Kevin Harvick

Joey Logano prevailed in overtime at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday afternoon.

The No. 22 car led for 60 laps and held off Kevin Harvick down the stretch in overtime. It was a sour case of deja vu for Harvick, who had also finished in second place behind Chase Elliott for the pole during Saturday's qualifying.

Think he's got this burnout thing down? @joeylogano | @Team_Penske pic.twitter.com/alz82Ia6nA

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 8, 2020

"I'm out of breath!" 😂@joeylogano left it all on the track to get the win today at @phoenixraceway! pic.twitter.com/cB7Ylyu8BM

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 8, 2020

Harvick can feel good about being the only driver with a top-10 finish in every Cup Series race through the season's first four races, though.

The caution flag waved with three laps to go thanks to John Hunter Nemechek and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., pushing the race into overtime. NASCAR's overtime consists of a two-lap shootout.

We're going to overtime. pic.twitter.com/HHrwsqYd9e

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 8, 2020

Logano also earned the checkered flag at the Pennzoil 400 in Las Vegas—his second straight year winning that event—on Feb. 23. The Team Penske driver entered the FanShield 500 ranked second behind Ryan Blaney in 2020 Cup Series points.

Logano has already matched his win total from all of last year.

.@joeylogano is the 35th driver in NASCAR Cup Series history with 25 career wins. Only 4 got there before turning 30.

- Jeff Gordon (25 yrs old)
- Richard Petty (26)
- Kyle Busch (27)
- Joey Logano (29)

— Matt Willis (@WillisOnNASCAR) March 8, 2020

     

FanShield 500 Top 10 Finishers

1. Joey Logano

2. Kevin Harvick

3. Kyle Busch

4. Kyle Larson

5. Clint Bowyer

6. Kurt Busch

7. Chase Elliott

8. Aric Almirola

9. Cole Custer

10. William Byron

Full FanShield 500 results and Cup Series leaderboard available at NASCAR.com.

     

Elliott led for a race-high 93 laps. The Hendrick Motorsports No. 9 car finished in seventh place to follow up his fourth-place result at the Auto Club 400 last weekend.

There will be several drivers leaving Phoenix much more disappointed than the 24-year-old.

Blaney's day ended during the 64th lap when his Team Penske No. 12 car collided with Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski:

That's ... not good. 😣@dennyhamlin, @keselowski and @Blaney's days at @phoenixraceway just got bad in a hurry. pic.twitter.com/qgryM0CJk0

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 8, 2020

Points leader Ryan Blaney’s day is done.

Hamlin and Keselowski got together on the restart. pic.twitter.com/V41LSDxF8p

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

Ryan Blaney describes being an innocent bystander in an early accident that knocked him out of the race. pic.twitter.com/x7UAkdz0uf

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) March 8, 2020

Harvick won Stage 1—his first-ever stage win at Phoenix—while Keselowski rebounded from the crash to capture Stage 2:

Kevin Harvick wins Stage 1. @CocaColaRacing's Joey Logano is P3. pic.twitter.com/cGEjNROscl

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 8, 2020

From (see picture 1), to (see picture 2). @keselowski takes Stage 2 in the #FanShield500 at @phoenixraceway! pic.twitter.com/MhHEBGKpjy

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 8, 2020

Kevin Harvick wins Stage 1 at Phoenix. Playoff point for him.

Others getting stage points:

2. Elliott
3. Logano
4. DiBenedetto
5. KyBusch
6. Bowman
7. Truex (after starting last)
8. Almirola
9. Reddick (rookie!)
10. Jones

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) March 8, 2020

So Brad Keselowski wins Stage 2 and gets a playoff point.

Others getting stage points:

2. Harvick
3. Truex
4. Reddick
5. KyBusch
6. Almirola
7. Logano
8. Bowyer
9. Larson
10. Custer (first stage point of career, I think)

Elliott gets free pass, back on the lead lap.

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) March 8, 2020

Keselowski, who led for 82 laps, was far from pleased to only claim a stage victory:

Fast car, caught every bad break possible. Rebounded to win a stage and had a shot to win till all the yellows at the end came out at the wrong time for us.

Sounds like another Phoenix race weekend for me. Currently checking my bus for rattle snakes because I am snake bit here.

— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) March 8, 2020

Rookie Tyler Reddick started the race in 29th but finished Stage 2 in fourth place. The 24-year-old was at one point in second place and primed to challenge for the checkered flag until he crashed into the wall to end his run with 47 laps to go in regulation:

Tyler Reddick into the wall. The No. 8 team had a great run today. pic.twitter.com/XDyfIRrGgl

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 8, 2020

Tyler Reddick after he slams the wall: "Just can't get it to refire."

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) March 8, 2020

Reddick blamed his 33rd-place finish on a "rookie mistake" during the broadcast, but Martin Truex Jr., who had to start from the rear because of an engine change, blamed his race-ending wreck on Aric Almirola:

The intensity ramps up on restarts. pic.twitter.com/XMkyuMiX8v

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 8, 2020

"I just got run over." - Martin Truex Jr. pic.twitter.com/nLKwxNiGSy

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 8, 2020

Almirola took the blame for a mistake that caused Truex wreck. Will post audio in a little bit. Said they had run well around each other all day. #nascar @NASCARONFOX

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) March 8, 2020

There was reason for everybody to feel good, however, as Ryan Newman was present at the track. Newman suffered head injuries during a violent crash in the Daytona 500's final lap and was subsequently hospitalized. Ross Chastain has taken over Newman's Roush Fenway Racing No. 6 car, and Newman was a member of Chastain's in-race crew:

"It's great to be alive."- @RyanJNewman at Phoenix

(Video via @bobpockrass) pic.twitter.com/bTwH8ZapiM

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 6, 2020

Great to have this guy back at the track this weekend! pic.twitter.com/ZY0lW1omLs

— RFK Racing (@RFKracing) March 8, 2020

Chastain placed 23rd, but as he said prior to the race, his main concern is getting Newman back in the No. 6:

Ross Chastain describes what he’s learning from Ryan Newman and how anxious Newman is to get back in the driver’s seat: pic.twitter.com/ZxRy98qC5O

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) March 8, 2020

Chastain's result is more along the lines of how country music star Blake Shelton jokingly predicted Clint Bowyer, who placed fifth, would fare:

😂 @blakeshelton is at @phoenixraceway has some "words of encouragement" for his friend @clintbowyer. pic.twitter.com/t3sa8IR2Gb

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 8, 2020

All told, nobody will arrive at Atlanta Motor Speedway for next Sunday's Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 feeling better than Logano.

Chase Elliott captured the ninth pole of his young NASCAR Cup Series career Saturday at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona.

Elliott completed his lap in 26.065 seconds to knock Kevin Harvick to the outside of Row 1 for Sunday's FanShield 500. Here is a look at the full qualifying order courtesy of NASCAR.com (time in seconds):

1. Chase Elliott: 26.065
2. Kevin Harvick: 26.110
3. Denny Hamlin: 26.117
4. Kyle Larson: 26.162
5. Ryan Blaney: 26.190
6. Aric Almirola: 26.190
7. Kurt Busch: 26.197
8. Alex Bowman: 26.216
9. Matt DiBenedetto: 26.222
10. Kyle Busch: 26.230
11. Erik Jones: 26.257
12. Martin Truex Jr.: 26.278
13. Joey Logano: 26.287
14. Brad Keselowski: 26.289
15. Christopher Bell: 26.295
16. Cole Custer: 26.339
17. William Byron: 26.364
18. Clint Bowyer: 26.388
19. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: 26.448
20. Ryan Preece: 26.449
21. Jimmie Johnson: 26.481
22. Michael McDowell: 26.502
23. Chris Buescher: 26.512
24. Ross Chastain: 26.527
25. Ty Dillon: 26.528
26. John Hunter Nemechek: 26.541
27. Bubba Wallace: 26.635
28. Corey LaJoie: 26.668
29. Tyler Reddick: 26.693
30. Austin Dillon: 26.772
31. Daniel Suarez: 26.873
32. Brennan Poole: 26.909
33. JJ Yeley: 27.169
34. Quin Houff: 27.211
35. Reed Sorenson: 27.395
36. Garrett Smithley: 27.464
37. Joey Gase: 27.533
38. Timmy Hill: 27.584

Elliott's qualifying run came late in the session, and he turned in a highly impressive lap to ensure his spot on Row 1:

.@chaseelliott fans ... rejoice!

