By John Schutt
First, I must address the death of famous NASCAR driver, Bobby Allison, who was one of the “Alabama Gang,” Saturday Nov. 9.
Next is good news: Justin Allgaier won the Xfinity Series Championship and was the first Illinois driver to ever win a NASCAR championship.
NASCAR Cup Series Championship, at Phoenix Raceway, Phoenix, Ariz., Sunday, Nov. 10.
The final 4 raced in the final race of the season, and Joey Logano was able to hold off his hard-charging teammate, Ryan Blaney, to win the championship. Following in third place was William Byron, Kyle Larson in fourth, and Christopher Bell in fifth.
Martin Truex, Jr won the pole position in his final full-time race.
In the second lap of the race, Ty Gibbs hit the wall and received a DNF.
Logano won the first stage ahead of Bell.
Bell led Ryan Blaney most of second stage, until Blaney got by and with just seven laps to go and won stage 2.
In stage 3, with 22 laps to go, Logano was in the lead. Blaney, in third, passed Byron to take second.
With five laps to go Blaney was less than a second behind Logano.
Logano was able to win the race, only .4 seconds ahead of Blaney.
It was Logano’s third career NASCAR championship victory.
NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity 500, Martinsville Raceway, Martinsville, Va., Sunday, Nov. 3.
Blaney won the race and qualified for the Final 4 for the championship race! Following in second was Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson in third, Austin Cendric in fourth, and Denny Hamlin in fifth.
Truex, Jr. won the pole for his final regular season race.
Hamlin backed his car into the wall during practice and had to start in the back.
Elliott took the lead ahead of Truex, Jr. on lap 44 and won the first stage.
Brad Keselowski won the second stage ahead of Blaney.
With 13 laps to go in the third stage, Blaney took the lead.
With nothing to lose on the last lap, Bell hugged the wall and floored his vehicle to get past Bubba Wallace, to qualify for the Final 4. However, there is a new NASCAR rule that prohibits drivers riding the wall on purpose. Bell was penalized and Blaney qualified for the final 4.