NASCAR title-race field is set

Matt Kenseth is going away, but he’s not going quietly.

Kenseth won for the first time this year 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 exiting his Toyota.

Kenseth passed Chase Elliott with 10 laps left to win Sunday at Phoenix Raceway and deny Elliott the final berth in next weekend’s championship race.

Brad Keselowski earned the final spot in the championship on points because a playoff-eligible driver did not win the race. Keselowski will race Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick for the championship Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson wrecked early in the race, ending his bid to make the championship.