The No. 9 goes to the top in #BuschPole qualifying. pic.twitter.com/ukh7cafu3f

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 7, 2020

After securing the pole, Elliott had the following to say about his performance and the quality of his No. 9 Chevrolet:

"It's always a good thing when you can put down a fast lap."@chaseelliott | #BuschPole pic.twitter.com/SA4tB6EWy5

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 7, 2020

Elliott, Harvick and Denny Hamlin were far and away the best cars during Saturday's qualifying round, but there were some surprisingly strong runs from lesser-known drivers such as Matt DiBenedetto (ninth), Christopher Bell (15th) and Cole Custer (16th).

Austin Dillon qualified 30th, but the result could have been far worse for the No. 3 team, as he locked his tires and narrowly avoided a wreck:

Definitely locked up the tires there. 😬@austindillon3 | #BuschPole pic.twitter.com/qc98e6LJlz

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 7, 2020

Martin Truex Jr. technically qualified 12th, but he will start from the back of the field Sunday because of an engine change. This marks the second consecutive week Truex has started from the rear, as he was forced to do so last week at California after his car failed pre-qualifying inspection three times.

Among the drivers competing in Sunday's race, Harvick is undoubtedly the man to beat despite getting nipped by Elliott for the pole.

Harvick leads all active drivers with nine career wins and an average finish of 9.2 at Phoenix. Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch and Hamlin are the other drivers competing Sunday who have won at least twice at Phoenix.

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.

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. 

With rain forcing the cancellation of two practice sessions Friday, the scheduled NASCAR Cup Series qualifying Saturday at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida, was canceled in favor of a final practice.

As a result, the field for Sunday's Ford EcoBoost 400 will be set by owner points, meaning championship contenders Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch will start first through fourth, respectively.

Here is a full rundown of the lineup, courtesy of NASCAR.com:

1. Denny Hamlin
2. Kevin Harvick
3. Martin Truex Jr.
4. Kyle Busch
5. Joey Logano
6. Kyle Larson
7. Ryan Blaney
8. Brad Keselowski
9. William Byron
10. Clint Bowyer
11. Chase Elliott
12. Alex Bowman
13. Kurt Busch
14. Aric Almirola
15. Ryan Newman
16. Erik Jones
17. Daniel Suarez
18. Jimmie Johnson
19. Paul Menard
20. Chris Buescher
21. Matt DiBenedetto
22. Austin Dillon
23. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
24. Ty Dillon
25. Daniel Hemric
26. Ryan Preece
27. Bubba Wallace
28. Michael McDowell
29. Corey LaJoie
30. John H. Nemechek
31. David Ragan
32. Joe Nemechek
33. Landon Cassill
34. J.J. Yeley
35. Reed Sorenson
36. Ross Chastain
37. Drew Herring
38. Josh Bilicki
39. BJ McLeod
40. Timmy Hill

Sunday's race is the season finale, meaning the highest finisher between Hamlin, Harvick, Truex and Busch will win the 2019 points championship.

Over the past five years, Harvick, Truex and Busch have each won their first career championship. Hamlin is the only remaining contender who hasn't won a points title, but he has the advantage of starting on the pole Sunday.

Also, Hamlin won last week's race at Phoenix and has won two of the past four races overall, which means he has the hot hand.

Among the four championship contenders, Hamlin has two career wins at Homestead, while Harvick, Truex and Busch each have one. In terms of average finish, Harvick is tops at 6.6, followed by Hamlin (10.6), Truex (10.8) and Busch (17.4).

The stats point to a championship race that should come down to the wire with all four participants having a legitimate chance to win.

The 2019 NASCAR season comes down to one final race, with four drivers vying for the title at Homestead in Miami in the Ford EcoBoost 400 on Sunday.

Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch will take the top four spots on the grid after qualifying was canceled because of the weather. Truex, Busch or Harvick could join Jimmie Johnson as one of the only two active drivers with multiple championships, while Hamlin could finally land his long overdue maiden title.

Whoever crosses the finish line first out of these four will end the year on top. It's the sixth time the Cup championship race has been held under the elimination playoff format, and in the previous five editions, the championship winner also won the race, per NBC Sports' Daniel McFadin.

Here is all you need to know ahead of Sunday's race.

