NASCAR Cup Series: What to watch for in the 2018 Can-Am 500

The 2018 NASCAR Cup Series season is coming to an end with just two races left on the schedule. This weekend’s race is the Can-Am 500 at ISM Raceway.

If you’re like me, you see two Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races on the schedule and are immediately filled with a range of different emotions. On one hand, I am really excited to see how this weekend plays out and see who will be crowned champion next weekend.

However, after next week, the season is over, which will leave me with a void until the 2019 Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway. Either way, ISM Raceway in Avondale, Arizona is next on the docket and three spots are still up for grabs in the Championship 4.

We will start by calling this the week of controversy and penalties. Kevin Harvick went into Texas Motor Speedway and solidified his spot in the Championship 4 by winning the AAA Texas 500, or so he thought.

Harvick was penalized on Wednesday for a post-race inspection failure, throwing all of that out the window. He had his win vacated, meaning he will still have to race this Sunday to make it into the Championship 4.

Harvick was also docked 40 points and will lose his crew chief Rodney Childers for the remaining two races as well. He effectively went from being locked into the Championship 4 to being just three points ahead of Kurt Busch in the fourth and final Championship 4 spot.

Needless to say, this has been a whirlwind of a week in the Cup Series and the racing hasn’t even started. There is a lot on the line this weekend at ISM Raceway with three Championship 4 spots still open and three drivers only separated by 17 points for the fourth and final spot.

Here is what to watch for this weekend in the Can-Am 500 at ISM Raceway.

What to watch for

Joey Logano getting dumped

Someone will get Joey Logano good and end his race early this weekend. Logano is not making any friends during his run for the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series championship. Although this isn’t the proper time for Martin Truex Jr. or Aric Almirola to get Logano back, if either one has his eligibility ended or becomes locked into the Championship 4, don’t be surprised when cameras cut to Logano hitting the wall after one of those drivers, or even a new Logano hater, hits him to end his race.

Kevin Harvick not fazed by penalty

Kevin Harvick will enter the weekend with the cloud over his head from all of the discussion about his car failing post-race inspection following the AAA Texas 500. However, if you know anything about Harvick, you would know that this won’t stop him from doing what he needs to do to win.

What NASCAR essentially did is make the Can-Am 500 a race in which Harvick has to perform well to stay ahead of Kurt Busch and Chase Elliott in the points to secure a spot in the Championship 4.

So let’s get this straight. Harvick has to go to ISM Raceway and run well to make it into the Championship 4? This probably won’t be an issue considering the fact that he has nine career victories at the track, including one earlier this season in March. Even without Childers on top of the pit box, he is my pick to win this Sunday.

What are the four on the outside looking in going to do?

Right now, there are four drivers on the outside of the playoff picture for next Sunday’s final race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Clint Bowyer and Aric Almirola sit 51 points and 35 points, respectively, behind Kevin Harvick for the final spot in the Championship 4.

Chase Elliott has a little smaller of a mountain to climb at 17 points behind of Harvick. Kurt Busch is the final combatant, as he sits just three points behind Harvick. The main question to be answered on Sunday is what will these four drivers be willing to do to make it to the Championship 4? Strategy will be king on Sunday, but the question remains as to which strategy will work out the best and get one of these drivers into the Championship 4.

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What will you be watching for this Sunday in the Can-Am 500 at ISM Raceway? Who are your picks to make the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4? Tune into NBC for the live broadcast of the action beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET to see who will make it to the Championship 4 and who will go home empty-handed!

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