Kyle Busch

Joey Logano will be among those expected to cross the line first once the FanShield 500 gets underway at the Phoenix Raceway on Sunday. 

Logano finished first in the Pennzoil 400 in Las Vegas last month, while Alex Bowman's dominance of the Auto Club 400 in California on March 1 puts him in the mix, along with nine-time winner Kevin Harvick.

The final lineup still needs to be settled in qualifying on Saturday, but Chase Elliott and William Byron showed off their speed for Hendrick Motorsports during Friday's practice sessions.

        

Schedule

Qualifying

• Date: Saturday, March 7
• Time: 2:35 p.m. ET/7:35 p.m. GMT
• TV Info: Fox Sports 1
• Live Stream: Fox Sports App
• Lineup: NASCAR.com

      

Race

• Date: Sunday, March 8
• Time: 3:30 p.m. ET/10:30 a.m. GMT
• TV Info: Fox
• Live Stream: Fox Sports App
• Tickets: StubHub

        

Hendricks' chances of producing a winner are strong if performances during practice runs are anything to go by. Elliott set the fastest lap on Friday, easily putting the No. 9 Chevrolet through its paces, according to Chris Graythen of the NASCAR official website.

Graythen also noted how Byron caught the eye after leading the opening practice. All in all it was an impressive day for Hendrick, particularly given the quality of the competition.

Said quality is summed up by Kyle Busch clocking the second-fastest lap, per the report. The Joe Gibbs Racing man won in Phoenix a year ago and already looks capable of producing a repeat.

The first trip to @phoenixraceway in 2019:

@AlexBowman88: 💥 @chaseelliott: 🔄 @Blaney ⚔️ @KyleBusch pic.twitter.com/2iZVJ1OQ9w

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 6, 2020

Meanwhile, Bowman will hope to build on his efforts in California. The 26-year-old seized the initiative early in Fontana, staying on the front for 110 laps.

Busch and Bowman will vie for the early lead, while 2018 winner Harvick will likely look to strike late. He led for just 38 laps two years ago but still managed to beat Busch over the line.

Nine wins at @phoenixraceway? Yeah, he's a good pick to show you around.@KevinHarvick jumps in the sim for some laps around the Arizona track! pic.twitter.com/3jOaD6zNuY

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 7, 2020

Away from the race, Ryan Newman made a welcome appearance on the track less than three weeks after being involved in a crash at the Daytona 500.

Newman, who suffered head injuries after his car hit the wall following a collision also involving Ryan Blaney and Corey LaJoie, said, per Michelle R. Martinelli of USA Today Sports For The Win Racing: "It's great to be alive. After looking at my car, it's a miracle."

Newman will be watching to see if Elliott and Byron can carry their practice form into the race proper, or if Busch will again thrive on a track he loves.

Jimmie Johnson will be racing in SoCal for the final time when the 2020 Auto Club Speedway takes place on Sunday. Johnson will be vying for a first win this season, with Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano already having victories to their credit.

Logano was second behind eventual champion Kyle Busch in Fontana 12 months ago. Yet neither driver can compare with Johnson, with the 44-year-old "the only driver to win at Auto Club Speedway in his 20s, 30s and 40s," per Sean Montgomery of the the NASCAR official website.

Meanwhile, Montgomery also detailed how "Kevin Harvick holds the longest active streak of top-10 finishes on the West Coast with eight."

