Jeff Gordon driving silver Axalta auto for final race at Homestead

Long considered one of the sport’s most talented drivers, Busch needs only to finish ahead of the three other Chase finalists – Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex Jr. – in Sunday’s Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway and the title is his. “It doesn’t matter what sport you’re in, you dream of having that opportunity”.

“I disagree with Kyle”, said Gordon, who recovered from a lackluster opening lap in the first round of knockout qualifying to earn the fifth starting spot.

“It’s good to have our teammate on the pole”, said Busch of Hamlin, who also races for Joe Gibbs Racing. “We want to be”. Available on NBCSN, the channel will be programmed by a second mobile production truck on site that will be taking the feeds for the four cameras locked on each driver, three cameras in each of the racers’ cars, the on-board audio, in addition to specialty graphics and exclusive announcers. “I’m looking at it as just going out in an awesome, fun way, and by winning that Martinsville race and putting us in the elite group, knowing that we are going into that final race as a part of the championship four, that right there is a win in itself”.

At the same time, they still have their own self-serving priorities.

“I need three clutch laps like that to close this race out on Sunday”, he said, laughing. “So you keep that in mind for sure”.

Gordon got an unexpected guest at his race hauler Saturday. “To be able to go out on his terms and to be able to go into his last race and to have the opportunity to race for a championship in his last race, that’s what you dream of”.

Kyle Busch has had the most uphill battle of all the final four contenders. His No. 18 Toyota was third at 176.062.

“Racing is certainly important, and it’s a big part of my life, but it’s not the only thing that matters”, Truex said. She and Truex started a foundation in 2007 that focuses on ovarian research and childhood cancer, and she’ll be at Homestead-Miami Sunday. “To do it as a champion, oh, my gosh, I just can’t imagine anything that would be more emotional and more exciting and more gratifying”.

Championship contender Kevin Harvick triggered an 11-car wreck on the green-white-checkered restart October 25 at Talladega by bumping Trevor Bayne’s auto into the wall.

For Gordon, the race will offer a final break from the overwhelming attention that comes with the prospect to retire as the reigning champion.

“That was disappointing, and I think that really affected me, that first run”, Gordon said. He’s still very aggressive, but I think also the way he deals with things, he’s much more even now.

Season highlight: Truex’s win at Pocono in June snapped a 69-race drought and was the peak of a blazing start (15 top-10s in the first 16 races). So far he’s managed to happily embrace the distractions, but he knows Sunday may be the most challenging race of his storied career.

“I was influenced by other big names and competitive drivers, and that goes all the way back to early days of racing, not just in NASCAR”, Gordon said.

Gordon’s crew chief, Alan Gustafson, isn’t anxious his driver will be overwhelmed by the moment.

Hinchcliffe, who almost died from blood loss after a suspension piece pierced his race vehicle during an Indianapolis 500 practice in May, can appreciate the way Gordon is leaving NASCAR after 23 full seasons.

They have confidence the 93-time victor can do the rest.