Busch sets up showdown with Harvick for crown

AVONDALE, Ariz. — Kyle Busch won for the eighth time this season to tie Kevin Harvick for the most victories and set up a head-to-head battle for the championship.

Busch’s victory at ISM Raceway outside of Phoenix was the final qualifying event for next week’s f i nale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Harvick was the favorite to win and started from the pole, but an early flat tire made Sunday’s race more eventful than Harvick expected.

He found himself racing late against Stewart-Haas Racing teammates Kurt Busch and Aric Almirola for the fourth transfer spot to Homestead, but Busch was wrecked late and Almirola had to win the race to snatch the berth away from Harvick.

“We were in big trouble out there with the flat tire,” Harvick said.

The final four will be NASCAR’s Big Three of Kyle Busch, Harvick and reigning series champion Martin Truex Jr., as well as Middletown natvie Joey Logano.

The field is two Ford drivers, two Toyota drivers and represents four organizations. Chevrolet was shut out of the finale.

Brad Keselowski and Kyle Larson, both already eliminated from t he playoffs, finished second and third. Almirola was fourth and Harvick fifth.

Harvick was stripped of his berth to Homestead that he’d earned by winning a week ago at Texas when NASCAR ruled his car was illegal. The penalty forced him to requalify, and he had to do it without his crew chief or car chief.