Toyota clinches manufacturers championship with 18th win of season

Toyota clinched its third manufacturers championship in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series with its 18th win of the season Sunday at ISM Raceway near Phoenix. RELATED: Race results | Hamlin prevails at Phoenix The automaker's title is its third in the last four seasons, a run broken only by Ford's championship performance last year. Joe Gibbs Racing has accounted for all 18 of its premier-series wins this year, tying a single-season record for one organization, set by Hendrick Motorsports in 2007. JGR clinched three spots in the Championship 4 field that will battle for the title next Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Phoenix race winner Denny Hamlin and Gibbs teammates Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. will challenge Stewart-Haas Racing's Kevin Harvick for the title in the season finale at the 1.5-mile Florida venue. Before Toyota's recent tear and Ford's title last season, Chevrolet had won 13 straight manufacturers championships from 2003-15.