NASCAR at Homestead-Miami 2014: Latest NASCAR Team News and Top Drivers
The conclusion of the 2014 Sprint Cup season is finally here, and one of the biggest showdowns is set to take place. Homestead will be the setting for the first-ever final-four round in NASCAR as some of the best drivers compete for a championship.
Kevin Harvick made the race thanks to another phenomenal run at Phoenix that led to his fourth win in the last four races at the track. Joining him will be Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano and Ryan Newman, who got in after a controversial finish in Avondale.
Ironically enough, none of the remaining drivers have ever won a Sprint Cup title. Having former champions like Jeff Gordon, Brad Keselowski and Jimmie Johnson now out of the running, the window is wide open for all four to win it all.
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Leading up to the final race of the season, here's a look at the schedule, latest team news and top drivers for the Ford EcoBoost 400.
Race Information
Where: Homestead-Miami Speedway, Homestead, Florida
When: Sunday, Nov. 16
Start Time: 3 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Radio: Motor Racing Network
| 1 | Kevin Harvick | 5000 | 4 | 13 | 19 |
| 2 | Ryan Newman | 5000 | 0 | 4 | 15 |
| 3 | Joey Logano | 5000 | 5 | 16 | 22 |
| 4 | Denny Hamlin | 5000 | 1 | 7 | 17 |
Latest Team News
The first thing on nearly every NASCAR fan's mind right now is, of course, the Chase. Just four drivers remain, so some of the nations hoping to see their driver win it all have already lost hope.
Meanwhile, Harvick, Logano, Hamlin and Newman are all looking to capture a title for their teams. In Harvick's case, he's looking to win it all in his first year with Stewart-Haas Racing after a dominant season.
The SHR driver might also have the best odds to take the title with his history in Homestead. Here's a look at the numbers for the remaining contenders, per DriverAverages.com.
| Kevin Harvick | 8.08 | 0 | 5 | 11 |
| Denny Hamlin | 11.22 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Ryan Newman | 17.00 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Joey Logano | 20.80 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
As for Newman, he still had some questions to answer after narrowly making the field.
The Richard Childress Racing contender made contact with Kyle Larson and sent him into the wall. His move ultimately led to him finishing 11th and one point ahead of Gordon. Newman spoke about the incident after the race, per NASCAR on ESPN:
""I think if he was in my position he would have done the same thing," Newman says of Kyle Larson.
— NASCAR on ESPN (@ESPNNASCAR) November 9, 2014"
Larson, only in his rookie season, didn't make the Chase or even have a chance at factoring into the championship. But after making a clean pass, Larson had a chance to navigate his way to another strong finish during the final lap.
The 22-year-old referenced the accident on Monday, via Jeff Gluck of USA Today:
Regardless of how he arrived here, Newman is one of the final drivers without a win or even a second-place finish. On Sunday, he has a chance to crash the party and cripple the entire system created for this year's postseason.
Drivers to Watch
Kevin Harvick
The aforementioned Harvick comes into Homestead as the hottest driver on the circuit. In search of a title for his new team, the No. 4 machine has been the fastest on the track without coming away with wins several times this season.
Though he hasn't always pulled out as many wins as Logano, Harvick has four victories and has been one of the most consistent drivers in the Chase. He's been so strong, in fact, that Gordon picked him to take the title, per Marty Smith of ESPN:
Having the best average finish doesn't mean much if another driver in the Chase wins. But with the odds in his favor having the most top-five finishes, he'll simply need to hold off his competition and keep a clean car to hoist the trophy.
Due to the issues he's had on the track this season, that's easier said than done for Harvick.
Jeff Gordon
Outside of the four Chase drivers, Gordon might have the most to fight for on Sunday.
The Hendrick driver finished second in two of the three races in the Eliminator Round but was unable to make it to the final four. He was beaten out by Dale Earnhardt Jr. in Martinsville and made contact with Brad Keselowski that caused him to miss out on a potential win in Phoenix.
It was no doubt a tough pill to swallow, but Gordon still has aspirations of visiting Victory Lane. The four-time champion passed along his thoughts with Jenna Fryer of The Associated Press:
Hendrick may not have a chance to win the championship, but it still has some of the strongest cars on the track. Gordon would make a statement with a win just a week after coming up just short in the "Drive for Five."
Denny Hamlin
Hamlin is not only still in the Chase, but is the only driver with a win who still has title hopes. He also happens to be the defending champion at the track after winning last fall in the finale.
As the lone driver left for Joe Gibbs Racing, Hamlin has just one victory this year. Thanks to his history in Florida, however, he might just be a dark horse to win the title after all.
Though he hasn't been able to keep up with Harvick and Logano for much of the season, driving at Homestead might be the great equalizer. He might have blown his chance at a title in 2010, but that experience should help on Sunday.
Follow @RCorySmith on Twitter.
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