                 

Schedule

Qualifying

• Date: Saturday, February 29
• Time: 2:35 p.m. ET/7:35 p.m. ET
• TV Info: Fox Sports 1
• Live Stream: Fox Sports App

               

Race

• Date: Sunday, March 1
• Time: 3:30 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. GMT
• TV Info: Fox
• Live Stream: Fox Sport App
• Tickets: StubHub

            

The lineup isn't complete, but here's the entry list, per Nick Gray of The Tennessean:

• Quin Houff: No. 00 StarCom Racing Chevrolet
• Kurt Busch: No. 1 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
• Brad Keselowski: No. 2 Team Penske Ford
• Austin Dillon: No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
• Kevin Harvick: No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
• Ross Chastain: No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford
• Tyler Reddick: No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
• Chase Elliott: No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
• Aric Almirola: No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
• Denny Hamlin: No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
• Ryan Blaney: No. 12 Team Penske Ford
• Ty Dillon: No. 13 Germain Racing Chevrolet
• Clint Bowyer: No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
• Brennan Poole: No. 15 Premium Motorsports Chevrolet
• Chris Buescher: No. 17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford
• Kyle Busch: No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 
• Martin Truex Jr.: No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
• Erik Jones: No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
• Matt DiBenedetto: No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford
• Joey Logano: No. 22 Team Penske Ford
• William Byron: No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
• Corey LaJoie: No. 32 GO FAS Racing Ford
• Michael McDowell: No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford 
• Ryan Preece: No. 37 JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
• John Hunter Nemechek: No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford 
• Cole Custer: No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
• Kyle Larson: No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
• Bubba Wallace: No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet
• Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: No. 47 JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
• Jimmie Johnson: No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
• Garrett Smithley: No. 51 Petty Ware Racing Chevrolet
• J.J. Yeley: No. 52 Rick Ware Racing Ford
• Joey Gase: No. 53 Rick Ware Racing Ford
• Timmy Hill: No. 66 Motorsports Business Management Toyota
• Reed Sorenson: No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
• Alex Bowman: No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
• Christopher Bell: No. 95 Leavine Family Racing Toyota
• Daniel Suarez: No. 96 Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota

          

Logano won the Pennzoil 400 in Las Vegas last time out, and the Ford driver has a solid recent history at Auto Club Speedway. He has clocked a top-five finish in each of his past four appearances in the race, including coming in second in 2019.

Comfort on the track will be key, so Harvick can't be easily overlooked. The 44-year-old was fourth a year ago, and he was second to Johnson in 2016.

Johnson knows what it takes to dominate on this track, and he boasts "the all-time record for laps led (980), wins (six), top fives (13), top 10s (17) and average finish (7.6)," per Montgomery.

A fitting tribute to our seven time champion, @JimmieJohnson 🏆

We’re proud to unveil this mural from local artist Jonas Never to honor Jimmie’s legacy here at Auto Club Speedway #OneFinalTime | #AutoClub400 pic.twitter.com/81zQyc1rN8

— Next Gen CA (@NextGenCA) February 28, 2020

Finishing fifth in Las Vegas proved the seven-time champion is doing anything but going through the motions during his swansong. Expect Johnson to be in the thick of the battle to finish first.

His family has been invited to attend, and Johnson is already anticipating what could be a memorable day, per Motorsport.com's Jim Utter: "It would be insane. Home track, first win. You could just go down the list of meaningful talking points that could come out of it."

A win is also not out of reach for Kyle Busch, who has three victories at Fontana to his credit. However, the 34-year-old endured a tough time during the final practice session on Friday:

Final practice just became a little more interesting for @KyleBusch and his No. 18 crew as Rowdy brushes the wall at @ACSupdates. 👀 pic.twitter.com/sx58VHnukb

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 28, 2020

With so many past winners involved, a familiar face will cross the line first on Sunday. If sentiment prevails, Johnson will add his first race win since June 2017 to his awesome record.

Kyle Busch was placed in the pole position for Sunday's Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Nevada after qualifying was rained out Saturday, but he'll be moved to the rear of the field.

"I think we're one of those guys too," Busch told reporters about penalties for Toyota teams shortly before the grid was finalized. "Not sure. Rumors going around."

Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell were also punished:

NEWS: The No. 11, 18, and 95 teams have been issued L1 penalties at @LVMotorSpeedway.

