Getting the "Bugs" Out in 2015: Biffle is Key to Roush Resurrection

Greg Biffle looks to heat up the track with new sponsor Ortho in 2015
(Google Images)

Last season was one to forget for Roush Fenway Racing. The team only scored two wins and, despite getting drivers Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards into the Chase, consistency only brought them so far and both were eliminated before they could shoot for the title. There was also a good deal of speculation about whether Edwards and Biffle would return to RFR in 2015. But while Edwards decided to depart the team that gave him his break for Joe Gibbs Racing, Biffle decided to stay put and try to right the ship.

This was not entirely surprising because, like his owner Jack Roush, Biffle bleeds Ford blue and he has been with the team since his truck series days began back in 1998. The Biff took a pay cut a few years ago to stay in his familiar No. 16 Fusion, so clearly he cares more about racing than money.  This season, Roush-Fenway added Elliott Sadler and Darrell Wallace Jr to their Nationwide Series fleet as teammates to Ryan Reed giving them a serious shot at the 2015 series title. The team also elevated Trevor Bayne to full-time Sprint Cup competition, so on the cup side the level of inexperience between Bayne and third-year driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr is going to mean a steep learning curve for both young drivers.

Enter Biffle, who won the 2000 Camping World (then Craftsman) Truck Series championship and the 2002 Xfinity (then Busch) Series title for Roush in addition to 19 Sprint Cup victories. Now he will be the elder statesman and his experience will be key in getting RFR back to a competitive level. His knowledge and expertise will only help boost the performance of Stenhouse and Bayne and return not only the No. 16 car to the front of the pack, but both of his young teammates as well. But while his fans have been known to "stick with the Biff," the 45-year-old veteran spoke about seriously debating whether or not he should stick with Roush Fenway Racing.

"You know, loyalty in this world only goes so far," Biffle told media members during the Charlotte Motor Speedway Media Tour. "I felt like I had to wrestle with the decision on whether I leave or not. It makes it easy to leave, it's easy to kick a guy when he's down, right? So we were having tremendous trouble last year, and I've been there trough three of these cycles, and we're not going to sugar-coat it -- last year, we were at the bottom of the heap compared to the teams. We just were, and no light at the end of the tunnel, and so it would've been an easy way for me to leave at that point."



Biffle celebrating his most recent win, June 16th, 2013 at Michigan
(Google Images)

While Edwards might have taken the easy way out Biffle described, the Biff sticking around is the best thing that could've happened to RFR and, just like many of his fans, he believes Roush is due for a comeback in 2015. And he wants to be the one leading that charge back to the front.

"Knowing that the stock is at the lowest price that it's been at, sometimes that's the opportunity. It's going to go up," Biffle told reporters. "It doesn't have to, but logic says it's going to go up, and so I wrestled with it and sat long and hard about it, and I said 'I want to be the guy that brings the organization back out of where we're at. We're in a bad place. I could jump ship right now.' And I decided I didn't want to do that. I wanted to give it another opportunity."

Steve Newmark, president of Roush Fenway Racing, spoke about the idea of losing Biffle, a great driver who has also become a great company man and team spokesman.

"It was critical," Newmark said of re-signing Biffle. "Greg and I spent a lot of time talking. He was solicited by a lot of teams, which I would expect with a driver of that caliber. After a lot of discussions, I think he felt like Roush was the right fit for him and the right place, and he and Jack had some unfinished business. But he brings an element that we wouldn't have had without him. We have a lot of other talented drivers, but none of them has had the history with both our organization and the championships, so he's been fantastic."

One of the other bug reasons Biffle could've left is because of the loss of longtime sponsor 3M. Losing that kind of funding could be a big blow to any team. But now, with new sponsor Ortho Bug B Gone, both Biffle and Roush Fenway will be looking to work out the bugs from 2014 and return to the highly competitive level they're used to this season. As Newmark said, Biffle has an intimate knowledge of all things Roush and he has proven that when his Fords are right, he can contend for wins and championships. The No. 16 car might be coming out of a revamped shop and have some different stickers on the hood this year, but the same hard charging, talented driver will be behind the wheel. For that reason alone, there's no reason at all why Biffle, his team and his fans shouldn't be optimistic heading into this year.

"We're all confident," said Biffle. "Everyone's so excited about the way our company looks, about how everybody's getting along and how excited everybody is to work together again, and on a common goal. We all feel really good."

