Three-wide: What to look for in Sunday's Ford 400

Three-wide: What to look for in Sunday's Ford 400


1. A Hamlin recovery? Denny Hamlin was shell shocked by last Sunday's failure to anticipate the fuel-mileage strategy of Jimmie Johnson, his closest pursuer in the Chase. What started as a coronation for Hamlin ended with the Chase very much in doubt. Hamlin vowed to put Phoenix behind him. On Sunday, we'll see if he can.
2. Teammates in the mix. Hamlin, Johnson and Kevin Harvick—the only three drivers who can win the Cup title—won't be the only drivers on the track Sunday (though that might be an interesting way to decide the championship). Of the 40 other guys out there, some will be teammates, some will be friends and some will be drivers with scores to settle. In other words, you can expect the actions of the noncontenders to affect the championship battle.
3. Roush resurgence. Owner Jack Roush characterized his organization as "too late smart," but there's no denying the Roush Fenway Fords have found something lately. A battle for the win between Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards wouldn't be a surprise at all. — Reid Spencer, Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

Past winners of Chase races at Homestead
2004: Greg Biffle
2005: Greg Biffle
2006: Greg Biffle
2007: Matt Kenseth
2008: Carl Edwards
2009: Denny Hamlin

The last time around: Johnson grabs fourth straight title; Hamlin wins race
November 22, 2009: "How 'bout some history?!" Jimmie Johnson shouted as he crossed the finish line at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
No, Johnson didn't win Sunday's Ford 400. Denny Hamlin did. But Johnson accomplished something far more significant than a victory in a single event. His fifth-place finish was more than good enough to clinch his fourth straight Sprint Cup Series title, breaking a tie with Cale Yarborough for most consecutive championships.
History, boys," Johnson continued. "No one ever—ever! I don't know how to thank you guys. Thank you so much."
Johnson's title run also completed Hendrick Motorsports' sweep of the top three positions in the final standings, the first time an organization has achieved that distinction. In winning his fourth Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Johnson finished 141 points ahead of Mark Martin, who entered Sunday's race 108 points behind his teammate and finished 12th.
Jeff Gordon secured a third-place finish in the points with a sixth-place run.
All but lost in the hoopla surrounding Johnson's record run was Hamlin's fourth victory of the season and his second in the Chase. Surging into the lead after a restart on Lap 222 of 267, Hamlin crossed the stripe 2.632 seconds ahead of Jeff Burton, who posted his second straight runner-up finish and his fourth straight top 10.
Burton 's Richard Childress Racing teammate, Kevin Harvick, ran third, and Kurt Busch locked up fourth in the Chase standings with a fourth-place finish. — Reid Spencer