Avondale, Ariz.
It was Busch who claimed the latest round, winning for the eighth time this year on Sunday to tie Harvick for the most Cup victories. His win at ISM Raceway outside of Phoenix was the final qualifying event for next week’s finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where it will be winner-take-all between NASCAR’s so-called Big Three and the driver once called “Sliced Bread.”
Busch, Harvick and reigning series champion Martin Truex Jr., coined The Big Three because of how they dominated the regular season, advanced into the championship round as expected. Joey Logano, nicknamed “Sliced Bread” before his NASCAR debut at age 18 because he was predicted to be “the best thing since …,” has the fourth spot.
Busch and Harvick have gone win-for-win all year, and Busch could have controlled Harvick’s fate late in the race when he was lined up against Harvick teammate Aric Almirola on a restart. An Almirola victory would have eliminated Harvick from the playoffs, which Busch acknowledged considering.
Hamilton Wins in Brazil
Sao Paulo
Hamilton, who had already sealed his fifth Formula One title, started from pole position and finished less than two seconds ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen completed the podium at Interlagos.
Hamilton’s 10th victory in the season was helped by Force India’s Esteban Ocon, who collided with Verstappen on the 44th lap when the Dutchman led.
Verstappen managed to stay in the race and get closer to Hamilton in the final laps, but it wasn’t enough for him to get his second consecutive victory.
Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel finished sixth.
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