                 

Schedule

• Date: Sunday, November 17

• Time: 3 p.m. ET/8 p.m. GMT

• TV Info: NBC

• Live Stream: NBC Sports App

• Tickets: StubHub

         

Bleacher Report has an affiliate marketing relationship with StubHub. We will receive revenue from your purchase.

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This will be the last year Homestead holds the championship weekend, a tradition that has existed since 2002, before the event moves to Phoenix in 2020. Rain has already affected this final edition greatly, forcing NASCAR to cancel qualifying altogether, per The Athletic's Jeff Gluck:

NASCAR announces it has *canceled* qualifying tomorrow and replaced it with a 50-minute practice session.

Lineup for championship race will be set by owner points, which makes the Championship 4 roll off 1-2-3-4.

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) November 16, 2019

Here’s a look at the leaders in owner points, which becomes the starting lineup for Homestead championship race. pic.twitter.com/Rp43yA8xPK

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) November 16, 2019

Fox Sports' Bob Pockrass shared the starting lineup for Sunday's race:

Starting lineup by owner points for Cup: #nascar pic.twitter.com/DeSk0rhsaT

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) November 16, 2019

Hamlin―who will celebrate his birthday on Monday―will start from pole position. He's the only championship contender gunning for his first title and is coming off a big win in Phoenix, building plenty of momentum for Sunday's race.

A two-time winner at Homestead, Hamlin has enjoyed more success at the track than any of his rivals, who have one win apiece there.

Truex has been the form driver in the playoffs, with an impressive three wins this postseason. He has finished inside the top seven in all but one playoff race and also had more wins than any of his direct opponents in the regular season, with seven.

The Fox Sports crew likes his chances to win the title but named Harvick the favourite:

Harvick and his Stewart-Haas Racing Ford will be up against three Toyota cars from Joe Gibbs Racing. The 43-year-old has won four of the past 16 races.

Busch has no win in his past 21 outings, but he took second place in Phoenix and may just have found his best form at the right time.

Per NBC Sport's Nate Ryan, the stats show these four drivers are incredibly evenly matched, explaining why oddsmakers are having trouble picking their favourite. Harvick just about edged the other three from a statistical point of view, and his experience could prove vital on Sunday.

Denny Hamlin won the Bluegreen Vacations 500 at ISM Raceway in Avondale, Arizona, on Sunday to advance to the championship four of the 2019 NASCAR playoffs.

Hamlin joined Martin Truex Jr. and Kevin Harvick, who earned victories in the round of eight, and Kyle Busch, who claimed the final championship spot on points.

DO IT FOR JD.@DennyHamlin will race for a CHAMPIONSHIP! He WINS at @ISMRaceway! #Championship4 #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/QJEKrtBm12

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) November 10, 2019

This is Hamlin's sixth victory of the season and his second career checkered flag at ISM Raceway.

      

Bluegreen Vacations 500 Leaderboard

1. Denny Hamlin

2. Kyle Busch

3. Ryan Blaney

4. Kyle Larson

5. Kevin Harvick

6. Martin Truex Jr.

7. Erik Jones

8. Clint Bowyer

9. Joey Logano

10. Brad Keselowski

Phoenix was the scene for one of Hamlin's biggest professional disappointments. The points leader going into the 2010 Kobalt Tools 500, he ended the race in 12th and was runner-up to Jimmie Johnson at the end of the year. That was as close as the 38-year-old has gotten to winning the NASCAR Cup championship.

It looked like a tactical gamble could doom Hamlin once again.

Inside the final 10 laps, the No. 11 car headed to pit road during a caution to prepare for the final sprint. Hamlin only took two fresh tires, which left some to wonder whether he'd be able to hold off Busch and Ryan Blaney on the restart.

Busch and Blaney went low in an attempt to pass Hamlin on Turn 2, but he remained in first on the outside.

What a move down to the inside by @KyleBusch and @Blaney!

But @dennyhamlin gets away with the lead! pic.twitter.com/59RnfFWWMY

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) November 10, 2019

Hamlin on that restart. Wow. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/knj714Csro

— Ryan McGee (@ESPNMcGee) November 10, 2019

From there, Busch, his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, settled into second and Blaney into third as neither gained ground on the leader. Hamlin cruised to the finish line with minimal drama.

