Drivers competing in the NASCAR championship race
HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) The four drivers in the NASCAR championship race Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway:
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DRIVER: Denny Hamlin
TEAM: No. 11 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
BORN: Nov. 18, 1980
HOMETOWN: Chesterfield, Virginia
CREW CHIEF: Darian Grubb
SPONSOR: FedEx Express
TWITTER: (at)dennyhamlin
NOTES: Had a mediocre season by Hamlin's standards with just one victory, at Talladega. Made it through the Chase with decent finishes when needed, but he has just five top-10 finishes in nine Chase races. He's the defending Homestead winner and looking for redemption after losing the 2010 title in the finale.
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DRIVER: Kevin Harvick
TEAM: No. 4 Chevrolet, Stewart-Haas Racing
BORN: Dec. 8, 1975
HOMETOWN: Bakersfield, California
CREW CHIEF: Rodney Childers
SPONSOR: Budweiser, Outback, Jimmy John's
TWITTER: (at)KevinHarvick
NOTES: In his first season with SHR after 13 years driving for Richard Childress, Harvick finally has his first Sprint Cup title in his reach. Advanced through the Chase by winning at Charlotte in the second round and last week at Phoenix in the finale of the third round. Has four wins this season. His eight poles and 2,083 laps led are best in the series.
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DRIVER: Joey Logano
TEAM: No. 22 Ford, Penske Racing
BORN: May 24, 1990
HOMETOWN: Middletown, Connecticut
CREW CHIEF: Todd Gordon
SPONSOR: Shell Pennzoil
TWITTER: (at)joeylogano
NOTES: Logano made the Chase for the second time in his career in his second season driving for Penske Racing. He won at Texas, Bristol and Michigan to make the Chase field. He won a Chase race at New Hampshire to automatically advance into the second round, and won another at Kansas. He has led 993 laps this season.
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DRIVER: Ryan Newman
TEAM: No. 31 Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
BORN: Dec. 8, 1977
HOMETOWN: South Bend, Indiana
CREW CHIEF: Luke Lambert
SPONSOR: Caterpillar
TWITTER: (at)RyanJNewman
NOTES: In his first season with Richard Childress Racing, Newman made the Chase on points as the No. 16 seed. He is the only winless driver left in the Chase field and hasn't won a race since the 2013 Brickyard 400. He has no wins, four top fives, and just 41 laps led in 35 races. Newman is trying to give owner Richard Childress his first championship in 20 years.
