Championship day has arrived — here’s everything you need
Staff Report
Chris Graythen | Getty Images
Four drivers. One race. One championship.
The stakes could not be higher for the Championship 4 of Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski. Under the sun, and then the lights, at Homestead-Miami Speedway, one of them will raise the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup high above their heads as champion.
For Truex Jr., a seven-time race winner this season, the title would be a career's culmination, one full of unexpected twists and turns that somehow ended with him as the dominant driver of a dominant team housed in Colorado.
For the others, crossing the start/finish line first among the four would yield a second career Monster Energy Series title. For Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick, their previous titles came in the elimination-style format. It would be Brad Keselowski's first in this playoffs format, as his previous title was in 2012.
MORE: Starting lineup | Race-day snapshot
Beyond the championship race, the spotlight is firmly affixed to Dale Earnhardt Jr. He will climb into the No. 88 Chevrolet for likely the final time in the Monster Energy Series, ending a 17-year career. Matt Kenseth and Danica Patrick join Junior at the twilight of their NASCAR careers.
It all adds up to iconic day ahead at Miami (3 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Get yourself fully prepped for today's championship race below.
FIRST TO THE FLAG
[caption id="attachment_67766" align="aligncenter" width="768"]Martin Truex Jr. is considered the favorite on Sunday. He has seven wins so far in 2017. Matt Sullivan | Getty Images[/caption]
•Preview: Want the highlights? Here's a breakdown of the four championship contenders. | READ HERE• Fightin' words: Kyle Busch didn't mince words when asked about his relationship with Brad Keselowski. "Sometimes you just don't like a guy," he said during Media Day. There was plenty more when the drivers got together. | TOP QUOTES• Final exams: Saturday's second practice session was noteworthy. Read up quickly on the highlights for every Championship 4 driver. | READ HERE
• Line 'em up: See not only the full starting lineup in photos, but also crew chief listings and pit crew rosters. | READ HERE
[caption id="attachment_67765" align="alignright" width="300"] Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images[/caption]
• Just a kiss: An in-car camera view during a Saturday practice yielded an unexpected shot when Martin Truex Jr. scraped the outside wall. | WATCH WHAT HAPPENED• Why ___ will win: For the second consecutive year, we're telling you how every driver could win today's race. | Kyle Busch | Kevin Harvick | Brad Keselowski | Martin Truex Jr.
• Always by your side: This Championship 4 field has something in common beyond just being exceptional drivers -- they all have exceptional women beside them. PHOTOS: Brad and Paige | Martin and Sherry | Kyle and Samantha | Kevin and DeLana
MORE TO WATCH
Beyond deciding a series champion, there is plenty happening in Miami. Here's the best of the rest.