Chase Elliott to Make Cup Debut at Atlanta?

This photo posted to Jayski.com could mean Chase Elliott will run
some Cup races sooner than later (Google Images)

Last year's Nationwide Series champion might soon become this year's Sprint Cup Series rookie sensation.

Chase Elliott has long been rumored as the heir apparent to Jeff Gordon and the No. 24 team. Now that Gordon is retiring, at least from full-time competition, the path is now clear for Elliott to make his way to Sprint Cup full-time. But while he has not been officially announced as Hendrick Motorsports' newest wheelman, it's really a no brainer that he will be promoted next year.

Actually... make that this year.

Ever since last season there has been speculation that Elliott would run a limited number of Sprint Cup races in 2015 to try and wet his pallet. Under NASCAR rules, despite the fact that HMS has four teams, they are allowed to run a part-time team with a rookie for a select number of events. In addition, the funding is already in place to run a few cup events. NAPA Auto Parts has been Elliott's sponsor since 2014 when the duo won three races, two poles and the Nationwide title. NAPA also has money to fund a full-time Sprint Cup Series ride. They did so with Michael Waltrip from 2001 until 2009, then with Martin Truex Jr from 2010 through 2013. Given that they have already had more on track success in one year with Elliott than they did in over a decade with Waltrip and his team, they have clearly found their golden goose. There's no reason why the auto parts juggernaut wouldn't want to gain even more exposure with Elliott and his team by moving to Sprint Cup.

Jayski.com, NASCAR's premier "Silly Season" authority posted a picture they received from a fan of a blue and gold No. 25 NAPA Chevrolet with Elliott's name on the door. Many fans have been debating whether Rick Hendrick would resurrect the No. 25 his son drove in the Nationwide (then Busch) Series and by Brian Vickers and Casey Mears in cup or if Elliott would run a number his famous father, "Awesome" Bill Elliott ran. His cars carried either a No. 9 or No. 94. But with the leaked photo, it appears Elliott will run the No. 25 this season. But when will he actually climb aboard his new mount?

All signs point to the race in Atlanta on March 1st. The Elliott's are from Dawsonville, Georgia. The town still sounds the fire siren on top of the pool hall in town whenever Chase scores a victory, just as they have done so many times with Bill. Not only is Atlanta Elliott's home track, it is also the home base for NAPA. No doubt both parties would want to make their Sprint Cup debut in front of their home town crowd.

Looking at how this story is playing out, it all sounds a little familiar. Hendrick Motorsports is bringing a farm series standout to the sport's highest level on a part-time basis in preparation to run for a title next season; their first start being at the Atlanta Motor Speedway with a big time, big money sponsorship deal.

That all seemed to work out really well for the man who drove the guy who drove the No. 24 car in that well documented debut. I think his successor should do fine following the same path in the No. 25 car.

UPDATE: Hendrick Motorsports announced Friday afternoon that Chase Elliott will drive the No. 24 car full-time in 2016 with crew chief Alan Gustafson. Sponsorship will be announced at a later date. Elliott will also run five Sprint Cup races in 2015 with crew chief Kenny Francis and the No. 25 NAPA Chevrolet. NAPA will also back Elliott as he defends his 2014 title in the Xfinity Series this season.. The pair will be entered at Martinsville Speedway (March 29), Richmond International Raceway (April 25), Charlotte Motor Speedway (May 24), Indianapolis Motor Speedway (July 26) and Darlington Raceway (September 6).

"Chase brings the kind of intangibles that make him the total package as a driver," team owner Rick Hendrick as he announced the news during the team's season kickoff employee event. "Not only is he a special talent inside the race car, but there's a natural combination of competitiveness, work ethic and smarts that you rarely see. Chase's personality and demeanor make him popular with fans, teammates and sponsors. He's a great fit for our organization on many levels, and we feel he and Alan will be a successful combination. There's a lot to be excited about."

"Chase has been a fantastic ambassador for NAPA," said Gaylord Spencer, senior vice president of marketing for NAPA Auto Parts. "As he embarks on this next important step in his career, we are proud to support him across both series in 2015 and look forward to an exciting year on and off the track. The NAPA family is behind Chase 100 percent."

