All hail Gordon, Harvick refuses to play mind games

“That’s awesome. I’m really proud of that”.

Prior to Jeff Gordon’s attempt to close out his storybook career in storybook fashion, Ken Squier voices a special essay on Gordon’s career and transcendent impact on stock auto racing. When I had my issues in Texas (suspended a race for rough driving) I came back and just wanted to make laps and not be in anybody’s way, and I finished 20th.

Gordon entered qualifying for the season-ending Ford Ecoboost 400 with the 30th-best practice time among 45 participants, and he was still 25th after his first run.

“It’ll be great to kick off a new season and not have to worry about that, hopefully, anymore, ever”, Truex said. Though other fans may hate your success and talent, I know you are a legend.

“We wish we were a part of it but unfortunately a couple mechanical things took us out of this Chase, but we’re going to hopefully go out with a bang”, said Hamlin, who jokingly referred to himself as “Mr. Irrelevant”. Harvick was the only member of that group not to qualify for the third round and inside the top 12.

He raised his hands and spun around, indicating the vast campground where NASCAR diehards congregate for a long weekend, setting up a village where they swap stories and beers and debate whether Kevin Harvick is a master strategist or a cheating scoundrel for causing a wreck at Talladega that knocked Dale Earnhardt Jr. out of the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.

“I’ve been to Homestead the last three years in the championship hunt running for (the) Xfinity Series owner’s championship, so I know a little bit about what that’s about”.

On tap today is the qualifying, with the race taking place Sunday afternoon. Champions will be crowned in the Camping World Truck Series, Xfinity Series and Sprint Cup Series.

Jones, of Byron, Mich., also gave Kyle Busch Motorsports its first driver’s championship.

Although it has been 14 years since he won his last title Gordon has remained a competitive force, contending for the title several times.

“Is there pressure? I feel like there’s always pressure”, said Gordon. He did it clean and beat us fair and square.

Jeff Gordon posted the slowest time among the four Chase contenders in the first practice session for the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

“Adam (Stevens, crew chief) did a really good job with getting the best option for us in qualifying here”, Busch said.

Any sort of weather delays would be a disappointment, particularly after last weekend’s final elimination race at Phoenix. Of course it is. “But it is what it is, and we move on”, Logono said, noting that other factors may have kept him out of the Championship 4 even without the crash at Martinsville.

Earlier in the day Kenseth told reporters, “I wish none of it had happened, obviously”. “Kyle and Martin and even Jeff haven’t been through a week like this one, so I think (Harvick’s experience) is big”. Enjoy the final week of the 2015 Sprint Cup season, and insert a random catchphrase here.

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).

Wood Brothers Racing, one of the oldest, most successful, race teams in NASCAR history, will go back to a full-time schedule next year with Ryan Blaney as the driver, the team announced Friday.

“If you don’t think that our team is working extremely hard and very focused and determined to be a real factor in this thing on Sunday, then you’re mistaken”, Gordon said.