Denny Hamlin WINS his way to the #Championship4!

This winning moment at Phoenix is presented by @ToyotaRacing! pic.twitter.com/zKJwYvIFVz

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) November 10, 2019

The result was likely a little more satisfying for Hamlin knowing he knocked Joey Logano out of the postseason hunt.

Hamlin and Logano got into a shoving match after the First Data 500 two races ago. Logano had been frustrated after Hamlin forced him into the wall in the final stage. Dave Nichols Jr., a crew member for Logano, earned a suspension after dragging Hamlin to the ground during the altercation.

Logano led 93 laps Sunday but ended up in ninth. Knowing Hamlin denied him an opportunity to defend his points title will be a bitter pill to swallow.

Trailing Logano by 78 points for fourth place entering the event, Chase Elliott needed a victory in order to move on to the next round.

The No. 9 car experienced mechanical issues early in the race that eventually necessitated a trip to the garage. Elliott's day ended after 165 laps, ensuring a last-place finish and ending his playoff chase.

A championship will have to wait for @ChaseElliott.

He talks with @KelliStavast after wrecking out of the #NASCARPlayoffs. pic.twitter.com/4BX8EpfZYj

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) November 10, 2019

That left Hamlin, Logano, Busch, Blaney and Larson fighting for the final two spots.

The respective performances of Hamlin and Busch made things pretty straightforward as the day wore on. Hamlin was holding strong at the top of the field, and Busch would round out the round out the championship four barring an unforeseen catastrophe.

The restart provided some late intrigue because Hamlin would've fallen out of the top four altogether if Busch or Blaney had passed him for the lead.

But the 14-year Cup veteran remains in contention for his first title as the Cup calendar ends at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov. 17 for the Ford EcoBoost 400.

Hamlin has two wins in 14 tries in Miami, but Harvick's average finish of 6.56 is the best at the track among the four playoff drivers, per DriverAverages.com. 

Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney are facing a daunting challenge to avoid elimination during the 2019 Bluegreen Vacations 500 when NASCAR returns to Phoenix on Sunday.

Elliott and Blaney both set impressive speeds during Friday's final practice session on the ISM Raceway. The former paced the rest, and the 23-year-old has plenty of motivation to improve after finishing 32nd during the AAA Texas 500 earlier in November and is consequently in win-or-bust mode for this race.

Blaney has been on the winner's spot on the podium more recently, having won at Talladega in October. He's also an outside shot to secure a place in the championship four, with Martin Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch and Joey Logano holding those spots ahead of qualifying and the lineup for the race proper being set.

This is the last race in the Round of 8 and the final chance for the eight playoff hopefuls to put points on the board. 

                          

Schedule

Qualifying

• Date: Saturday, November 9
• Time: 2 p.m. ET/7 p.m. GMT
• TV Info: NBCSN
• Live Stream: NBC Sports App

                

Race

• Date: Sunday, November 10
• Time: 2:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. GMT
• TV Info: NBC
• Live Stream: NBC Sports App
• Tickets: StubHub

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Round of 8 Standings

1. Martin Truex Jr. (4,133)

2. Kevin Harvick (4,113)

3. Kyle Busch (4,113)

4. Joey Logano (4,111)

---

5. Denny Hamlin (4,091)

6. Ryan Blaney (4,088)

7. Kyle Larson (4,088)

8. Chase Elliott (4,033)

               

Elliott and Blaney made statements with their drives ahead of qualifying, per the NASCAR official website. However, the same source also noted how Harvick was third-fastest in the final session, an ominous sign for the rest given his decorated history at Phoenix.

He's won nine times at the venue, most recently in 2018. The 43-year-old also has momentum on his side following his win in Texas last time out.

Retweet to congratulate @KevinHarvick on the win at @TXMotorSpeedway!#NASCARPlayoffs | @StewartHaasRcng pic.twitter.com/FoQ0HRo7ID

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) November 4, 2019

Harvick looks strong in the championship slots, while Busch will also be confident about his chances, having won on the ISM Raceway at the TicketGuardian 500 in March.

Like Harvick, Busch has his destiny in his hands thanks to a healthy tally in the standings. It's a different story for Elliott, though, who needs to get on the summit position on the podium Sunday to force his way into the final four.

8th in the standings.
-78 points below the cutline.

