A three-time champion sidelined by injury. A terrible crash at Daytona where the carnage couldn't be contained on the track. Front Row ending up the Front Two at Talladega. An "outlaw" taking an underdog team to a surprising Chase berth. The tragic loss of a Nationwide Series fan favorite and a wonderful personality to boot. Trucks hitting the dirt, where for a split-second, we were all Norm Benning fans. A team orders controversy that turned the entire Chase completely on its head. Last lap passes and blue balls finishes. Cheap shots and clusterfucks. And a short-tempered Italian getting bitch-slapped (literally). Just some of the many stories that defined the 2013 NASCAR season. Now it all comes to a close beneath the South Florida sun.
What looked to be a neck & neck shootout for the title between Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth seemingly came unraveled for the latter at the hands of an ill-handling machine at Phoenix. Such as it is, it's looking more and more like Jimmie's "Five Time" nickname will be retired for good, replaced with a new moniker: "Six Pack". A 23rd-place finish or better at Homestead will give him his 6th Sprint Cup Series championship, pushing him one monumental step closer to joining Petty and Earnhardt in the championship count. All things considered, the Jimmie haters of the world can only hope that the mechanical problems that would befall him in last year's race strike again.
Things are much closer in the Nationwide Series. An 8-point gap separates Austin Dillon and Sam Hornish Jr. Can RCR's heir to the #3/spoiled rich kid (Harvick's words, not mine) take the title, even without a victory under his belt? Will Sam put a period on his amazing turnaround of a once-floundering stock car career with a championship?
And barring some near-apocalyptic act of God, longtime Camping World Truck Series regular Matt Crafton will take home his first Truck championship by simply starting Friday night's race, thanks in part to a knack for consistency and a massive string of top-10 finishes.
Sprint Cup Entry List (43 cars)
Nationwide Entry List (41 cars)
Truck Entry List (36 trucks)
Regardless, I was kinda hoping for a closer and more exciting battle going into Homestead. It's been a fantastic duel between these two (IMO), and I've definitely gained a new appreciation for Matt Kenseth.