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NASCAR: Winners And Losers From Texas

By Cole Mentzel

Nov 6, 2016; Fort Worth, TX, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Joey Logano (22) and driver Brad Keselowski (2) and driver Kevin Harvick (4) during the AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 6, 2016; Fort Worth, TX, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Joey Logano (22) and driver Brad Keselowski (2) and driver Kevin Harvick (4) during the AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 6, 2016; Fort Worth, TX, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Kurt Busch (41) is introduced before the AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

Loser: Staying Afloat

Throughout the course of the 2016 Chase, we’ve seen Kurt Busch hang around and make it to the Round of 8.

He’s survived two elimination races this season as he’s logged just three top-10’s in eight Chase races. He hasn’t really looked like that big of a threat to win the championship and he hasn’t been in contention to win a race in quite some time, but he’s used solid finishes to stay in the fight.

However, that strategy hasn’t worked so far in the Round of 8, and after Texas, Busch is not in a good situation. He finds himself 34 points below the cut line, meaning he’ll need a win at Phoenix if he expects to move on and race for the championship at Homestead.

Busch logged his second straight finish of 20th or worse at Texas and struggled all night long, ending the night a lap down. He has finished in the top-10 in six out of the last eight races at Phoenix, but he’ll need a win next weekend. He’s, by far, the Chase driver in the biggest hole right now.

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