Finale four: Field now flush with Keselowski in on points
Kenseth takes flag at Phoenix for what may be final NASCAR win
AVONDALE, Ariz. — There was always going to be one delighted driver and four jealous ones when Sunday’s playoff cutdown race finished, but now we know who falls into which category.
First, the singularly happy one: Brad Keselowski.
The Team Penske driver came into Sunday’s Can-am 500 race at Phoenix International Speedway leading the remaining NASCAR
Cup Series playoff drivers in points, and that proved to be enough to get him through to next Sunday’s finale at Homestead-miami even without a win.
That victory, by the way, went to Matt Kenseth, who won another race before he stops driving at the end of this season.
Keselowski finished 16th, and while Chase Elliott finished second, Keselowski’s points advantage proved enough.
Then there’s the four less-enthused drivers, the ones who missed the cut Sunday and were eliminated from championship contention: seven-time series champion Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin and young drivers Ryan Blaney and Elliott.
Johnson’s day ended early thanks to a blown tire just before the end of Stage 2. Hamlin also saw his day end early due to a blown tire, which was more unexpected since he led the majority of the race.
So the championship four is finally set — Keselowski joining Martin Truex Jr.,
Las Vegas native Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick, with the highest-finishing driver becoming the next Cup champion.
“I don’t ever want to go through that again,” Keselowski said of the way he snuck into the final four.
Kenseth’s last hurrah?
Kenseth may be going away, but he’s not going quietly.
Kenseth won for the first time this season in what might have been the second-to-last Cup race of his NASCAR career. Kenseth does not have a job lined up for next year and said he’ll take a break at the start of the season.
“Just got one race left and everybody dreams of going out a winner,” a tearful Kenseth said after climbing from his Toyota.
Kenseth passed Elliott with 10 laps remaining to win. The 2003 NASCAR champion is a two-time Daytona 500 winner and consistent playoff driver, but he’s 45 and being replaced at Joe Gibbs Racing next season by Erik Jones.
Too expensive to land a competitive ride for next season, Kenseth has decided to take time away rather than drive a car that can’t win races.
“He’s been really down and frustrated and trying to figure out this season and what it’s all about, to try to go out there and try to win in his final season, not on his own terms final season,” said teammate Busch, one of many drivers to congratulate Kenseth.
“I think it shows that there’s no reason why he couldn’t have gotten a job anywhere else. It’s just, I guess, the industry didn’t see Matt Kenseth as their driver, and that’s really, really unfortunate because I love the guy and have raced with respect for him for a long, long time and will forever respect him for what he’s done for the sport.”