What a difference a few months can make. Bowman has gone from being jobless in January to joining JR Motorsports for eight XFINITY races to becoming the interim driver for Dale Earnhardt Jr. for what will be 10 Sprint Cup Series events.
Kevin Harvick was a virtual non-factor at a track he's practically owned the deed to as of late, and not even a top-five finish was enough to transfer him to the championship race for the third straight year.
With one final championship berth on the line, it was only fitting that the race went into overtime and it was also fitting that late race calamity allowed Joey Logano to sneak his way into the Championship 4.
Alex Bowman had a dominant day in the Valley of the Sun from start to finish, but it wasn't enough for the native son to score his first series victory.
AVONDALE, Ariz. – It was just another routine Saturday at Phoenix International Raceway for Kyle Busch. But nothing else in the Ticket Galaxy 200 was at all ordinary. All the drama unfolded behind Busch, as eight drivers scrambled for four positions in the NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase’s Championship 4 Round at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Kyle Busch topped the chart in final Sprint Cup Series practice at Phoenix International Raceway. The driver of the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 26.401 and a speed of 136.358 mph.
Martin Truex Jr. topped the chart in second Sprint Cup Series practice at Phoenix International Raceway. The driver of the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota was the fastest in the second practice session with a time of 26.573 and a speed of 135.476 mph.
With Byron eliminated from championship contention, it is looking like GMS Racing driver Johnny Sauter, is now in prime position to hoist the championship trophy at Homestead.
When the engine in Byron’s No. 9 Toyota expired on Lap 141 of 150 – ending the championship run for the series’ most prolific winner this year – Kyle Busch Motorsports teammate Daniel Suarez took over the race lead and went on to score the first NCWTS victory of his career.
