NASCAR: 2017 Can-Am 500 results – Matt Kenseth comes through
By Asher Fair
Matt Kenseth snapped his win drought in the NASCAR Cup Series with a win in the final Round of 8 race of the season at Phoenix.
In the 35th race of the 36-race 2017 NASCAR Cup Series season, the ninth race of the 10-race 2017 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs and the third and final race of the Round of 8, a new driver worked his way to Victory Lane for the first time this season at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Arizona in the Can-Am 500.
Matt Kenseth, 45, broke a 51-race win drought by winning this year’s Can-Am 500. The win is his first of the season and his first since he won last July at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. It was his 39th career victory in the Cup Series, and it may very well be his last with him having no plans to return to the sport next season.
But one thing is certain: he still knows how to get the job done.
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Kenseth passed Chase Elliott, who would have advanced to the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida next week had he been able to hang onto the lead, for the lead late in the race, thus allowing Brad Keselowski to clinch the final Championship 4 spot on points in 16th place. Elliott finished in 2nd for the fourth time in the playoffs and will not be one of the Championship 4 drivers after by far his most disappointing 2nd place finish of the seven he has had in his winless Cup Series career thus far.
The race was dominated by Denny Hamlin, who would have likely gone to the Championship 4 even without a win since Keselowski finished back in 16th place. However, Chase Elliott got his revenge on Hamlin from back at Martinsville when Hamlin wrecked Elliott with just over two laps to go in a battle for the lead. Elliott raced Hamlin hard and knocked him into the wall slightly, which caused damage to Hamlin’s car that eventually led to him crashing.
The Championship 4 drivers consist of Kyle Busch, who won at Martinsville, Kevin Harvick, who won at Texas, and Martin Truex Jr. and Brad Keselowski, who qualified on points.
Here are the full race results for of the Can-Am 500 at Phoenix International Raceway (Round of 8 playoff drivers in italics):
- Matt Kenseth, Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
- Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports
- Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, Furniture Row Racing
- Erik Jones, Toyota, Furniture Row Racing
- Kevin Harvick, Ford, Stewart-Haas Racing
- Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, Chip Ganassi Racing
- Kyle Busch, Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford, Roush Fenway Racing
- Aric Almirola, Ford, Richard Petty Motorsports
- Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports
- Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, Germain Racing
- Joey Logano, Ford, Team Penske
- Clint Bowyer, Ford, Stewart-Haas Racing
- Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
- Paul Menard, Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
- Brad Keselowski, Ford, Team Penske
- Ryan Blaney, Ford, Wood Brothers Racing
- Daniel Suarez, Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
- Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports
- Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing
- Kurt Busch, Ford, Stewart-Haas Racing
- Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, Leavine Family Racing
- A.J. Allmendinger, Chevrolet, JTG-Daugherty Racing
- Landon Cassill, Ford, Front Row Motorsports
- Danica Patrick, Ford, Stewart-Haas Racing
- DJ Kennington, Chevrolet, Premium Motorsports
- Matt DiBenedetto, Ford, Go Fas Racing
- David Starr, Chevrolet, MBM Racing
- Jeffrey Earnhardt, Chevrolet, TMG-Circle Sport Racing
- Joey Gase, Chevrolet, Premium Motorsports
- Corey LaJoie, Toyota, BK Racing
- Derrike Cope, Chevrolet, StarCom Racing
- David Ragan, Ford, Front Row Motorsports
- Kyle Weatherman, Chevrolet, Rick Ware Racing
- Denny Hamlin, Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
- Cole Whitt, Chevrolet, TriStar Motorsports
- Chris Buescher, Chevrolet, JTG-Daugherty Racing
- Trevor Bayne, Ford, Roush Fenway Racing
- Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports
- Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, Chip Ganassi Racing
Next: NASCAR Playoffs: Pros and Cons
Be sure you tune in to the Ford EcoBoost 400 next Sunday, November 19th at 3:00 PM ET on NBC, when the race will be broadcast live from Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida.