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SPORTS Monday 18 noveMber 2019

NASCAR championship

Continued from Page 18 Toyota. “You’ve got to be
perfect, one mistake prob-
Busch emerged from the ably cost us the champion-
Joe Gibbs Racing jug- ship,” Truex said. “I've never
gernaut as NASCAR’s lat- had that happen. I don't
est champion, winning his even know what to say. It
second title Sunday after doesn't drive good with the
teammates Denny Hamlin left front on the right front,
and Martin Truex Jr. were though, I can tell you that.
slowed by pit-road gaffes. It's very tight.”
Busch won the season fi- Hamlin fell out of conten-
nale at Homestead-Miami tion when an aggressive
Speedway to snap a 21- aerodynamic gamble
race losing streak and beat backfired because a large
Hamlin, Truex and rival piece of tape placed
Kevin Harvick for the Cup. across the front of his car
Busch joined seven-time caused his engine to over-
champion Jimmie Johnson heat. Hamlin had to make
as the only active drivers an unscheduled pit stop to
with multiple titles. remove the tape.
“Ol’ two-timer out there,” Truex recovered to finish
crew chief Adam Stevens second, but Hamlin didn’t
radioed. “I’m proud of you have enough time to over- Kyle Busch celebrates in Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto racing season
buddy.” come the miscue and was championship on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla.
The 34-year-old Busch sim- a disappointing 10th. Associated Press
ply thanked his crew. He’s “I feel like I did all I could. group had the edge based try to maintain that and get “Sometimes we may not
the 16th driver in NAS- I don’t feel I could have on its tremendous season to Homestead, that's what be the best, sometimes
CAR history to win multiple done a better job. I didn’t — Busch’s win was the 19th it's all about.” we may not have the right
championships, and one of leave anything out there,” out of 36 races for the or- Hamlin, Harvick and Truex track position. We had a re-
only five to win titles in both Hamlin said. “I was thinking ganization — and the trio had all won playoff races, ally good car and I could
the Cup Series and the sec- we got a chance and it just insisted it would continue its and Hamlin’s win at Phoe- race around and move
ond-tier Xfinity Series. didn’t work out. We got a note-sharing all weekend. nix last week gave him all around.
The No. 18 crew climbed little aggressive there and it Las Vegas couldn’t chose the momentum. But with That's what's so special
the pit wall and handed cost us.” a title favorite and the four friend and fan Michael Jor- about Homestead Miami
Busch the championship Harvick, the only Ford driver had essentially even odds dan in attendance, Hamlin Speedway, is the ability to
flag for his post-race cele- in the championship field, at the start of the race, failed to win his first champi- put on a show.
bration, and he was met on never had anything on even though Busch was onship in his third try. Hamlin “I felt like we did that there
the frontstretch by 4-year- long runs for the Gibbs cars probably the least likely is the only driver in the final racing those guys. I know it
old son Brexton, who imme- and finished fourth. contender of the group. four without a Cup title. kind of dulled out toward
diately asked: “Dad, are “On the restarts I could do Although he won the regu- “Our year was fantastic in the end. It was exciting
you going to throw me in what I wanted to do and lar season crown, his last every way you can think enough from my seat. It
the air again?” about their hold them off for 15 or 20 Cup win was at Pocono in of, and it just didn't pan out was a lot of fun to cap off
celebratory tradition. laps,” Harvick said. “This June, his playoffs leading in one race in our favor,” such an amazing year.”
“He was asking if he could race has come down to into Homestead had been said Hamlin, who won the Busch gave Gibbs his fifth
get thrown up in the air that every year. You kind mediocre at best and his Daytona 500 and five other Cup title and bookended a
because we won a race,” of play toward that and mood soured with every races a year removed from season in which the Gibbs
Busch said. “He's a little they were quite a bit better missed victory lane. a winless season. cars opened the year 1-2-3
lighter than the trophy, so I than us on the long run. We “We had a cold spell there. Busch, ironically, had one at the Daytona 500. Gibbs
think I'm OK.” had a really good car for It's been well document- of his worst races in the pits this entire year has been
Busch had raced for a sec- those first 15 to 20 laps on ed,” Stevens said. “Quite in last year’s finale as his mourning the death of his
ond championship in each the restarts and had a lot of a few questions about it. front-tire changer had hic- son, JGR co-chairman J.D.
of the last three seasons speed, we just never got to We're in such a unique cups on two stops. But he Gibbs, and the organiza-
and fell short a year ago in try to race for it there." situation, as a competi- was flawless Sunday night tion promoted a “Do it
part because of his crew’s The finale pitted a trio of tive team that runs up front and led a race-high 120 for J.D.” theme the entire
own pit error. This time, it Toyota drivers from Hall of with the goal of winning laps. weekend.
was Truex and Hamlin bit- Fame owner Gibbs against the championship every “Everybody always says The season ended with a
ten by silly mistakes. Truex Harvick, the hand-picked year, everything we do is to you never give up. We're 1-2-3 finish in the finale as
dominated early but fell a driver of former Gibbs pro- make that happen, right? no different. We just do it was Busch, Truex and Erik
lap back after his crew put tege Tony Stewart at Stew- To win the regular season what we can do each and Jones across the finish line
tires on the wrong side of his art-Haas Racing. The Gibbs points championship, then every week,” Busch said. for Gibbs.q