Harvick looks to continue Phoenix dominance

Six of the seven drivers competing for the final three spots in the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship’s four-driver grand finale at Homestead, Fla. next weekend will have teammates on the track this weekend at Phoenix worldwide Raceway.

After this race is completed, the field for the final four championship will be set, eliminating four drivers from the Chase. Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski came oh-so-close to clinching berths in the season finale but instead are on the outside desperately looking in.

-Spring race at Bristol was delayed more than nine hours before finishing under the lights.

“It’s an emotional game”, said Kurt Busch, who is seventh in points and has advanced through the Chase without winning. The other three who advanced were Harvick, Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. It’s Erik Jones, who is replacing Kenseth while he serves the second and final race of a two-race suspension for wrecking Joey Logano at Martinsville.

Sprint Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick (4) during the AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.

The NASCAR season is winding down, as drivers prepare for the last race of the Eliminator Round this weekend in Phoenix.

Busch was second and the highest-qualifying driver still eligible for the championship. “I feel like that (edge) can be gone at any point”, said Harvick.

Only Jeff Gordon has locked up his spot in next week’s title-deciding race, and three spots are up for grabs Sunday at Phoenix global Raceway. “I’d love to get a top-10 finish and even being able to get up into the top-five as well”.

Phoenix is a one mile relatively flat oval which differs from the 1.5 mile tracks that make up the majority of the Chase races. Though he did not get a chance at a fifth consecutive win at Phoenix, he was just happy to advance and get a chance to defend his 2014 championship.

“We’ll see how it stacks up”, Busch said. His effort kept Kurt Busch, who is still in the Chase, from the top starting spot for Sunday’s race. Busch, Keselowski and Jones ran first through third until the yellow flag waved again on lap 113, and just like before, Keselowski beat Busch off pit road.

If the concept of team is dumped at this time of year in racing, then how about the concept of family. “It was a big year for us to do a few great things at a level in USAC that got us recognized while I was pursuing NASCAR”.