"So many people have been behind me, and the first thing I want to do is thank them," said Elliott. "My parents especially have believed in me every step of the way, and I know this wouldn't be possible without all the sacrifices they've made to focus on my racing career. This is such a big week for our family. I'm also extremely grateful to Mr. Hendrick and my teammates at both Hendrick Motorsports and JR Motorsports for believing in me. NAPA has been a huge supporter and I'm honored to represent them on and off the track. Of course the fans have been amazing to me, and I'm so appreciative of that. I know how rare this opportunity is and will work as hard as I can to make everyone proud."

End of an Era: Jeff Gordon Announces Retirement After 2015 Season

Gordon and owner Rick Hendrick after their record fifth win at Indianapolis
last season (Google Images)

Jeff Gordon has run every race he has entered since November 15th, 1992 and the season finale at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Now over two decades since that first race, on January 22, 2015, Gordon announced that the 2015 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway would be his final start in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, at least on a full-time basis.

Champion driver and NASCAR on FOX commentator Darrell Waltrip famously made his opinion known at the time of Gordon's first start that he didn't believe the California driver would be able to make it in the Winston (now Sprint) Cup Series. He appeared to have a point, as Gordon started 21st and finished 31st after a wreck in that first start. But now, four championships and 92 wins later, I think DW would agree that Gordon's done ok for himself at NASCAR's top level. But his success in stock car racing also transcends his on track victories. 

Gordon is from California, is great with the media and is one of, if not the most recognizable face in the sport of stock car racing today. His professionalism and personality made him an ideal guest for talk shows and an ideal spokesman for sponsors. His off track credits also include hosting Saturday Night Live in 2003 and voicing Jeff Gorvette in Pixar's 2011 film Cars 2. Through appearances like these, Gordon has been able to help bring NASCAR beyond its southern roots and propel it onto a national stage and brought new fans into the fold. Throw in the great work that the Jeff Gordon Foundation does for children with illnesses like cancer and, like him or not, it's almost impossible to argue that Gordon has been nothing but good for the sport.

Speaking of loving or hating him, Gordon is perhaps one of the most polarizing figures in the sport. This is because he is seen by many as a pretty boy; just a spoiled rich kid who had his stepfather help him buy his way to the top. This was the biggest reason that lead to his rivalry with Dale Earnhardt; he was the antithesis of the Intimidator. Earnhardt described himself as someone who could "win a race on Sunday and feed the cows on Monday;" a blue collar, working class, average Joe that fans could relate to. Gordon and Earnhardt were the two most successful drivers in the late 1990's and, because of this, they garnered a lot of media attention. This coupled with their feuding fan bases, one would assume the two racers hated each other as much as their fans did. But that was simply not true.



Gordon and Earnhardt share a moment on pit road (Google Images)

Both drivers had a mutual respect for each other, but that didn't mean there weren't a few good natured jabs thrown in. Earnhardt was the one who dubbed Gordon "Wonder Boy" and, even though he won the second NASCAR event at Indianapolis in 1995, Earnhardt declared himself the first man to win the Brickyard 400. The joke being that Gordon had won the first race at Indy the year before. But Gordon had a few unforgettable highlights too. When it seemed Gordon was a lock to win the title in 1995, Earnhardt said, "if he wins, he'll have to toast everyone with milk." On stage at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel after winning the title, Gordon did exactly that. He raised a glass of milk and toasted his rival on a "great season man." Later in his career, when Gordon won the spring 2007 race at Phoenix and tied Earnhardt at 76 wins, he took a victory lap with a black flag emblazoned with the Intimidator's legendary No. 3. Dale Earnhardt Jr called "really classy." While the fans might have been the ones to create this rivalry, Earnhardt and Gordon were great friends on and off the track.

Personally speaking, I was always an Earnhardt fan. But not just because of his success. I was young at the time, so a great deal of my decision making went into how the cars looked. Plain and simple, Earnhardt's jet black, silver trimmed Monte Carlo was so much cooler than Gordon's Chevy with the big, girly rainbow on the hood. I'd like to think any other seven year old boy would have found that to be an easy decision too. "The Man in Black" or "The Rainbow Warrior?" It was really a no brainer.

Gordon drives to victory lane after I saw him win the fall 2014 Dover race,
potentially his final victory in the Sprint Cup Series

But now, looking back on how the sport of NASCAR was back then versus how it is today, Gordon doesn't seem all that bad anymore. Now that he's retiring, one of the last of the old guard is hanging up his helmet. While I'm still not a fan of Gordon, it's hard to not have respect for how he carries himself and for the great amount of success. 92 wins, four titles, three Daytona 500s, 77 poles and 454 top tens to date? A quarter of those numbers is a career for most drivers. Yes Gordon might have had more help getting to the top, but he clearly had the talent to stay put once he got there. It will be strange to see the No. 24 car with a different driver next year; or perhaps not even on the track at all. But while his car will have a different driver (cough...chaseelliott... cough), Gordon has already signed on to be a color commentator for select FOX Sports Xfinity Series broadcasts.

While it will be an adjustment seeing him behind a microphone instead of behind the wheel, Gordon has done everything you can possibly do and won all there is to win in NASCAR. Heck, if he wins at Kentucky this year, he'll have won at every NASCAR track he's ever raced on (including Rockingham and North Wilkesboro). He's retiring on his terms and, unlike many other drivers, he's going out at the top of his game. But perhaps the most important thing is that Gordon is leaving this sport much better than it was when he first arrived on the scene 22 years ago. And for that, every race fan owes him a big thank you.

Chase Race No. 10: Harvick, Childers Wins First Title in First Year at SHR

Kevin Harvick after winning the race and the 2014 title in Homestead
(Photo: Google Images)

After 36 races, five wins, 21 top tens and one season at Stewart-Haas Racing, Kevin Harvick can now add one championship to his 2014 resume.

NASCAR reinvented the Chase for the Sprint Cup this season to make winning more of a factor. And while it didn't necessarily seem that way early on in the Chase, the finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway proved to be the winner take all battle that Brian France intended to create.

Three of the four Chasers, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano and Harvick started near the front of the field, while the fourth Musketeer, Ryan Newman, rolled off from 21st spot. Initially it seemed as if Newman's title run had been something of a fluke, having not won a race all season, yet still being able to run for the title.

But as the event progressed, the race for the title became tighter and NASCAR saw its vision for a one race, winner take all finale come to fruition. Harvick, Logano, Newman and Hamlin all made their way to the front and, right up until Logano's car fell off the jack on a pit stop and he lost track position late, any one of these four could have been the champion. On the final restart, it was Harvick and Newman because on the previous restart, Hamlin spun his tires and lost a few spots.

The Newman-Harvick dynamic was also interesting. Harvick took sponsor Budweiser and left Richard Childress Racing for Stewart-Haas Racing at the end of last season, while Newman was forced out of SHR and found a home replacing Jeff Burton in the No. 31 Caterpillar car at RCR. Both drivers believed that these new teams would offer them a better shot at a title and, right up until the Ford 400 at Homestead, I at least believed that was just the stereotypical, PR driven response any driver says when they land at a new team.

Kevin Harvick poses with son Keelan after the race (Photo: Google Images)

But Newman and Harvick apparently weren't kidding because they were the two who would up fighting it out  for the title. Newman had a shot to maybe wiggle Harvick a little bit coming into turn three heading for the white flag, but other than that, he couldn't get close enough to Harvick's No. 4 to move it out of the groove.

This was also Rodney Childers first title as a crew chief as well. I have long maintained he is the most underrated crew chief in the garage ever since he scored his first two career wins with driver David Reutimann in the No. 00 car, he has proven he knows what it takes to build winning race cars on a weekly basis.

This duo also provided a bright spot in a fairly dismal year at SHR. Danica Patrick had another sub par year, owner Tony Stewart was embroiled in a legal battle after killing Kevin Ward Jr at an upstate New York dirt track the weekend of Watkins Glen, and Kurt Busch was recently suspected of beating his now ex-girlfriend Patricia Driscoll the weekend of the fall Dover race. Meanwhile Harvick rattled off 5 wins and captured his first Sprint Cup crown and SHR's second.

If the 2014 season proved anything, its that anything can, and probably will happen. The revamped Chase for the Cup format might have a few bugs in it still (maybe nix the eliminations and keep the winner take all finale for the top four in points?), but for the most part, it proved to be very exciting. To quote ESPN's Allen Bestwick after Harvick took the checkers, "That's how you crown a racing champion."

Here's to crowning a 2015 champion in exactly the same way when next November rolls around. If 2014 was this exciting, who knows what next season holds.

