Nascar 2018
Breaking down NASCAR's Championship 4 drivers
Take a closer look at the four drivers who will battle for the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday.
After 26 regular season and nine playoff races, four drivers remain to fight for the title in the Homestead-Miami Speedway finale.
The Championship Four drivers are the best of the best, winning 22 of 35 races run this season with three former series champions among them. Take a look at how each driver stacks up ahead of the 400-mile finale to crown the 2018 MENCS champion.
Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Fusion
Kevin Harvick, the first driver to be crowned champion in this knockout format in 2014, has made the Championship 4 four times in the last five years. If he were to win again, it would again be with Stewart-Haas Racing, but a different manufacturer in Ford (SHR ran Chevrolets in 2014). For team owners Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, it would be their third title with Stewart himself earning the team's first back in 2011.
Kevin Harvick's 2018 season
Poles: 4
Wins: 8
Stage wins: 18
Top 5s: 22
Top 10s: 28
Laps led: 1,932
Best playoff result: 1st (Texas, encumbered)
Kevin Harvicks 2018 paint schemes
Jimmy John's
Photo by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Images
Daytona I, Atlanta, Las Vegas I, Phoenix I, Martinsville I, Dover I, Michigan I, Bristol II, Talladega II, Homestead
Busch Beer
Photo by: Rusty Jarrett / NKP / Motorsport Images
Fontana, Bristol I, Pocono I, Loudon, Watkins Glen, Martinsville II
Busch Light
Photo by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Images
Texas I, Kansas I, Kentucky, Kansas II, Phoenix II
Mobil 1
Photo by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Images
Richmond I, Sonoma, Pocono II, Las Vegas II, Texas II
Busch Beer Flannel
Photo by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Images
Talladega I
Mobil 1 / Busch Beer
Photo by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Images
Charlotte I
Jimmy John's Kickin' Ranch
Photo by: Russell LaBounty / NKP / Motorsport Images
Chicago, Daytona II
Busch Light / Mobil 1
Photo by: Matthew T. Thacker / NKP / Motorsport Images
Michigan II
Busch Beer Throwback
Photo by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Images
Darlington
Jimmy John's New 9-Grain Wheat Sub
Photo by: Rusty Jarrett / NKP / Motorsport Images
Indianapolis, Richmond II, Charlotte II
Busch Outdoors
Photo by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Images
Dover II
Kevin Harvick's Homestead stats
Starts: 17
Poles: 1 (2016)
Wins: 1 (2014)
Top 5s: 9
Top 10s: 15
Laps led: 315
Average finish: 6.8
Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch, No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry
Kyle Busch earned his lone title in 2015 and like Harvick, has made the Championship 4 in four of the last five years. He earned that title despite breaking his leg in the season-opening NASCAR Xfinity Series race and missing the first 12 races of the Cup season, after being granted a playoff waiver by NASCAR due to his injury. Should Busch win Sunday, it would be ten years after joining Joe Gibbs Racing, a team searching for their fifth title. Bobby Labonte delivered their first in 2000, followed by Tony Stewart in 2002 and 2005 and then Busch in 2015.
Kyle Busch's 2018 season
Poles: 4
Wins: 8
Stage Wins: 6
Top 5s: 21
Top 10s: 27
Laps Led: 1,448
Best playoff result: 1st (Richmond, Phoenix)
Kyle Busch's 2018 paint schemes
M&M's
Photo by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Images
Daytona I, Las Vegas II, Richmond II, Charlotte II, Talladega II, Fort Worth II, Phoenix II, Homestead
Snickers Almond
Photo by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Images
Atlanta
M&M's Caramel
Photo by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Images
Las Vegas I, Martinsville I, Kansas City I, Sonoma, Pocono II, Indianapolis
Skittles Sweet Heat
Photo by: Rusty Jarrett / NKP / Motorsport Images
Phoenix I
Interstate Batteries
Photo by: Rusty Jarrett / NKP / Motorsport Images
Fontana, Texas I, Daytona II, Loudon, Michigan II, Dover II
Skittles
Photo by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Images
Bristol I
M&M's Flavor Vote
Photo by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Images
Richmond I, Talladega I
Pedigree
Photo by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Images
Dover I
M&M's Red White & Blue
Photo by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Images
Charlotte I, Pocono I, Michigan I
Skittles Red White & Blue
Photo by: Barry Cantrell / NKP / Motorsport Images
Chicago
Snickers Intense
Photo by: Bob Meyer
Kentucky
M&M's Flavor Vote Winner
Photo by: Logan Whitton / NKP / Motorsport Images
Watkins Glen
M&M's White Chocolate
Photo by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Images
Bristol II
Skittles 1998 Retro
Photo by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Images
Darlington
M&M's Halloween
Photo by: Russell LaBounty / NKP / Motorsport Images
Kansas II, Martinsville II
Kyle Busch's Homestead stats
Starts: 13
Poles: 0
Wins: 1 (2015)
Top 5s: 3
Top 10s: 6 Rounds
Laps Led: 322
Average finish: 18.5
Martin Truex Jr.
