Championships seem to come naturally for Joe Gibbs. This season looks to be more of the same as Gibbs is seven races away from making series history, becoming the first owner to win four consecutive owner titles. Joe Gibbs Racing has won the last three – with the No. 20 in 2008 and with the No. 18 the last two seasons. Busch’s 2009 championship was the series’ last unified title.
Kyle Busch, usually piloting the No. 18,isn’t entered this weekend. But rather his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate and 2009 Chicagoland race winner, Joey Logano will be in the No. 18 Toyota, while Ryan Truex drives the No. 20.
A scant 48 points separate Joe Gibbs from Jack Roush in second-place and Roush Fenway Racing’s No. 60 driven by Carl Edwards. And ever since Edwards won the 2007 series driver championship, but failed to unify the title as the No. 29 Richard Childress Racing team won the owner title, he has been on a mission to collect an owner title for the No. 60 team. With seven-races remaining, time is running out. This may be his last best shot, especially since he’ll cut back his series schedule in 2012, the first time in his career he won’t run a full-time NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule.
Busch has only three more NASCAR Nationwide Series races left on his 2011 schedule – Charlotte, Texas and Homestead-Miami. Edwards will compete in each of the seven remaining races. Edwards’ average finish in the fall races on the last seven tracks is 7.7 with five wins (2010 at Texas; 2008-10 at Phoenix and 2008 at Homestead-Miami). Busch’s average fall finish at his final three tracks is 8.3 with six wins (2008-09 at Charlotte; 2008-09 at Texas and 2000-10 at Homestead-Miami).
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