Leah Pritchett earned her third consecutive victory in the NHRA Factory Stock Showdown class Sunday at Texas Motorplex to clinch the 2018 championship in her first full season in that division. Her win at the AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals gave the 30-year-old Pritchett her fourth title and her second world championship. She captured the Junior Dragster Division 7 championships in both 2000 and 2001 and added the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series world championship in the Nostalgia Funny Car class in 2010 (the adult classes in NHRA are identified as world championships). She currently is the only professional driver with the opportunity to win two NHRA championships this season. She is fourth in the Top Fuel standings with three events remaining in the Countdown to the Championship. Leah Pritchett picked up a pair of trophies on Sunday, one for winning the Factory Stock Showdown event in Texas and one for taking the season championship in that division. “It’s been eight years since I had a world championship,” said Pritchett, who drove a Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak to the title. “To have one is a life’s dream, but to have another one at, what I would consider top shelf, highest caliber of support and people around, is something that I feel, at this very moment, has yet to sink in. It’s gratifying, but at the same time it’s humbling.” Pritchett entered the season finale having won at the NHRA U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis in early September and at the NHRA Midwest Nationals in Illinois two weeks ago. At the Madison, Illinois, event, Pritchett became the first NHRA driver in the Factory Stock Showdown class to make a pass in the seven-second range.

 Joey Logano is the 2018 Monster Energy Cup Series champion after his win at the Ford EcoBoost 400. The entire season was on the line at Sunday’s race at Homestead-Miami Raceway, with Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick and Logano all battling for a championship in the final race of the year. It was the No. 22 car that eventually came through with the win after a late pass with 12 laps left. He led 80 total laps on his way to the first-place finish. Logano was the only member of the Championship 4 without a prior championship, but his strong finish helped him win his first career title. 

Final Results

1. Joey Logano (22)

2. Martin Truex Jr. (78)

3. Kevin Harvick (4)

4. Kyle Busch (18)

5. Brad Keselowski (2)

6. Matt Kenseth (6)

7. Chase Elliott (9)

8. Clint Bowyer (14)

9. Aric Almirola (10)

10. Kurt Busch (41)

Full results available at NASCAR.com.

After Logano and Truex had several close battles throughout the season, Logano was able to win it all thanks to a strong move late against his competitor. The four contenders were in control for most of the race, although there were some gaps in the action. Denny Hamlin began the race on the pole and led the first 37 laps before Harvick moved toward the front. Harvick eventually led for the rest of Stage 1, although there was a lot of competition from the rest of the Championship 4 after 80 laps. There was more shuffling in the second stage, with Kyle Larson trying to play the role of spoiler while Logano and Truex worked their way into the lead at separate times. Harvick then moved back into first place and appeared ready to win his second stage of the day, but Larson showed he was willing to fight the hardest for the narrow Stage 2 victory. The four title contenders were all in the mix this time as well, all finishing the stage within the top six spots. By the time there were 60 laps remaining in the race, they were running 1-2-3-4. There was some strategy employed with under 40 laps to go, with Busch choosing not to pit while hoping for a caution. The others battled for positioning, with Harvick’s short-pit helping him stay ahead of Logano and Truex. Busch needed a caution to remain in the hunt, and it finally came with 20 laps to go after a Daniel Suarez spin. However, he couldn’t take advantage while losing the lead on the restart. Logano saw the opportunity and took it, earning himself a championship. He now has several months to enjoy his championship, but the rest of the field will be back in February hoping to find more success in 2019.

Last weekend Kyle Busch took his 8th win of the year at the Can-Am 500 at ISM Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. The result guarantees him passage to the championship round of the Monster Energy NASCAR Series playoffs. Busch, Joey Logano, Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex Jr. make up the four-driver playoff field heading into the final race. Busch led 117 of the 312 laps on the day. His win was relatively drama-free, as he never looked to be in danger before the checkered flag waved. The biggest story to follow was whether Aric Almirola could steal the victory late and punch his ticket to the championship round. A first-place finish was required for Almirola to keep his title hopes alive, and he at least put himself in a position to potentially do just that. Almirola was in second place running alongside Busch on a restart with 12 laps remaining. Almost immediately, though, things started slipping away. Busch surged ahead of the field, with Almirola slipping to the outside and letting Brad Keselowski move into second.

NASCAR at Phoenix 2018 Results: Kyle Busch Collects 8th Win of the Year

Last weekend Kyle Busch took his 8th win of the year at the Can-Am 500 at ISM Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. The result guarantees him passage to the championship round of the Monster Energy NASCAR Series playoffs. Busch, Joey Logano, Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex Jr. make up the four-driver playoff field heading into the final race. Busch led 117 of the 312 laps on the day. His win was relatively drama-free, as he never looked to be in danger before the checkered flag waved. The biggest story to follow was whether Aric Almirola could steal the victory late and punch his ticket to the championship round. A first-place finish was required for Almirola to keep his title hopes alive, and he at least put himself in a position to potentially do just that. Almirola was in second place running alongside Busch on a restart with 12 laps remaining. Almost immediately, though, things started slipping away. Busch surged ahead of the field, with Almirola slipping to the outside and letting Brad Keselowski move into second.

 

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