty Images

The crowning achievement of Joe Gibbs Racing’s 2016 season may also be its biggest problem.

But it’s a problem the organization is happy to have.

When defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Kyle Busch earned a return trip to the Championship 4 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway with a second-place finish at Phoenix, JGR became the first organization in the three-year history of the Chase’s elimination format to put more than one driver in the final race with a chance to win the title. Continue reading →

The Bottom Line in the Championship 4? There’s No Clear Favorite

Posted on by
Photos - Getty Images

Photos – Getty Images

A week before they were to race for the NASCAR Sprint Series championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch sat side-by-side at the daïs in the Phoenix International Raceway media center and began the bickering that invariably accompanies the battle for the series title.

“I think my stats at Homestead show that I’m the favorite, right?” Johnson said facetiously.

“I think my results from last year show that I’m the favorite, right?” Busch retorted.

Busch goes to Homestead as the defending champion, having overcome a broken leg and foot that caused him to miss the first 11 races of the 2015 season. With the elimination of Kevin Harvick in Sunday’s Can-Am 500 at Phoenix, Busch is the only Championship 4 contender who has won a title under the 16-driver Chase format introduced by NASCAR in 2014. Continue reading →

Matt Kenseth’s Championship 4 Aspirations Evaporate with Late Accident

Posted on by
AVONDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 13: Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Dollar General Toyota, leads Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Monster Energy/Haas Automation Chevrolet, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Can-Am 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on November 13, 2016 in Avondale, Arizona. Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

AVONDALE, AZ – NOVEMBER 13: Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Dollar General Toyota, leads Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Monster Energy/Haas Automation Chevrolet, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Can-Am 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on November 13, 2016 in Avondale, Arizona. Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

In one moment, Matt Kenseth was leading Sunday’s Can-Am 500 and seemed destined to race for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship next Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

A moment later, he was wrecked and out of the Chase.

Kenseth led the field to green on the first attempt at overtime, with polesitter Alex Bowman to his inside. Kyle Busch made a move to the inside of Bowman from the third position, and Bowman blocked. Continue reading →

Joey Logano Advances to Championship 4 with Hard-Fought Win at Phoenix

Posted on by

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Joey Logano earned a return trip to the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway after a year’s absence.

Kyle Busch will head to the South Florida track to try to defend his 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title.

And Kevin Harvick won’t be competing for the title for the first time since NASCAR debuted its elimination Chase format in 2014. Needing a victory to advance, as it turned out, Harvick finished fourth in Sunday’s Can-Am 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. Continue reading →

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship 4 Clinch Scenarios for Phoenix

Aside

Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's Pro Services Chevrolet, drives during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Good Sam 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on March 12, 2016 in Avondale, Arizona. Photo - Chris Trotman/Getty Images

Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Pro Services Chevrolet, drives during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Good Sam 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on March 12, 2016 in Avondale, Arizona. Photo – Chris Trotman/Getty Images

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers Jimmie Johnson and Carl Edwards are clinched in the Championship 4 for Homestead Miami Speedway next weekend. The next two drivers to secure their chance at racing for the Sprint Cup title is decided this weekend in the Can Am 500 at Phoenix International Raceway and the six drivers and their clinch scenarios are listed below. 

Joey Logano (0 Wins, 4074 Points) – Would clinch on points with a second-place finish and at least one lap led.  With a win, would clinch a next round spot on wins.

Kyle Busch (0 Wins, 4074 Points) – Would clinch on points with a second-place finish and the most laps led.  With a win, would clinch a next round spot on wins.

The following drivers can only guarantee a clinch with a win. The could also clinch on points with help:

Matt Kenseth (0 Wins, 4073 Points)

Denny Hamlin (0 Wins, 4072 Points)

Kevin Harvick (0 Wins, 4056 Points)

Kurt Busch (0 Wins, 4040 Points)