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SPORTS Monday 12 noveMber 2018

Kyle Busch

Continued from Page 18

The field is two Ford driv-
ers, two Toyota drivers and
represents four different or-
ganizations. Chevrolet was
shut out of the finale.
Busch and Harvick have
gone win-for-win all year,
and Busch could have con-
trolled Harvick’s fate late
in the race when he was
lined up against Harvick
teammate Aric Almirola on
a restart. An Almirola vic-
tory would have eliminated
Harvick from the playoffs,
which Busch acknowl-
edged considering.
“I did think about it,” Busch
said. “But I’m here to win
the race. They always want
it to play out naturally.”
Now Busch might just have
the momentum to take the
title.
“I’d like to think it gives us Kyle Busch (18) leads Brad Keselowski (2) on lap 120 during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, in Avondale,
a lot (of momentum) but I Ariz.
don’t know, talk is cheap,” Associated Press
Busch said. “We’ve got to the end, it was just like ev- the other championship was the right one as he Almirola didn’t have much
be able to go out there erybody wrecking and all contenders. Clint Bowyer was promptly wrecked on for Kyle Busch, who pulled
and perform and just do over the place,” Harvick had a flat tire that caused the restart. Denny Hamlin, away. With Almirola out of
what we need to do. Be- said. “We just needed to him to wreck, Kurt Busch trying to keep his streak of contention for the victory,
ing able to do what we did stay out of trouble and try was wrecked and that ac- winning at least once in Harvick was finally in the
here today was certainly to find a safe spot there.” cident collected Chase El- every season, aggressively clear.
beneficial. I didn’t think we Brad Keselowski and Kyle liott, who earlier had been tried to dart to the front More from ISM Raceway:
were the best car, but we Larson, both already elimi- penalized for speeding on and while doing so shoved LOGANO CRASHES: Loga-
survived and we did what nated from the playoffs, pit road. Kurt Busch also Busch’s car into the wall. no had a short day at Phoe-
we needed to do. It’s just finished second and third. had been penalized early As Busch’s car ricocheted nix because his left rear
about getting to next week Almirola was fourth and in the race for passing the back into traffic he tagged tire went flat and caused
and once we were locked Harvick fifth. pace car. Chase Elliott to end Elliott’s him to spin. He wound up
in, it was ‘All bets are off Harvick was stripped of his The intensity of the race bid to race his way into the 37th with an early exit, but
and it’s time to go.’” berth to Homestead that picked up with a flurry of finale. “Denny came out of didn’t think it would hurt his
Harvick was the favorite he’d earned by winning a late cautions that began nowhere and cleaned us momentum for the cham-
to win Sunday and started week ago at Texas when when Ricky Stenhouse Jr. out,” said Kurt Busch. pionship.
from the pole but an early NASCAR ruled his car was wrecked with 48 laps re- Alex Bowman then spun, “These things are out of
flat tire made Sunday’s illegal. The penalty forced maining. Stewart-Haas NASCAR again stopped your control, so it doesn’t
race more eventful than him to requalify and he had Racing used split strategy the race for a cleanup, really knock your confi-
Harvick expected. to do it without his crew on the ensuing pit stop as and Aric Almirola used the dence down,” Logano
He found himself racing chief or car chief. But he’s Kurt Busch stayed on the sequence to make his play said. “There’s nothing my
late against Stewart-Haas a nine-time winner at this track to move into second for the victory. He restarted team could do different, so
Racing teammates Kurt track, was fastest in prac- and Harvick pitted for new third, behind teammate there’s really nothing to get
Busch and Aric Almirola for tice, started on the pole tires to restart sixth. NASCAR Harvick, on the restart. depressed about.”
the fourth transfer spot to and led the first 72 laps be- then stopped the race for Almirola dove to the bot- Logano believes he’s the
Homestead, but Busch was fore his tire went flat. the extensive cleanup tom of the track to slip past favorite to win the title
wrecked late and Almi- That put Harvick back in needed for Stenhouse’s Harvick and move into because by winning the
rola had to win the race 30th and one lap down, crash and the cars parked second. Another caution opening race of this round
to snatch the berth away and he had to work his way on the track for close 11 with 17 laps remaining put to qualify for Homestead
from Harvick. back to the front the rest minutes. Almirola on the front row gave Team Penske two ad-
“We kept ourselves in po- of the race. He was aided But Kurt Busch never got alongside Kyle Busch for ditional weeks to focus on
sition all day and there at by a flurry of mistakes by to find out if his strategy the restart with 12 to go. But the main event.q