By John Schutt
NASCAR Cup Series Championship, Phoenix, Raceway Phoenix, Ariz., Sunday, Nov. 5.
Only one of the four finalists, Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, or William Byron, Christopher Bell, could win the championship, but any racer could win the race. And that is what happened when Ross Chastain won the race, but Ryan Blaney in second place won the Series Championship! Following in third was Kyle Larson, William Byron in fourth, and Chris Buescher in fifth.
Pole winner was William Byron, who won stage 1.
Early during the second stage Bell hit the wall due to the right front brake rotor came apart. He was out and the final four were down to three contenders.
The second stage was won by Chriss Buecher.
With 25 laps to go all three finalists were in the top five most of the race, with Chastain in the lead.
In the last 10 laps Blaney, who was running third, got past Larson. Blaney was just two seconds behind eventual winner Chastain, when they crossed the finish line.
The event was Kevin Harvick’s final series race and and next season he will be in the booth for FOX Sports.
NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity 500, Martinsville Speedway. Martinsville, Va., Sunday, Oct. 29.
With 15 laps to go, Blaney took over the lead and stayed there for the victory. Following in second was Aric Amirola, Denny Hamlin in third, Chase Briscoe in fourth, Joey Logano in fifth.
Blaney won the pole and Hamlin won stage 1
Stage 2 was led by Hamlin until the last 10 laps when Blaney took over and won the second stage.
With 170 laps to go after a caution restart the Pace Car failed and had to be replaced with a back-up.
With 120 Laps to go Chase Elliott was leading, ahead of Almirola.
With 15 laps to go Blaney stayed in the lead and won the race.
NASCAR Cup Series, 4EVER 400, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Homestead, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 23.
In the last 10 laps, Bell took over the lead and won the race. Following in second was Blaney, Tyler Reddick in third, and Byron in fourth, and AJ Allmendinger in fifth.
The pole went to Martin Truex, Jr.. Brad Keselowski led early, but with 22 laps to go in the stage, Larson took over and won stage 1.
Ryan Blaney won stage 2 and then he hit the sand-filled barrels when was driving into the pits. This caused a red flag condition.
On the restart, JJ Yeley and Joe Hunter Nemicheck caused a three-car wreck.
Ten laps later, Hamlin hit hard into the wall and was out. Then his teammate, Truex, Jr. was out with engine problems.
The race was a tribute to Kevin Harvick’s NASCAR career, who will retire after this season.
Bell took over the lead and won the race.
NASCAR Cup Series, South Point 400, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, Nev., Sunday, Oct. 15.
Kyle Larson won the race ahead of Bell. In third place was Kyle Busch, Keselowski in fourth, and Chastain in fifth.
Larson was the pole-winner and winner of first stage
With 24 laps to go in stage 2 Keselowski was ahead of Larson, who then tapped the wall.
Larson got his car fixed up during the caution and won the second stage.
Larson went on to win the race ahead of Chris Bell.