Dale Jr. wins in Phoenix

Kevin Harvick drives out of Turn 4 during the the NASCAR Sprint Cup series auto race at Phoenix worldwide Raceway, Sunday, November 15, 2015, in Avondale, Ariz.

With rain moving toward the track, Harvick, Kyle Busch and Truex were in the final four, and Edwards five points behind the final spot.

“Bring NASCAR anywhere and you’ll catch up on your rain”, Harvick said.

Gordon, Kurt Busch, Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski and Aric Almirola completed the first 10 finishers. They joined Jeff Gordon, who had earned his spot in the final four two weeks ago with a win at Martinsville, in the winner-take-all showdown at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Advancing into the season finale next Sunday were reigning series champion Harvick, Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr.

But that victory would come at the expense of Keselowski, who dominated Texas last week but saw his berth into the finale snatched away by Jimmie Johnson in the closing laps of the race. Finally, after the rain stopped and NASCAR’s Air Titans had dried the track, the green flag waved almost seven hours later.

Kyle Busch has been a favorite to win the title at various times in his career, but he never made it far enough in the Chase to win a Cup title. He drove through the pits on lap 8, handing the lead to Johnson. Harvick was shooting for his fifth straight Phoenix win and was very strong all night long. But like the other drivers eliminated from championship consideration, Busch was also left to wonder what could have been when the race was called due to rain with 92 laps remaining.

Here’s a quick look at how each of the championship contenders stacks up at Homesteaad-Miami Speedway.

Penske teammates Joey Logano and Brad Keslowski will miss out on the Chase this year.

During a playoff where contentious misdeeds have been the topics du jour, it nearly seemed appropriate NASCAR’s four-driver championship field was principally determined by a controversial penalty and when an inevitable rain shower would begin to fall.

Truex was caught a lap down on that late pit cycle and got the wave-around to be on the tail end of the lead lap.

Keslowski suffered an accident at Martinsville as well, forcing him to have to win his way to Homestead.

Buescher struggled with the handling of his Ford the entire day, but was satisfied with his finish because he’s typically struggled at Phoenix. Had there been no rain he likely would have continued his charge, but as it were he finished seventh. He’s quietly contended his way to Homestead, much like Ryan Newman did in the inaugural year of this championship format, and now he has the one-in-four chance at a championship he would have only dreamed of in last year’s disastrous debut season at Richard Childress Racing affiliate Furniture Row Racing in which he finished 24th.