Each team will lose 10 driver and owner points and will start at the rear of the field. pic.twitter.com/8SFyz9Osew

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 22, 2020

Here's a look at the starting lineup before any punishments were handed down by NASCAR:

NCS starting lineup: #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/a6po0gEBW1

— Brett Winningham (@NASCAR_BRETT) February 22, 2020

Any drivers who are forced to the back of the field will be scored based on those starting positions, even if they take the green flag from the final few rows.

Busch will not get credit for his first pole of the 2020 Cup Series season because qualifying didn't take place, per Bob Pockrass of Fox Sports.

The 34-year-old Las Vegas native has one win in 17 career starts at his home track. His average finish at LVMS (12.6) is tied for 11th among all the tracks he's competed on, per Racing Reference.

Ross Chastain is the week's other top story, as he'll take control of the No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing car while Ryan Newman recovers from injuries suffered in his scary crash during the final lap of the 2020 Daytona 500 on Monday night.

Newman was released from the hospital Wednesday, but neither he nor the team has provided a potential timetable for his return to racing.

Ryan Newman has been treated and released from Halifax Medical Center pic.twitter.com/J0twhGgQm7

— RFK Racing (@RFKracing) February 19, 2020

Chastain will start on Row 8 based on owners' points from the 2019 campaign.

"There is a lot of pressure, honestly," he told reporters. "But probably best for me is that I haven't had a whole lot of time to comprehend what is going on."

The green flag is scheduled to wave Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET in Las Vegas for the second event of the Cup Series season. The race will be nationally broadcast on Fox.  

Mother Nature had other plans for the start of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season.

The Daytona 500 was postponed Sunday and will resume Monday at 4 p.m. ET on Fox.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. started from the pole in his debut race with JTG Daugherty Racing, and he remains in first place with 20 laps completed. Stenhouse has yet to surrender the lead, so a history-making performance is at least on the table.

Calling it right now: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will lead every single lap.

— Jenna Fryer (@JennaFryer) February 16, 2020

While Stenhouse likely isn't going wire-to-wire should he get his first-ever win at Daytona, the oddsmakers like his chances of standing tall in Victory Lane. He's +900 at Bovada, odds only bettered by Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano (+800).

          

2020 Daytona 500 Odds

Denny Hamlin (+800)

Joey Logano (+800)

Kyle Busch (+900)

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (+900)

Kevin Harvick (+950)

Jimmie Johnson (+1000)

Brad Keselowski (+1200)

Chase Elliott (+1200)

Martin Truex Jr. (+1400)

Ryan Blaney (+1400)

         

Reigning series champion Kyle Busch has some work to do Monday. Busch started the race in 28th and slipped to 32nd prior to the weather delay.

Could be a long night, but I’ll be ready. @rowdyenergy #Daytona500 pic.twitter.com/4IJ2X5McZr

— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) February 16, 2020

He isn't the only prominent name hovering in the bottom half of the field. Martin Truex Jr. (31st), Hamlin (35th) and Clint Bowyer (36th) will all hope the time off can help them reset when the action resumes.

Obviously, nobody is going to hit the panic button with 180 laps still to run.

Many fans will be eager to see whether Jimmie Johnson's final season will have a storybook start. The seven-time champion confirmed in November he intends to retire following this season.

Nothing but respect for the 48.#OneFinalTime | @JimmieJohnson pic.twitter.com/EanNgY3GH7

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 16, 2020

Johnson is a two-time Daytona 500 winner, triumphing most recently in 2013. He's right in the thick of things at the moment in eighth place.

The timing of the weather delay was somewhat fortuitous in so much of the event is left to unfold. The standings will undergo numerous fluctuations Monday.

The Daytona 500 ushers in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series on Sunday, with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. on pole.

Reigning NASCAR champion Kyle Busch will be searching for his first victory at the Great American Race and will start No. 18 at the Daytona International Speedway in Florida.

Defending Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin is hunting a third race success, but the 39-year-old goes off at No. 21 in the middle of the pack.