And Then There Were Four...

Denny Hamlin has won the season finale twice (Photo: Google Images)

After facing nine races, a field of 16 drivers and a few bonehead moves from Brad Keselowski, four drivers remain to battle for the Sprint Cup title this weekend in Homestead. Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin and Ryan Newman will take to the track Sunday afternoon, fighting not only each other, but the other 39 cars on the track as well, and whoever finishes highest of those four will be the 2014 champion. 

Sounds simple right?

Well not exactly. Just like in 2011 when Tony Stewart won the race and beat Carl Edwards in a tie for the championship, the driver who wins the title will more than likely have to win the race too. And the driver who will probably stands the best chance of doing that is Kevin Harvick. He and crew chief Rodney Childers both left their respective teams last season to join Stewart-Haas Racing on the No. 4 car because they both had ambitions about winning a title. They have won a few races this year and been outrageously consistent the rest of the time when they didn't have a wreck or mechanical gremlins. When it all plays out in Homestead, Harvick will more than likely be the 2014 Sprint Cup champion.

Joey Logano is the next biggest threat. He has been almost as consistent as Harvick and also won a few races. Since leaving Dodge for Ford, Team Penske has never looked back, winning 11 races this year between Logano and teammate Brad Keselowski. Keselowski won Roger Penske his first Nascar title in 2012 and Logano stands to win "The Captain" a title of his own, which is surprising after the struggles Logano had in his first year in Sprint Cup competition at Joe Gibbs Racing.

Kevin Harvick won in his second race for SHR. Can he win in his 36th?
(Photo: Google Images)

But while there are flu drivers fighting for a title, really Logano and Harvick are the only two deserving drivers.

Denny Hamlin only made it into the Chase because he won the spring race at Talladega; the biggest crapshoot on the schedule next to the October Talladega race. Not that it wash't without merit because a win is a win no matter where it is. But this disproves Nascar's theory of trying to make winning the most important thing. Hamlin also missed the race at Auto Club Speedway because of a small fragment of metal in his eye. Yes drivers like David Pearson won titles without running the full schedule, but that was the norm back in those days when a good number of drivers didn't run all the races. To be competitive today, running all 36 races is almost a necessity. But Hamlin is proving that in many cases, consistency and being able to top ten the field to death is just as important, if not more so, than winning races.

But the best example of this is Ryan Newman. Newman has't won a race since Indianapolis last season. He made it into the Chase by the skin of his teeth and has been nothing but consistent and relied on the mistakes of other teams to advance, and a swift kick to Kyle Larson's back bumper to advance to the finale. Honestly, neither Newman or Hamlin deserve the title over Logano or Harvick. They just have not accomplished as much this year. And neither of them will stand a chance of winning Homestead, which is what it will take to grab the title.

This race should be very exciting and the championship should come right down to the wire. May the best man win.

Chase Race No. 9: Harvick Sweeps Phoenix; Keselowski Doesn't Advance

Kevin Harvick celebrates his win Sunday in Phoenix (Photo: Google Images)

Is there an echo in here?

After a long afternoon in the desert, Kevin Harvick showed why he should be considered the last real threat to win the 2014 Sprint Cup. He and crew chief Rodney Childers have been strong all season and after the duo won their first race together at PIR in the spring, it was hard to imagine they wouldn't repeat the feat this time.

The top five was actually filled with Chase drivers, Jeff Gordon finished second, Matt Kenseth third, Brad Keselowski fourth and Denny Hamlin came in fifth. But depite solid runs from Gordon, Keselowski and Kenseth, only Harvick, Hamlin, Joey Logano and Ryan Newman will advance to the final round of the Chase and fight for the title at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

After a race that saw Hamlin and Keselowski start first and second respectively,  Logano snatched the lead from the No. 11 of Hamlin on lap 25. Logano then led for a while, but on lap 88, Harvick grabbed the lead and didn't look back, the driver who won the last two races at Phoenix International Raceway managed to grab his third and sweep the season's events there too. The dynamic duo of Childers and Harvick has proved very potent this year and while they may have only won four times, they have had a shot to win just about every race on the 2014 schedule.

While it was a big day for Harvick and his team, other big names like Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch had problems. Johnson had an accident in turn one of the speedway on lap 238 and Busch got loose, spun up the track, then back down again on lap 213. On his way back, he barely clipped the right rear of Clint Bowyer's Camry and sent Bowyer head on into the outside wall. The cleanup from this wreck caused a four minute red flag.

