Zoo vulture picks Busch to win NASCAR title
With anticipation building for a wild scramble for NASCAR’s Monster Energy Series title Sunday, it was only natural to call on the Wildlife Prognosticator at Zoo Miami.
The verdict is in: Peanut, the only white-rumped vulture in the United States, gave the nod Tuesday to Kyle Busch in the Championship 4 dash for the series title over Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr. and Brad Keselowski in the Ford EcoBoost 400.
Peanut, a 31-year-old vulture, put his beak on the No. 18 of Busch’s Toyota Camry.
Busch won his first series title in 2015 at Homestead, a year after Harvick prevailed in the first running of the Championship 4 format for his only championship of NASCAR’s top series.
Koda, a 4-year-old cheetah at Zoo Miami, served as Wildlife Prognosticator the past two years and was off the mark both times.
Koda picked Harvick in 2015, a year late. Last year, Koda went with Carl Edwards, who was dueling for the championship with Joey Logano before the two crashed out of the race with 10 laps to go, opening the path for Jimmie Johnson to take the title.
The first Championship 4 driver to cross the finish line after 267 laps Sunday will be crowned the 2017 Monster Energy Series champion.
“For decades, South Florida has been synonymous with championship events, and this weekend fans will be treated to three more championship coronations from Friday to Sunday,” said Homestead-Miami Speedway President Matthew Becherer. “Ford Championship Weekend this year is filled with remarkable narratives from each of NASCAR’s three national series that will set the stage for what will be an amazing weekend.”