What to Watch For: Homestead-Miami Speedway
CONCORD, N.C. -- The season finale has arrived.
On Sunday at 3 p.m., the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup will come to a close at Homestead-Miami Speedway -- and the race will be televised on ESPN.
Before the event, take a look at some key notes to keep an eye on.
CURRENT STANDINGS: Jeff Gordon is sixth in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings with 2312 points -- eight markers behind fifth place. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is next up in 10th with 2271 points, followed by Jimmie Johnson in 13th with 2239 points. Kasey Kahne is currently in 15th with 2202 points.
TESTING, TESTING: All four Hendrick Motorsports drivers tested at Homestead-Miami Speedway last month in preparation for this weekend's race, while three of the drivers also turned their attention to the 2015 race package.
HENDRICK AT HOMESTEAD: Gordon led 14 laps during the 2012 season finale to score Hendrick Motorsports’ first Homestead win. The organization has won at every Cup track except Kentucky Speedway, which was added to the Cup schedule in 2011. In 15 races (59 starts) at Homestead, Hendrick Motorsports has two pole positions, 13 top-five finishes and 24 top-10s. Last season at Homestead, Earnhardt led the Hendrick Motorsports drivers with a third-place result and all four teammates finished in the top 13.
APPROACHING 200: This weekend, Hendrick Motorsports could reach yet another milestone. With one more Sprint Cup Series pole position, the organization will have earned 200 in its 30-year history. Currently, Hendrick Motorsports sits at 199 poles, with Gordon and Johnson combining for three so far in the 2014 season.
KAHNE AT HOMESTEAD: In 10 Sprint Cup Series starts at Homestead, Kahne has earned two pole positions, one top-five finish and four top-10s and led a total of 107 laps at the 1.5-mile track. He also has completed 2,593 of 2,675 laps there (96.9 percent). Kahne is the only driver with more than three starts at Homestead to have an average starting position inside the top 10 (8.3).
NO. 16 AT HOMESTEAD: With Jeff Burton not scheduled to participate in this weekend’s event, Gordon will become the only driver to compete in all 16 Sprint Cup races at the 1.5-mile track provided he takes the green flag Sunday. In addition to his win at the track, his seven top-five finishes are two more than any other driver while his 11 top-10s are tied for the best among drivers.
TIED FOR SECOND: With his second-place finish at Phoenix, Gordon has collected 453 top-10s during his 22-year career. The driver of the No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet is tied with Mark Martin for second all-time in that statistical category, 259 behind Richard Petty (712). Gordon has collected 22 this season, which is tied for the series-best.
JOHNSON AT HOMESTEAD: In 13 starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Johnson has four top-five and eight top-10 finishes. Johnson won two poles (2007 and 2009) and has led 99 laps. He has yet to win at the 1.5-mile track, which is one of four tracks where he has yet to reach Victory Lane. Others include Chicago, Watkins Glen and Kentucky. Johnson has an average start of 15.8 and finish of 14.8.
EARNHARDT AT HOMESTEAD: In 14 Sprint Cup starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Earnhardt has led 121 laps and recorded one top-five finish and two top-10s. He scored his best finish -- third -- at Homestead in the 2013 season finale.