              

Date: Sunday, Feb. 16

Time: 2:30 p.m. ET, 7:30 p.m. GMT

TV Schedule: Fox (USA), Premier Sports 1 (UK)

Live Stream: Fox Sports Go, Premier Player

Coverage begins on Fox at 11 a.m ET. A full weekend schedule can be found at the speedway's official website.

                 

Daytona 500 Starting Lineup

1. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

2. Alex Bowman

3. Joey Logano

4. William Byron

5. Aric Almirola

6. Jimmie Johnson

7. Ryan Newman

8. Kyle Larson

9. Brad Keselowski

10. Kevin Harvick

11. Darrell Wallace Jr.

12. Cole Custer

13. Austin Dillon

14. Erik Jones

15. Martin Truex Jr.

16. Matt DiBenedetto

17. Christopher Bell

18. Kurt Busch

19. Chris Buescher

20. Ross Chastain

21. Denny Hamlin

22. Tyler Reddick

23. John Hunter Nemechek

24. Ty Dillon

25. Chase Elliott

26. Michael McDowell

27. Ryan Blaney

28. Kyle Busch

29. Clint Bowyer

30. David Ragan

31. Ryan Preece

32. Timmy Hill

33. Justin Haley

34. Brennan Poole

35. Quin Houff

36. Corey LaJoie

37. Joey Gase

38. B.J. McLeod

39. Brendan Gaughan

40. Reed Sorenson

              

Who's excited?!? The 2020 #DAYTONA500 is only on FOX. pic.twitter.com/OsTjr3eF9N

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) January 18, 2020

Hamlin is the man to beat at the Daytona 500, with the Tampa-born racer victorious in two of the past four years.

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver placed fourth overall during the 2019 season while team-mate Busch earned the championship crown.

The younger of the Busch brothers reigned supreme last term, but he's often struggled at this marquee race during his career.

His best attempt at finally conquering the Daytona 500 came last season when he finished second to Hamlin after leading until the closing stages.

Jimmie Johnson features in his last Daytona 500 after the Californian announced he will retire from NASCAR at the end of the season. The seven-time Series champion will be remembered as a legend after years of NASCAR dominance, and he will be hoping for a third victory in this race from No. 6 on the grid.

The 44-year-old spoke about his last season in NASCAR:

'I'm fired up. We're in Daytona. It's time to go." pic.twitter.com/bu7fMA9mOA

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 14, 2020

Alex Bowman claimed a front-row start alongside pole Stenhouse, and both drivers will be looking to win the race for the first time in their careers.

Stenhouse's best finish was seventh in 2014, but he's struggled to achieve a strong position in the five races since.

However, the 32-year-old has swapped Roush Fenway Racing for JTG Daugherty Racing, and his new car has seen him rise to grab pole.

Bowman claimed the 2018 pole but finished 17th that year. He will be pushing hard for a better result during his fourth Daytona 500 visit.

Qualifying for the 2020 Daytona 500 starts to get serious on Thursday when the Bluegreen Vacations Duels decide the starting order ahead of the first race of this year's NASCAR Cup Series.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. recorded the fastest lap on Sunday to lock down pole position for this year's race, while Alex Bowman finished second-quickest to take outside pole.

Stenhouse finished seventh at the 2014 Daytona 500 and hopes to secure victory for his new team, JTG Daugherty Racing, while Hendrick Motorsports star Bowman is looking to finish in the top 10 for the first time.

Chase Elliott will line up on the front row of the first Duel grid, with Jimmie Johnson—a Hendrick team-mate and two-time winner of the Daytona 500—second in Duel 2. 

The Bluegreen Vacations Duel 1 is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, while the second instalment is set for 8:45 p.m. ET.

