Keselowski Regains Chase Leader But Standings Closer Than They Appear

Keselowski Regains Chase Leader But Standings Closer Than They Appear

Brad Keselowski has the inside track to his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship leading Jimmie Johnson by 20 points entering Sunday’s Ford EcoBoost 400 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. His sixth-place finish at Phoenix International Raceway, coupled with Johnson’s 32nd, significantly reversed the five-time champion’s previous seven-point advantage. Keselowski clinches the championship with a finish of 15th or better; or 16th and at least one lap led; or 17th and the most laps led, even if Johnson wins and leads the most laps.

But the standings may be closer than they look. While Homestead-Miami Speedway is one of five tracks on which Johnson hasn’t won, the Californian finished a pressure-filled second in 2010 when another championship was on the line. The performance allowed Johnson to erase a 15-point deficit (roughly four points under the current system) to Denny Hamlin and claim his fifth championship. Johnson is one of just four drivers who trailed entering the season’s final race to win the title. The others were Tony Stewart (-3 points, to Carl Edwards, 2011); Alan Kulwicki (-30 points or about seven points under the current system, to Davey Allison, 1992) and Richard Petty (-2 points, to Darrell Waltrip, 1979).

Keselowski, on the other hand, will be making just his fifth NASCAR Sprint Cup start at Homestead-Miami Speedway where his best finish is 13th in 2010. He placed 20th or worse in his other three races.

Penske Racing One Solid Finish Away From First Sprint Cup Championship

Roger Penske has fielded NASCAR Sprint Cup entries – 1,571 of them – since June 18, 1972, when Donnie Allison finished third at Riverside (Calif.) International Raceway behind Ray Elder and Benny Parsons. Penske Racing cars have won 76 times over 29 seasons but never a NASCAR Sprint Cup championship. NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Rusty Wallace came closest finishing second in 1993. NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison was fourth in 1974 and 1976 as was Kurt Busch in 2009. Brad Keselowski, the current Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™ leader, was fifth a year ago. Keselowski’s 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship is Penske’s only NASCAR title.

Hendrick Motorsports will win a record-extending 11th NASCAR Sprint Cup championship should Jimmie Johnson bypass Keselowski at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Dodge Bids Farewell In Possible Championship Fashion

Dodge will bid farewell to NASCAR competition – at least for now – following Sunday’s race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Ironically, the manufacturer may depart with its first driver champion, Brad Keselowski, since Richard Petty won the 1975 title. Dodge, which returned to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series as a manufacturer presence in 2001, has powered two former champions: Petty in 1974-75 and Bobby Isaac in 1971.

What A Difference A Year Can Make For Carl Edwards

A year ago Carl Edwards came to Homestead-Miami Speedway with the Chase points lead, finished second and lost the championship to Tony Stewart on a most wins tiebreaker. On Sunday, Edwards will close out a disappointing 2012 season in which he has failed to win and qualify for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™. Difficult to say that Edwards relishes the role of spoiler – but that’s about all that remains for the driver of the No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford, although a victory would be a great morale boost looking forward to 2013. Edwards has been superlative at the 1.5-mile Homestead layout, fashioning a pair of victories (2008, 2010) and finishing eighth or better in seven consecutive races. The Columbia, Mo., veteran has an average finish of 5.2.

Roush Fenway Racing has won seven of 13 Homestead races – including five in a row between 2004 and 2008. Current drivers and Chase qualifiers Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth have combined for four victories.

Lengthy Streaks At Risk For Busch, Newman

Two veteran competitors have a single race in which to extend lengthy personal streaks. Kurt Busch has won at least one race in 10 consecutive seasons beginning in 2002. Now driving the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet, Busch finished eighth at Phoenix to give the Denver-based team its first back-to-back top 10s. Ryan Newman’s 11-season Coors Light Pole streak also is on the line. Newman captured his first of 49 career poles in 2001. His last came in September 2011 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Sunday’s Ford EcoBoost 400 will see the conclusion of two drivers’ tenure with current organizations. All but one of Matt Kenseth’s 471 starts has come with Roush Fenway Racing, from which he departs for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2013. Kenseth, the 2003 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion, has 24 victories with RFR. Joey Logano moves to Penske Racing after four full seasons with Joe Gibbs Racing during which he posted two vict