It's win or wait 'til next year for @chaseelliott. #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/OeoDwnItLj

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) November 7, 2019

His 138.627 mph speed showed Elliott is in the mood to make the most of his final chance. Racing like he's got nothing to lose will help, and so will the desire to banish memories of 12 months ago, when a collision with Hamlin and Busch wrecked Elliott's qualification hopes.

While pressure can spur on Elliott, racing without it could ease Blaney's task. He doesn't have as much ground to make up, just 33 points below the line, and he remains confident with qualifying looming:

Ryan @Blaney was the polesitter earlier this year at @ISMRaceway.

The @Team_Penske driver has found some speed in the two Friday practice sessions, and is gearing up for Saturday's qualifying. #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/SChV8xhdBC

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) November 9, 2019

Even so, it will take a lot for either Elliott or Blaney to stay in the mix, making it more likely the four drivers primed to race for the Cup retain their places.

Kevin Harvick's weekend is off to a good start with a win in Saturday's qualifying run for the AAA Texas 500.

NASCAR's return to Texas Motor Speedway for the first time since March is shaping up to be a good one for Stewart Haas Racing. Harvick's pole win is his sixth of the year, most on the Monster Energy circuit. He beat out Erik Jones for the top spot by 0.123 seconds.

Sunday's race is a key step in the Monster Energy Cup Series Playoffs as the bridge event in the Round of 8 and the antepenultimate event of the season.

As things currently stand, the Championship 4 will include Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch and Joey Logano. The four drivers on the outside still clinging to hope are Harvick, Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott.

While that field of contenders will continue to sort itself out, here's how the 40-driver lineup will start out Sunday.

     

2019 AAA Texas 500 Starting Grid

Row 1: Kevin Harvick (pole), Erik Jones

Row 2: Denny Hamlin, Kurt Busch

Row 3: Alex Bowman, Aric Almirola

Row 4: Daniel Suarez, Brad Keselowski

Row 5: Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Matt DiBenedetto

Row 6: Joey Logano, Kyle Busch

Row 7: Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott

Row 8: Ryan Blaney, Daniel Hemric

Row 9: Martin Truex Jr., William Byron

Row 10: Ty Dillon, Chris Buescher

Row 11: Austin Dillon, Bubba Wallace

Row 12: Jimmie Johnson, Clint Bowyer

Row 13: Ryan Newman, David Ragan

Row 14: Michael McDowell, Ryan Preece

Row 15: John Hunter Nemechek, Parker Kligerman

Row 16: Paul Menard, Landon Cassill

Row 17: Corey LaJoie, J.J. Yeley

Row 18: Ross Chastain, Garrett Smithley

Row 19: Quin Houff, Joe Nemechek

Row 20: Josh Bilicki, Timmy Hill

Qualifying order via NASCAR.com

     

The last time Harvick started from the pole was at the Brickyard in September. He went on to win that race, which kicked off a string of five straight top-seven finishes for the No. 4 car.

#4TheCup in 2019?? Retweet to congratulate @KevinHarvick on his POLE in Texas!

Qualifying results » https://t.co/hAuffxkXy1 pic.twitter.com/Bo8eAi6VMu

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) November 2, 2019

He's finished inside the top 10 in each of the past two weeks and is in fifth place in the point standings, 14 points behind Logano.

The #BuschPole winner explains the importance of finding the right balance between qualifying speed and in-race set up.@KevinHarvick | @TXMotorSpeedway pic.twitter.com/2bJNDGzJwC

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) November 2, 2019

Logano will have to make up ground Sunday if he wants to maintain his spot in the Championship 4. The No. 22 car will start from the 11th spot, though he sounded optimistic about his qualifying finish:

"It wasn't bad. We haven't really qualified well on the mile-and-a-half tracks lately," says Joey Logano to @oreillyauto pit reporter @prnbrett #AAATexas500 | #NASCARPlayoffs

— PRN (@PRNlive) November 2, 2019

Truex, who enters this weekend with a 20-point lead over Hamlin for the top spot, will start from the 17th position in Row 9. He's on track to go an entire season without winning a pole, yet that hasn't prevented him from going home victorious seven times in the actual races.