       

Duels Starting Grid

Duel 1

1. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 

2. Chase Elliott

3. Denny Hamlin

4. Aric Almirola

5. Christopher Bell

6. Joey Logano

7. Clint Bowyer

8. Ryan Newman 

9. Ryan Preece

10. Chris Buescher

11. Martin Truex Jr.

12. Brad Keselowski

13. John Hunter Nemechek

14. Ryan Blaney

15. Austin Dillon

16. Justin Haley

17. Bubba Wallace

18. Reed Sorenson

19. Daniel Suarez 

20. Quin Houff

21. Chad Finchum

22. Joey Gase

           

Duel 2

1. Alex Bowman 

2. Jimmie Johnson

3. Kyle Busch

4. William Byron 

5. Erik Jones

6. Kevin Harvick 

7. Cole Custer

8. Matt DiBenedetto

9. Tyler Reddick

10. Kyle Larson

11. Kurt Busch 

12. Michael McDowell

13. David Ragan

14. Ross Chastain

15. Ty Dillon

16. Brendan Gaughan

17. Timmy Hill

18. Corey Lajoie

19. JJ Yelev

20. Brennan Poole

21. BJ McLeod 

        

Drivers will venture out on a pair of 150-mile races on Thursday to determine the full starting lineup at Daytona International Speedway, with a mix of new faces in among more established names.

One of those emerging stars looking to make a statement is Erik Jones of Joe Gibbs Racing, who won a chaotic 2020 Busch Clash to attract some early attention as a possible contender in Daytona, Florida:

So much carnage. Relive every crash from the 2020 #BuschClash. pic.twitter.com/shdEqEaZxw

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 9, 2020

Five stoppages were called in an invitational exhibition race finished by only six of the 18 cars that started it, and Jones' crumpled front end served as testament to the level of ferocious competition:

This car was absolutely destroyed, but that didn't stop @Erik_Jones from driving it to the win at @DISUpdates.#BuschClash // #NASCAR // @NASCARonNBC pic.twitter.com/uoGSDy1gXi

— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) February 9, 2020

Jones, 23, moved to Joe Gibbs for the 2018 season and finished third in the Daytona 500 the following year. He will be looking to continue that development and win the whole thing in 2020.

He'll have to wrest the title from a Joe Gibbs team-mate in Denny Hamlin if he is to come out on top, although the champion will be a tough figure to beat after winning two of the past four Daytona 500 races.

Hamlin, 39, has finished fourth or higher in six of the past eight Daytona 500 races and claimed his second crown with clear daylight between him and the field last year:

He'll start No. 3 in Duel 1 and has every chance of tying up an advantageous grid position ahead of Sunday, although the veteran has shown in the past he has the tenacity to contend from further back if necessary.

Kurt Busch and Austin Dillon were the other drivers who won Daytona titles between Hamlin's triumphs—2017 and 2018, respectively—while Johnson is the other multiple-time winner in the Duels field.

Elliott's father, Bill, started on pole four times at the Daytona 500 during his career and won twice, an honour Chase will be hoping to match in his budding career.

The 24-year-old took pole for Hendrick in each of his first two runnings at Daytona, and though he won't reclaim top spot on the grid in 2020, a fine performance in Duel 1 could ease his task come Sunday. 

The 2020 NASCAR Cup Series will kick off with the Daytona 500, with front-row qualifying for the race taking place on Sunday.

All 43 drivers on the entry list will take part in Sunday's qualifying session, but only pole position and second place on the starting grid will be locked down.

                    

NASCAR Cup Series Daytona Schedule

Sunday, February 9

Daytona 500 Qualifying, 12:30 p.m. ET, Fox

Busch Clash, 3 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

             

Thursday, February 13

Bluegreen Vacations Duel 1, 7 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

Bluegreen Vacations Duel 2, 8:45 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

          

Sunday, February 16

Daytona 500, 2:30 p.m. ET, Fox

              

Qualifying Format

On Sunday, each entrant will record a timed qualifying lap on the 2.5-mile track at the Daytona International Speedway, with the two quickest drivers securing their place on the front row for the race.