Ryan Newman could be the 2014 Sprint Cup champ (Photo: Google Images)

But ultimately, it was all about the Chase today. Many of the Chase drivers made it though without any trouble and thought that their runs would be good enough to advance to the "Final Four." My pick to win it all, Gordon, ran second, but he could not overcome his getting wrecked by Keselowski last weekend and fell one point shy of advancing. Thanks to Ryan Newman for stuffing Kyle Larson in the wall on the last lap to pick up the spot that locked Gordon out.

Newman is the real wild card in all this. he has no wins at all this year. In fact, his last win was the Brickyard 400 last season. If you're looking for someone to play spoiler, the driver of Richard Childress's No. 31 car might be your guy. It would be Childress's first Cup Series title not won by someone named Earnhardt and it would be Newman's first title period.Perhaps if he wins he'll finally be able to afford a neck.

However, that;s why they run the race. Yes Newman has as good a shot as anyone else; Hamlin is always a contender, winning last year's race at Homestead and Logano was picked by many to win it all this season after a breakout year with Team Penske. But Harvick is still the man to beat in my opinion. He and his team are too good and their cars are too fast every week to not go down without a fight. They showed that in their domination of Phoenix this past weekend.

Homestead-Miami Speedway and Ford Championship Weekend await. There are four drivers left who can win the title. Who's it gonna be?

Harvick Will Sweep Phoenix; Keselowski Won't Advance

Kevin Harvick won Phoenix this past February (Photo: Google Images)

With only one race left until the championship finale next weekend in Homestead-Miami, the "Eliminator Eight" must get through this weekend's event at the Phoenix International Raceway. Potential title contenders like Jeff Gordon, Brad Keselowski and Kevin Harvick all face elimination, while drivers like Ryan Newman and Carl Edwards can assure themselves a place in the final four and a shot at the title with solid runs on Sunday.

But ultimately, I believe it will be Harvick who wins and gets into the championship finale. He runs too well at Phoenix, sweeping the races there in 2006 and winning the last two races, including his second points race for Stewart-Haas Racing this past spring. He has an average finish of 11th aand a very impressive 12 top tens in 23 starts. And given the bad luck the No. 4 team has been plauged with all season, Harvick will no doubt be on a mission to right the ship and lock his team into a shot at the title next weekend in Miami.

But what about Gordon and Keselowski? What will become of the drivers who came to blows last weekend in Texas? I believe they were simply arguing Miller Lite's "great taste, less filling" debate and things just got out of hand, but in any event, the driver of the Miller Lite No. 2 car will see his title hopes dashed in the desert.  Keselowski might be the 2012 champion, but it'll be a while before he matures enough to win his next one. The team got lucky with their Chase-saving win at Talladega last time they were backed into a corner, but Phoenix is not Talladega. Keselowski will need t rely on his car's handling, his pit crew and his own ability behind the wheel if he hopes to advance to the

Brad Keselowski's won the pole in Phoenix this spring (Photo: Google Images)

finale.

Gordon on the other hand is probably in good shape. i still believe that this is the year his "drive for Five" will come to fruition and we will see Gordon win his first Sprint Cup title. They have run too well all season; been too consistent to not have a shot at it. And with 21 top tens and two wins in 31 starts at the track, he will no doubt be up front when it comes down to the final laps.

Speaking of consistent, there is one driver who has been something of a fly in the ointment for NASCAR all Chase long. The sanctioning body wanted winning to be the only thing that mattered. That is why winning assured you a spot in the Chase, winning assured you would advance to the next round and winning could ultimately net you a championship. But Newman and Edwards have yet to win a race and, while I can't see Edwards making it past this weekend, Newman has a shot to become the first driver to win a title without winning a race. Homestead is "highest finishing" Chase driver wins. So if Newman finishes second and can still beat his three competitors, he'll be the 2014 champion. Good thing NASCAR put such an emphasis on winning and developed the Chase. Can't have drivers like Matt Kenseth winning one race and then clinching the title early (like he did in 2003, one year before the Chase format was introduced).

So it might not match the drama of "the Brawl" in Texas last weekend, but there are still several story lines to follow in Phoenix. One race left till we decide the four championship combatants. It should be very exciting.