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The four NASC contenders Joey Logano, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr. and Kevin Harvick (left to right) answered questions from reporters Thursday in Miami Beach, Florida.(Photo: Chris Trotman, Getty Images)
HOMESTEAD, Florida – The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will crown its 2018 champion on Sunday.
Martin Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch each seek their second title. Joey Logano, the other driver of the Championship 4, will be looking for his first.
There is no moat in this group. These drivers rank among the top four of the season in terms of average finish, laps and top five. And they have all been in the last four before.
ONE J. Perez and Michelle R. Martinelli analyze the perspectives of each competitor in front of Sunday's Ford EcoBoost 400 on the Homestead-Miami Speedway circuit (2:30 pm, New York time, NBC):
Martin Truex Jr.
Starting position: 3rd
Victories in 2018: 4
Career Cup wins: 19
Best ranking: First (2017)
Best finish at Homestead: First (2017)
Why Truex will win the title: A win will not change the fact that Sunday will mark the last race of Furniture Row Racing, the team doing the shutter operations. Team Toyota # 78 showed that it could handle its emotions even though last year's race and the championship of the series came when team owner Barney Visser was back of a heart attack.
"If we can do exactly what we did last year, that would be good," Truex said.
Why he is not going: Truex played in the final of last year with seven wins and clinched his place in the championship 4, a race earlier this year. Truex's last victory took place at the Kentucky Speedway in July, the 19th race of the season. So he is not playing such an important role this time around.
Kyle Busch
Starting position: 2nd
Victories in 2018: 8
Career Cup wins: 51
Best ranking: First (2015)
Best finish at Homestead: First (2015)
Why Busch will win the title: Busch qualified second, just behind Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin. Team # 18 Toyota has at least managed to qualify. He also enters with the highest number of Championship wins (two) in the Championship 4 and has been the season's regular season champion. Perhaps just as importantly, his pit crew has been among the fastest in NASCAR in recent years, which has allowed him to land on the track again and again.
"First and foremost, you need to have a fast racing car," said Busch, who was overtaken last year by Truex at Homestead. "Last year, we were the fastest car. The fastest cars do not always win the race. You must have other things as you wish. It's a lot easier and your job is much more calculated if you have this fast car. "
Why he is not going: Busch has the worst average result at Homestead among the last four drivers (18.5 in 13 starts).
Kevin Harvick
Starting position: 12th
Victories in 2018: 8
Career Cup wins: 45
Best finish in the ranking: First (2014)
Best finish at Homestead: First (2014)
Why Harvick will win the title: The No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford was the fastest car of the season: it is tied for the most wins, is the most efficient smuggler among the last four and has led nearly 20% of the total number of laps of the season. He has shown repeatedly that he can make his way to the head after leaving the back of the pack. Therefore, having the lowest starting position among competitors does not mean much. Harvick's talent is evident as a permanent champion contender, and the chemistry of his team propels him to that point and will help him win his second championship title.
"(Our team) has been together for five years now and we all work for a large organization that gives us all the resources and everything we need to be competitive," said Harvick. "In the end, you can not drive a slow car fast and it takes great people to build a fast car."
Why he is not going: Although the chemistry of the team is the key, she will have to win without the team leader Rodney Childers, suspended for two races by NASCAR after a major penalty two weeks ago at Texas Motor Speedway. The team's success this season is due to his strategy as well as Harvick's driving. Having the assistant team leader, Tony Gibson, really disadvantages this team when everyone is complete.
Joey Logano
Starting position: 5th
Victories in 2018: 2
Career Cup wins: 20
Best finish in the ranking: Second (2016)
Best finish at Homestead: Fourth (2015, 2016)
Why Logano will win the title: From the speed of the Penske Ford # 22 to the Logano race, this team has finally found its rhythm. Five of Logano's top-five finishes this season took place in the previous nine races, and he loves the idea of becoming a stranger to the Big Three. In addition, since the team qualified for the Martinsville Speedway championship race three weeks ago, they had even more time to perfect a car that won the title.
"Our cars have been good, our pit crews have been spectacular, the pilot has played his role and I think we are well positioned to do that," Logano said. "We had a few weeks to think about this race, and only this race, and it's a great advantage to have."
Why he is not going: The success of Logano has been sporadic this season with waves of beautiful, mediocre finishes, and the Big Three have that nickname because they are the ones to beat each week with their own unmatched speed. During the regular season, Logano said all other players had to be perfect to beat the top three drivers, while still making small mistakes and continuing to win. Homestead will not be different.
Championship choice
UN J. Perez: Busch.
The hometown of Busch, Las Vegas, has it even with Harvick as a favorite. Unlike Harvick, Busch will have his team leader (Adam Stevens). Thanks to the qualifying efforts and the top crew of the stands, Busch will get this second title.
Michelle R. Martinelli: Harvick.
In March, it was clear that Harvick was the car to beat this season, which is especially true with a title in play. After his eight career wins this season and his 22 top 5, it would be a disappointing end to entrust this trophy. to someone other than Harvick. But he will not let that happen.
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