The remainder of the field will then compete in the 60-lap, 150-mile Bluegreen Vacations Duels on Thursday to lock in their spots.

The drivers will be split into the two races based on the results of Sunday's qualifying session—those who finish in odd positions will battle it out in Duel 1, and those who finish in even positions face off in Duel 2.

How they finish in the Duels will determine their places in the final grid, with the winners of the Duels comprising the second row. The drivers of Duel 1 will line up on the inside row, and the drivers of Duel 2 will line up on the outside (in the odd- and even-numbered starting positions, respectively).

All 36 drivers for chartered teams are guaranteed places in the Daytona 500, leaving four slots to be taken by the seven Open Teams. Competing for those berths are Justin Haley, Reed Sorenson, Chad Finchum, J.J. Yeley, Brendan Gaughan, Timmy Hill and Daniel Suarez.

                  

Rule Changes

NASCAR has altered the stage lengths for a number of races this year, with the Daytona 500 included, per Fox Sports' Bob Pockrass:

Stage lengths for Cup in 2020 (highlighted are changes) #nascar ⁦@NASCARONFOX⁩ pic.twitter.com/KT147PNWgj

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) February 5, 2020

The lengths were changed to make final stages shorter, so teams only need one green-flag pit stop instead of two.

At the Daytona 500 last year, the first two stages were 60 laps and the final was 80. This year, they will be 65 laps apiece and then 70 in the last stage.

NASCAR has also introduced a reduced-downforce package on shorter oval circuits and road courses, which will include much smaller rear spoilers, a smaller overhang of the front splitter and the removal of vertical fencing from the radiator pan. The Daytona International Speedway will not be among the circuits affected.

Pockrass also noticed another alteration to the rules:

Interesting ... NASCAR added wording in rule book to allow a driver change under damaged vehicle policy as long as change is done within the six-minute clock (and the change is approved by the series director). ... Would be hard to find someone in 6 minutes but guess possible.

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) February 5, 2020

                    

Latest Buzz

Ty Dillon went quickest in Saturday's first practice session, clocking a speed of 203.592 miles per hour ahead of Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and defending Daytona 500 champion Denny Hamlin.

The second session was topped by Bubba Wallace and his top speed of 196.172 mph. Brad Keselowski was unable to take part in the second session after he hit a fence post leaving the garage:

Trouble for Brad Keselowski in practice.

Check out this fan video from Daniel Dye as the No. 2 car hit a fence exiting the garage area. pic.twitter.com/5Dkcq32xgC

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) February 8, 2020

He took responsibility for the mistake:

Brad Keselowski takes the blame for a mistake during Saturday's Daytona 500 practice. pic.twitter.com/dzDH1RnpQk

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) February 9, 2020

Reigning Cup Series champion Kyle Busch finished seventh in the first session and 14th in the second.

It turns out the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship was the second-most prestigious title Kyle Busch claimed in 2019.

Busch and two-time Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip had ringside seats for Raw on Monday night at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. They became part of the show when 24/7 champion R-Truth sought refuge from a group of would-be challengers.

Unfortunately for Truth, he didn't expect Busch to have eyes for the belt too.

NEW 24/7 CHAMPION! The 2019 #NASCAR Cup Champion @KyleBusch has just won the #247Championship on #RAW! pic.twitter.com/SiLmcUi0YT

— WWE (@WWE) December 3, 2019

Walking into #ChampionsWeek like.... @WWE #RAW pic.twitter.com/hJFhhI1TKZ

— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) December 3, 2019

The reigning NASCAR champion even has battle scars to show for his victory.

Oh man guys it’s getting serious 👩‍⚕️ 🚑 👨‍⚕️ 💉Rowdy Busch the professional wrestler pic.twitter.com/4ii4nO5YgW

— Samantha Busch (@SamanthaBusch) December 3, 2019

Heavy is the head that wears the crown, so Busch better be aware at all times.