Martin Truex Jr., No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota Camry
Martin Truex Jr. returns to Homestead as the defending race winner and the reigning series champion. Truex made the Championship 4 once before in 2015, beating Kyle Busch for the title in 2017. Even if he is able to become a back-to-back champion, Sunday will be Furniture Row Racing's final race as team owner Barney Visser plans to close their doors at the conclusion of the season. Truex and crew chief Cole Pearn will become Busch's teammate at Joe Gibbs Racing in 2019.
If Truex prevails, he will also be the first driver in this Championship 4 era of the playoffs to successfully defend his crown. Although he has no wins in the 2018 playoffs, he has been leading entering the final lap on multiple occasions before incidents snatched the victory away.
Martin Truex Jr.'s 2018 season
Poles: 4
Wins: 4
Stage Wins: 10
Top 5s: 19
Top 10s: 20
Laps Led: 996
Best playoff result: 3rd (Las Vegas, Richmond, Martinsville)
Martin Truex Jr.'s 2018 paint schemes
Bass Pro Shops / 5-Hour Energy
Photo by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Images
Daytona I, Atlanta, Las Vegas I, Fontana, Texas I, Richmond I, Talladega I, Charlotte I, Pocono I, Darlington, Talladega II, Kansas II, Texas II, Homestead
5-Hour Energy / Bass Pro Shops
Photo by: Rusty Jarrett / NKP / Motorsport Images
Phoenix I, Martinsville I, Dover I, Kansas City I, Sonoma, Chicago, Loudon, Watkins Glen, Michigan II, Dover II, Martinsville II
Auto-Owners Insurance
Photo by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Images
Bristol I, Michigan I, Kentucky, Pocono II, Indianapolis, Richmond II, Phoenix II
Bass Pro Shops Patriotic / 5-Hour Energy
Photo by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Images
Daytona II
Bass Pro Shops / Ducks Unlimited
Photo by: Logan Whitton / NKP / Motorsport Images
Bristol II
5-Hour Energy
Photo by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Images
Las Vegas II
Auto-Owners Insurance Teal
Photo by: Rusty Jarrett / NKP / Motorsport Images
Charlotte II
Martin Truex Jr.'s Homestead stats
Starts: 13
Poles: 0
Wins: 1 (2017)
Top 5s: 4
Top 10s: 8
Laps Led: 189
Average finish: 11.5
Joey Logano
Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford Fusion
Joey Logano, championship runner-up to Jimmie Johnson in 2016, is the only driver in this year's Championship 4 yet to win the title. Logano has made the final four twice before in 2014 and 2016 and his journey to this year's title-decider was a bit of a controversial one. After Truex fought to cleanly pass Logano for the win at Martinsville, Logano moved him out of the way and snatched back the win, securing his place in the Championship 4. Truex has vowed to return the favor should they find themselves battling each other Sunday.
If Logano earns his first title this weekend, it would be Roger Penske's second as a team owner with Brad Keselowski delivering his first in 2012.
