AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) – Kyle Busch has won for the eighth time this season and set up a head-to-head showdown with Kevin Harvick for NASCAR’s championship.
Busch’s win Sunday at ISM Raceway outside of Phoenix tied him with Harvick for most this year in the Cup Series. The two were the most dominant drivers this season and will race next week at Homestead-Miami Speedway for the title against reigning series champion Martin Truex Jr. and Joey Logano.
Harvick finished fifth to close a week in which his team was penalized for cheating. He started from the pole but had a harder day than expected because of a flat tire early in the race.
Harvick was aided when teammate Kurt Busch was wrecked late in the race, taking Kurt Busch out of the running for a championship berth.