Mike Kanellis pinned his wife Maria at an ob-gyn office to recapture the championship, only to immediately drop it to R-Truth. There are few lengths wrestlers won't go in order to hold the 24/7 title.

Kyle Busch won his second Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship after taking down the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida.

Hold it up high, @KyleBusch!

YOU ARE THE 2019 CHAMPION! pic.twitter.com/cYYfzIgIeI

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) November 17, 2019

Busch, who also won in 2015, made the Championship 4 for the second straight season. He took fourth last year but emerged as the champion in 2019 after holding off Martin Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin.

The 34-year-old drives for Joe Gibbs Racing, which also employs Truex, Hamlin and Erik Jones. Truex won the championship in 2017 and finished second this year. Hamlin took fourth, and Jones rounded out the playoff field.

NASCAR on NBC provided more details:

.@JoeGibbsRacing's 19 wins in 2019 are the most wins by a @NASCAR Cup Series team in the modern era!

They saved their biggest win for last. pic.twitter.com/WCymG7SXiu

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) November 18, 2019

Here's a look at the final Monster Energy Cup Series standings, with a focus on the 16 playoff competitors.

      

2019 Monster Energy Cup Series Standings (Top 16)

1. Kyle Busch

2. Martin Truex Jr.

3. Kevin Harvick

4. Denny Hamlin

5. Joey Logano

6. Ryan Blaney

7. Kyle Larson

8. Brad Keselowski

9. Clint Bowyer

10. Chase Elliott

11. William Byron

12. Alex Bowman

13. Kurt Busch

14. Aric Almirola

15. Ryan Newman

16. Erik Jones

Standings via NASCAR.com

     

Busch Caps Excellent Year

Busch's win at Homestead capped off an excellent year with five wins, including three in his first eight races. Back-to-back wins at the TicketGuardian 500 and Auto Club 400 got his season off to a great start, and he also took down the Food City 500 and Pocono 400.

Busch earned five second-place finishes, including one at the Daytona 500.

The playoff season didn't start particularly well for Busch, as he finished 19th at the South Point 400. Two races later, he took 37th at the Bank of America Royal 400.

But Busch was largely excellent from that point forward, finishing in the top seven in five of his last seven races. A second-place result at the Bluegreen Vacations 500 preceded the Homestead win.

As NASCAR on NBC pointed out, the 2019 championship win featured some eerie similarities to the 2015 one:

.@KyleBusch picked the right time to end a winless streak... TWICE.

Check out the similarities between his 2015 championship and this year's championship! #Championship4 pic.twitter.com/GyXBtALOtl

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) November 18, 2019

In the end, Busch emerged as the season's best driver, leading to a few spirited celebrations:

Kyle Busch, two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion. pic.twitter.com/Ira9RXwdGu

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) November 17, 2019

Champagne time for the #NASCAR champs. Goggles required. pic.twitter.com/DQZlDWaWej

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) November 18, 2019

The 2020 NASCAR season will begin with the Daytona 500 on February 16.

Kyle Busch earned his second Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship with a victory Sunday in the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida.

Busch led 120 of the 267 laps and edged out fellow playoff challenger Martin Truex Jr. for the title. Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin—the two other championship four drivers—placed fourth and 10th, respectively.

CHECKERED FLAG: @KyleBusch wins at @HomesteadMiami and captures his second Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship!

Results: https://t.co/YP3A09CdWu pic.twitter.com/QP5R2Nhxge

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) November 17, 2019

Ford EcoBoost 400

1. Kyle Busch

2. Martin Truex Jr.

3. Erik Jones

4. Kevin Harvick

5. Joey Logano

6. Clint Bowyer

7. Ryan Newman

8. Austin Dillon

9. Alex Bowman

10. Denny Hamlin

Busch cruised to the finish line a little over four seconds ahead of Truex.

How does two-time @NASCAR Cup Series champion sound, @KyleBusch?