Eight months ago Truex finished 12th at Texas Motor Speedway, which ended his streak of five straight top-10 showings. He's already locked up a spot in the Championship 4 thanks to his win in Martinsville last week, easing some of the pressure for these next two races.

There is still a great deal left to be sorted out this weekend in Texas and next week at Arizona. Harvick will attempt to take advantage of his performance Saturday with a win when the actual race begins at 3 p.m. ET Sunday.

Daniel Hemric and Kevin Harvick will be among those chasing precious points to aid qualification in the 2019 NASCAR playoff picture when they compete in Sunday's Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway.

Kyle Larson has already qualified, along with Ryan Blaney, but it's still up in the air for many in the standings, particularly defending champion Joey Logano, who faces a challenge just to avoid elimination. It's a similar story for Chase Elliott, who thrived on this track 12 months ago and needs a repeat performance to avoid the cull as the Round of 12 concludes.

                 

Schedule

Busch Pole Qualifying

Date: Saturday, October 19

Time: 1:35 p.m. ET/6:35 p.m. BST

TV Info: NBCSN

Live Stream: NBC Sports App.

         

Date: Sunday, October 20

Time: 2:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. BST

TV Info: NBC

Live Stream: NBC Sports App.

Tickets: KansasSpeedway.com, StubHub.

             

Lineup

• 00 Landon Cassill
• 1 Kurt Busch
• 2 Brad Keselowski
• 3 Austin Dillon
• 4 Kevin Harvick
• 6 Ryan Newman
• 8 Daniel Hemric
• 9 Chase Elliott
• 10 Aric Almirola
• 11 Denny Hamlin
• 12 Ryan Blaney
• 13 Ty Dillon
• 14 Clint Bowyer
• 15 Ross Chastain
• 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
• 18 Kyle Busch
• 19 Martin Truex Jr.
• 20 Erik Jones
• 21 Paul Menard
• 22 Joey Logano
• 24 William Byron
• 27 Reed Sorenson
• 32 Corey Lajoie
• 34 Michael McDowell
• 36 Matt Tifft
• 37 Chris Buescher
• 38 David Ragan
• 41 Daniel Suarez
• 42 Kyle Larson
• 43 Bubba Wallace
• 47 Ryan Preece
• 48 Jimmie Johnson
• 51 JJ Yeley
• 52 Austin Theriault
• 53 Josh Bilicki
• 66 Joey Gase
• 77 Timmy Hill
• 88 Alex Bowman
• 95 Matt DiBenedetto
• 96 Parker Kligerman

Pre-qualifying, per the NASCAR website.

         

Logano is seemingly in jeopardy, residing in the final Round of 8 spot in the standings.

Take a look at where the #NASCARPlayoffs drivers ended up in final practice from @KansasSpeedway!

Tune in Saturday at 1:30PM ET for Cup Series qualifying on NBCSN. pic.twitter.com/HL9Bucsi9s

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 19, 2019

However, as USA Today's Bob Pockrass pointed out, the Cup champion is 18 points ahead of Alex Bowman and is thus above the cut line. Even so, Pockrass noted how a win on Sunday from any driver below the line would vault them into the next round.

Yet Pockrass also pointed out how Logano knows what it takes to triumph at Kansas Speedway, having crossed the line first in 2015. Elliott did the same thing in 2018, when the Hendrick Motorsports star led for 44 laps. More of the same is will be the target for Elliott, who resides on the wrong side of the cut line and faces elimination.

He's won at @kansasspeedway before.

Can @chaseelliott (-22) do it again with his playoff hopes on the line? (📺: NBCSN) pic.twitter.com/omEuyT7Zbf

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 18, 2019

Matching those exploits won't be easy in such a loaded fielded that includes Harvick. The 43-year-old has a storied history in Kansas City, with a hat-trick of victories to his credit.

Meanwhile, Blaney is the driver with momentum, having won at the 1000Bulbs.com 500 at Talladega Superspeedway earlier in October. Both Blaney and Harvick showcased their skills during the final practice session Friday.

Harvick clocked the second quickest lap at 177.096 mph, while Blaney was fifth-fastest with a lap time of 176.725 mph, according to the NASCAR website. However, Richard Childress Racing ace Hemric topped the board at 177.830 mph.

Any member of that trio could finish ahead of Larson, who was second here in 2014, while Denny Hamlin hasn't won in Kansas since 2012.