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By Reid Spencer
NASCAR Wire Service

HOMESTEAD, Fla. — The fuel strategy that was supposed to carry Jimmie Johnson to a sixth championship instead made a winner of his teammate, Jeff Gordon, who triumphed in Sunday’s Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway as Brad Keselowski locked up the NASCAR Sprint Cup title.

Gordon crossed the finish line 1.028 seconds ahead of Clint Bowyer, his nemesis from a week ago at Phoenix, as Johnson’s No. 48 Chevrolet sat forlorn in the garage, Johnson’s title hopes the victim of a pit road mistake and a rare part failure.

Ryan Newman ran third, followed by Kyle Busch and Greg Biffle.

Continue reading “Brad Keselowski Clinches Championship, As Jeff Gordon Wins At Homestead”

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Roger Penske has fielded NASCAR Sprint Cup entries – 1,571 of them – since June 18, 1972, when Donnie Allison finished third at Riverside (Calif.) International Raceway behind Ray Elder and Benny Parsons. Penske Racing cars have won 76 times over 29 seasons but never a NASCAR Sprint Cup championship. NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Rusty Wallace came closest finishing second in 1993. NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison was fourth in 1974 and 1976 as was Kurt Busch in 2009. Brad Keselowski, the current Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™ leader, was fifth a year ago. Keselowski’s 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship is Penske’s only NASCAR title.

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NASCAR National Series Clinch Scenarios Set For Homestead

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 11, 2012) – Brad Keselowski leads five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson by 20 points going into Ford Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Keselowski clinches his first NASCAR Sprint Cup championship with a finish of 15th or better; or 16th and at least one lap led; or 17th and the most laps led, even if Johnson wins and leads the most laps.

All other drivers have been eliminated from championship consideration.

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Continue reading “NASCAR Cup, Nationwide, Truck Series Clinch Scenarios Heading To Homestead-Miami Speedway”

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Three competitors have clinched seeded spots in this year’s Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™ and another – 2003 champion Matt Kenseth – moves to the post season with at least a “wild card” entry. Current points leader Greg Biffle, five-time champion Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. locked up Chase berths at Bristol Motor Speedway over the weekend.

For Biffle, it’s redemption after failing to qualify a year ago. Johnson continues to be the only driver to qualify in each of the nine seasons since the Chase format was adopted in 2004. Earnhardt is in for the second straight year and fifth time overall. Kenseth, a Chase qualifier for the eighth time, and other members of the current top 10 can lock up top-10 positions by holding leads of at least 49 points over 11th place following Sunday’s AdvoCare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway (depending on which driver is in 11th and who wins Sunday’s race, some drivers can leave with a 48-point lead and still clinch a top-10 spot).

Continue reading “Driver Chase Clinch Scenarios: Eight Spots Remain”

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A full-size clay version of No. 21 Ford Fusion, produced by the Design Center in Dearborn, Mich., is pictured in its traditional Motorcraft paint scheme. Fans will be able to get their first look at the 2013 Motorcraft Ford Fusion of the Wood Brothers this week, beginning on Thursday, May 24, 2012, at the annual Roush Fenway Fan Day in Concord, N.C.

PHOTO CREDIT: NASCARMEDIA (USED WITH PERMISSION)