The @ToyotaRacing driver WINS at Miami to win the title! pic.twitter.com/LCAnHSBwKs

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) November 17, 2019

He savored his post-race celebration, which included taking his son around for a victory lap.

Hold it up high, @KyleBusch!

YOU ARE THE 2019 CHAMPION! pic.twitter.com/cYYfzIgIeI

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) November 17, 2019

How cool is this!?@KyleBusch won the @NASCAR championship, and took his son Brexton for a victory lap around @HomesteadMiami Speedway! #KidsDriveNASCAR // @NASCARonNBC pic.twitter.com/Ai3K0Fl07H

— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) November 17, 2019

🏆 pic.twitter.com/DlqQa73aHH

— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) November 17, 2019

Racing fans couldn't have asked for much more as Busch, Harvick, Truex and Hamlin occupied the top four spots heading into the final stage.

Truex was the Stage 1 winner and led 103 laps on the day. Midway through Stage 2, however, Truex's pit crew committed a serious mistake. The team placed each of his front tires on the wrong side, which required a costly return to pit road.

Disaster for Martin Truex Jr.!

The team switched tires on pit road, switching the right front and left front! He's now one lap down. #Championship4 pic.twitter.com/boW061Gvlk

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) November 17, 2019

The No. 19 car quickly went a lap down but encountered some good luck when John Hunter Nemechek spun just enough to bring a caution on the 136th lap. That allowed Truex a free pass back on the lead lap, and he quickly worked his way back into contention.

Busch, who largely went unchallenged over the second half of the race, effectively prevailed in what was a war of attrition.

With a little more than 50 laps remaining, Truex opted to remain out on the track as his fellow championship drivers went for pit stops.

Although that approach allowed Truex to briefly enjoy the lead, he still had to pit eventually. By the time he completed his stop and returned to the track, he fell a lap behind Harvick and lost a lot of ground on Busch.

There are 50 laps to go. Kevin Harvick staying out for now. But behind him, Kyle Busch is ahead of Denny Hamlin and WAAY ahead of Martin Truex Jr. (by 13 seconds!).

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) November 17, 2019

Shortly after that, Hamlin's car began overheating due to a large piece of tape his crew had placed on the grill. The No. 11 car resembled a steam engine as it reached its pit stall.

Look at all that water spewing out of @DennyHamlin's car.

He was experiencing overheating issues and had to pit. Heartbreak for the No. 11 team. #Championship4 pic.twitter.com/yuloDk2PIQ

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) November 17, 2019

Hamlin won the Bluegreen Vacations 500 last week to qualify for the championship four. His quest for a first points title simply wasn't to be, however.

"It's disappointing but all you can ask for is a chance," Hamlin said in his post-race interview, per PRN. "[Crew chief Chris Gabehart] is aggressive, and he tried to give me all the speed he could there and it was too much tape. We were gonna blow up...This thing woke up, I was really excited about our prospects but it got so hot."

Harvick was the last domino to fall. The No. 4 car appeared to be counting on a caution to allow him make his final pit stop without dropping back in the field. The strategy backfired as the third stage went uninterrupted for the most part.

With 44 laps remaining, Harvick made his way toward pit road.

Kevin Harvick comes down on 223/267

You see championships slipping out of a lot of hands barring another caution right now

— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) November 17, 2019

Kevin Harvick is flying but he's 23 seconds back with just 20 laps to go. Without a yellow, it probably won't be enough. #FordEcoBoost400 | #NASCARPlayoffs

— PRN (@PRNlive) November 17, 2019

A caution could've added some late drama, but the result was straightforward.

With the curtain closed on the 2019 season, the focus shifts to 2020. The new year will open Feb. 16 with the Daytona 500.

As much as he has achieved in NASCAR, a checkered flag in the Daytona 500 has eluded Busch. He was the runner-up to Hamlin to open 2019.

A win at Daytona International Speedway would be the perfect way for Busch to get his title defense started.