Joey Logano's 2018 season
Poles: 1
Wins: 2
Stage Wins: 5
Top 5s: 12
Top 10s: 25
Laps Led: 854
Best playoff result: 1st (Martinsville)
Joey Loganos 2018 paint schemes
Shell / Pennzoil
Photo by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Images
Daytona I, Atlanta, Phoenix I, Martinsville I, Fort Worth I, Richmond I, Dover I, Charlotte I, Pocono I, Michigan I, Sonoma, Chicago, Daytona II, Kentucky, Loudon, Pocono II, Watkins Glen, Michigan II, Bristol II, Indianapolis, Richmond II, Charlotte II, Dover II, Talladega II, Kansas II, Martinsville II, Phoenix II, Homestead
Pennzoil
Photo by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Images
Las Vegas I, Las Vegas II
AAA Southern California
Photo by: Matthew T. Thacker / NKP / Motorsport Images
Fontana
Autotrader
Photo by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Images
Bristol I
Shell / Pennzoil / Autotrader
Photo by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Images
Talladega I
AAA Insurance
Photo by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Images
Kansas I, Texas II
Pennzoil Throwback
Photo by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Images
Darlington
Joey Logano's Homestead stats
Starts: 9
Poles: 1 (2012)
Wins: 0
Top 5s: 2
Top 10s: 4 Rounds
Laps Led: 78
Average finish: 14.9
Direct comparison of the Championship 4 drivers
2018 season
| Driver | Team/Car | Victories | Stage wins | Top 5s | Top 10s | Laps Led |
| Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing/Ford | 8th | 18 | 22 | 28 | 1932 |
| Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing/Toyota | 8th | 6 | 21 | 27 | 1448 |
| Martin Truex Jt. | Furniture Row Racing/Toyota | 4 | 10 | 19 | 20 | 996 |
| Joey Logano | Team Penske/Ford | 2 | 5 | 12 | 25 | 854 |
Homestead results
| Driver | Starts | Victories | Top 5s | Top 10s | Laps Led |
| Kevin Harvick | 17 | 1 | 9 | 15 | 315 |
| Kyle Busch | 13 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 322 |
| Martin Truex Jr. | 13 | 1 | 4 | 8th | 189 |
| Joey Logano | 9 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 78 |
Career results
| Driver | Age | Debut | Starts | Victories | Top 5s | Top 10s | Laps Led | Best points result |
| Kevin Harvick | 42 | Rockingham 2001 | 645 | 45 | 190 | 335 | 13023 | 1st (2014) |
| Kyle Busch | 33 | Las Vegas 2004 | 497 | 51 | 182 | 268 | 15829 | 1st (2015) |
| Martin Truex Jr. | 38 | Atlanta 2004 | 476 | 19 | 86 | 180 | 7515 | 1st (2017) |
| Joey Logano | 28 | Loudon 2008 | 362 | 20 | 103 | 178 | 5017 | 2nd (2016) |
All NASCAR champions from the playoff era
2004: Kurt Busch - Roush Fenway Racing - Ford
Photo by: Autostock
2005: Tony Stewart - Joe Gibbs Racing - Chevrolet
Photo by: Getty Images
2006: Jimmie Johnson - Hendrick Motorsports - Chevrolet
Photo by: General Motors
2007: Jimmie Johnson - Hendrick Motorsports - Chevrolet
Photo by: Kurt Dahlstrom
2008: Jimmie Johnson - Hendrick Motorsports - Chevrolet
Photo by: Motorsport.com / ASP Inc.
2009: Jimmie Johnson - Hendrick Motorsports - Chevrolet
Photo by: Getty Images
2010: Jimmie Johnson (Hendrick-Chevrolet)
Photo by: Motorsport.com / ASP Inc.
2011: Tony Stewart (Stewart/Haas-Chevrolet)
Photo by: Eric Gilbert
Tony Stewart gewinnt im Chase 2011 fünf Rennen (Chicago, Loudon, Martinsville, Fort Worth, Homestead) und erringt im denkwürdigen Finale in Homestead gegen Carl Edwards seinen dritten Titel, seinen zweiten in der Playoff-Ära.
2012: Brad Keselowski - Team Penske - Dodge
Photo by: Eric Gilbert
2013: Jimmie Johnson - Hendrick Motorsports - Chevrolet
Photo by: Eric Gilbert
2014: Kevin Harvick - Stewart-Haas Racing - Chevrolet
Photo by: Eric Gilbert
2015: Kyle Busch - Joe Gibbs Racing - Toyota
Photo by: NASCAR Media
2016: Jimmie Johnson - Hendrick Motorports - Chevrolet
Photo by: Rainier Ehrhardt
2017: Martin Truex Jr. (Furniture-Row-Toyota)
Photo by: Logan Whitton / NKP / Motorsport Images
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About this article
| Series | NASCAR Cup |
| Event | Homestead |
| Drivers | Kevin Harvick , Martin Truex Jr. , Joey Logano , Kyle Busch |
| Teams | Team Penske , Stewart-Haas Racing , Furniture Row Racing , Joe Gibbs Racing |
| Author | Mario Fritzsche |
| Session | Date | Content | |
| First Practice | Fri 11 Oct | | |
| Final Practice | Fri 11 Oct | | |
| Qualifying | Sat 12 Oct | | |
| Race | Sun 13 Oct | |
