Auto racing: Logano wins Phoenix as he and Kyle Busch complete final 4

After more than three hours of racing, NASCAR’s championship field was decided over two frenzied overtime restarts.

Matt Kenseth probably should have won Sunday in Avondale, Arizona, to earn an automatic berth into next week’s title-deciding race. But the first attempt at a two-lap sprint to the finish went haywire and Kenseth collided with Alex Bowman.

Just like that, Joey Logano was the new leader and defending NASCAR champion Kyle Busch was second. The two started the day tied in the standings, and any 1-2 finish would put them both in the final four at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Logano won the race – the second time in this Chase he used a victory in an elimination race to advance – and will race for his first Sprint Cup title next Sunday. He’ll be trying to give Roger Penske a season sweep during its 50th anniversary season. Simon Pagenaud won the IndyCar title in September.

“I’ve never felt this good about a win before,” Logano said. “There was so much on the line and everyone brings their A-game when it comes to winning championships and this team did it.

“I feel like I just won the Daytona 500 again.”

Busch finished second and earned a chance to defend last year’s title. He’ll meet Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Carl Edwards and Jimmie Johnson, who is seeking a record-tying seventh championship, in Homestead.

JGR, which was trying to get all four of its Toyotas into the final, wound up with only two and Busch wasn’t feeling celebratory. He believed his contact with Bowman triggered the accident that wrecked Kenseth’s season.

“It’s really unfortunate and devastating to have the race come down like that,” Busch said. “That’s so frustrating and aggravating, and I feel horrible.”

Eliminated from the playoffs on Sunday were Kevin Harvick, an eight-time winner at Phoenix who had raced in the last two finales, as well as his Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Kurt Busch. Gibbs drivers Kenseth and Denny Hamlin were also knocked out of the field.

“Disappointing would be the way to put it lightly,” Kenseth said. “Finish that race five minutes before that, looked like we had a chance to go race for a championship. It was a big swing in 10 or 15 minutes.”

Hamlin finished seventh after a bizarre decision not to pit with the rest of the field for track position. Although it gave him a brief lead, he was no match for drivers with fresh tires.

“I knew it was going to be an uphill climb,” Hamlin said.

Formula One

Three-time series champion Lewis Hamilton won Sunday’s rain-delayed Brazilian Grand Prix in Sao Paulo, forcing a showdown for the season title with Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg in Abu Dhabi in the finale in two weeks.

The race was stopped by two crashes in driving rain during the first 28 of 71 laps. All but a half-dozen of the early laps were run behind a safety car with drivers struggling to see through the tire spray.

The second half was less eventful, but still was slowed by another crash and another spell under the safety car.

Rosberg could have claimed his first season title by winning in Brazil on Sunday, but came up short. The German finished second but still leads the season overall standings with 367 points to 355 for Hamilton.

NHRA

Jason Line won the Pro Stock season title and Jerry Savoie took the Pro Stock Motorcycle crown in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series’ season-ending Auto Club NHRA Finals in Pomona, California.

Line wrapped up his third season championship when he reached the semifinals, were he lost to teammate Greg Anderson. Line finished the season with a career-high eight wins in 14 final-round appearances in his Chevy Camaro.

He also won season titles in 2006 and 2011.

“It’s been a great year and thanks to all of our competitors. They kept us honest and made us work hard right to the end,” Line said. “I have to thank all the Summit guys, Ken Black, and all of them. It has been an incredible season and I can’t believe I didn’t actually mess it up. It is such an honor to be up here. We have had a great car all year. Greg and I have had probably the two best cars all year. If it had ended any other way, I would have been disappointed.”

Savoie earned his first career Pro Stock Motorcycle championship when he advanced to the semifinals. The Suzuki rider never led the points standings until he secured the title.

“I went to church this morning and the word was encouragement and to get encouraged from the people that inspire you,” said Savoie, who won two races and had four runner-ups. “I want to thank everybody, especially the fans. Without these guys, this would not be possible; you make our dreams come true, and those guys are my family.”

Doug Kalitta won the Top Fuel event title, Tommy Johnson Jr. topped the Funny Car field, Anderson won in Pro Stock, and Matt Smith in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Ron Capps wrapped up the Funny Car title Saturday, and Antron Brown took the Top Fuel crown in the last event in Las Vegas.