The final race of the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season and all eyes were on Brad Keselowski and Jimmie Johnson on Sunday for the Ford EcoBoot 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. However, it wasn’t the drama that many thought it would be.
Neither driver took the checkered flag at the end of the 267 laps, though.
Johnson’s teammate and car owner, Jeff Gordon found himself in Gatorade Victory Lane. The win was his second of 2012, the other coming at a rain shortened Pocono Raceway back in August, as well as his first at the 1.5 mile track.
Speaking of Johnson, who entered the race trailing Keselowski by 20 points, fell out of the race with 40 laps remaining after an oil line issue on the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet.
“After what happened last week, to come back and battle all day and win is a great way to end the season,” Gordon said.
As you may recall, Gordon was fined $100,000 and docked 25 points for intentionally wrecking Clint Bowyer at Phoenix International Raceway a week ago.
While Gordon was celebrating a race win, Brad Keselowski was also celebrating. Keselowski was able to give Penske Racing and it’s team owner, Roger Penske, their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship.
It has been a crazy year in NASCAR for Keselowski, who kicked off the season by tweeting photos from the Daytona 500 when Juan Pablo Montoya crashed with a jet fuel dryer, igniting a blaze. Keselowski is a huge fan of social media, being fined last week at PIR for tweeting during a red flag, and prior to getting out of the car to celebrate his championship, he even snapped a picture with the caption “We Did It!”
“These guys up here, they make me fast enough. They make me strong enough to do anything we want to do. It’s because of these guys. I can’t be here without them. I really can’t. This isn’t a one-man effort. I might get the glory, but it’s about these guys, it’s about my family.” said Keselowski.
Team Owner Penske also earned Dodge it’s first Cup title, and the last in his career as an engine supplier for the series.
“Not one failure all year long in the Dodge engine,” Penske said. ” … I think the competition is just so super. It’s just something you have to work on, and these guys are the best.”
As far as the race itself went, Kyle Busch would dominate the race leading 191 laps. but would need to pit late for fuel.
Finishing Order (Bold is Chase Drivers)
- Jeff Gordon
- Clint Bowyer
- Ryan Newman
- Kyle Busch
- Greg Biffle
- Martin Truex Jr.
- Aric Almirola
- Kevin Harvick
- Kurt Busch
- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
- Paul Menard
- Carl Edwards
- Marcos Ambrose
- Joey Logano
- Brad Keselowski
- Mark Martin
- Tony Stewart
- Matt Kenseth
- Jeff Burton
- Jamie McMurray
- Kasey Kahne
- Sam Hornish Jr.
- Trevor Bayne
- Denny Hamlin
- Bobby Labonte
- Travis Kvapil
- Landon Cassill
- Juan Pablo Montoya
- Casey Mears
- Regan Smith
- David Ragan
- Dave Blaney
- David Gilliland
- David Reutimann
- J.J. Yeley
- Jimmie Johnson
- Ken Schrader
- David Stremme
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
- Josh Wise
- Michael McDowell
- Scott Riggs
- Mike Bliss
