The NASCAR season has come down to one Sprint Cup race at Homestead-Miami Speedway and four drivers with a chance to claim the championship following the Ford EcoBoost 400.

The Championship Four have been set, seeded and include #1-Joey Logano, #2-Jimmie Johnson, #3-Carl Edwards and #4-Kyle Busch. These four drivers will race with the knowledge that the first one of them to reach the checkered flag in the Ford EcoBoost 400 will claim the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship. What makes this sport different from all others is that not only will the Championship Four race each other on the track, but there will also be 36 other competitors on the track at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

That added element in the championship race means that not only will the four racing for the Sprint Cup trophy have to avoid making mistakes on the track and in the pits, but they will also have to watch to avoid another driver’s mistake that could ruin their chance at the championship. While the Championship Four only have to beat the each other to claim the championship, winning the race would obviously put the other 39 cars behind them and include the three contenders they are racing for the championship.

Let’s take a look at the numbers for the Championship Four as we head to the final race of the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup season.

#1 Seed – Joey Logano

Joey has yet to win a NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship although he has accomplished many career milestones during his racing career. Here are the key numbers for Joey in the #22 Ford.

1 – Number of top fives Joey Logano has posted at Homestead-Miami Speedway (fourth place, 2015).
2 – Number of times Joey Logano has made it to the Championship 4 in the new Chase format (ties with Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch for the most among the Championship 4) – Logano finished fourth in the 2014 Chase standings after finishing 16th in the race.
3 – Number of wins Joey Logano has posted during the 2016 season; including two during the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup (Michigan International Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway, Phoenix International Raceway).
4 – Joey Logano’s career-best finishing position at Homestead-Miami Speedway (2015).
5 – Number of top-five finishes Joey Logano has posted during the 2016 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
7 – Number of top-10 finishes Joey Logano has posted during the 2016 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
7.9 – Logano’s average finish during the first nine races of the 2016 Chase.
10.7 – Logano’s average finish during the 2016 season.
15 – Number of top-five finishes Joey Logano has posted this season.
17.7 – Logano’s career average finish at Homestead-Miami Speedway (third-best among the Championship 4).
25 – Number of top-10 finishes Joey Logano has posted this season.
72 – Total number of laps led at Homestead-Miami Speedway by Joey Logano.
83.5 – Joey Logano’s career driver rating at Homestead-Miami Speedway (fourth-best among the Championship 4).
107.1 – Joey Logano’s driver rating during the first nine races of the 2016 Chase.

#2 Seed – Jimmie Johnson

Jimmie has won six NASCAR Sprint Cup Championships. If he is able to claim his 7th championship it will tie him with racing legends “The King” Richard Petty and “The Intimidator” Dale Earnhardt Sr. for all-time championship leaders. Here are the key number for Jimmie in the #48 Chevrolet.

1 – Number of times Jimmie Johnson has made it to the Championship 4 in the new Chase format.
2 – Number of runner-up finishes Jimmie Johnson has posted at Homestead-Miami Speedway; it also is the career best-finish Johnson has posted at HMS (2004 and 2010).
3 – Number of top-five finishes Johnson has posted during the 2016 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
4 – Number of wins Jimmie Johnson has posted during the 2016 season; including two during the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup (Atlanta Motor Speedway, Auto Club Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway and Martinsville Speedway).
5 – Number of top-10 finishes Jimmie Johnson has posted during the 2016 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
6 – Number of previous NASCAR Sprint Cup titles Jimmie Johnson has won (2006-2010, 2013).
10 – Number of top-five finishes Jimmie Johnson has posted this season.
11.7 – Johnson’s average finish during the first nine races of the 2016 Chase.
14.1 – Johnson’s career average finish at Homestead-Miami Speedway (second-best among the Championship 4).
14.3 – Johnson’s average finish during the 2016 season.
15 – Number of top-10 finishes Jimmie Johnson has posted this season.
96.8 – Jimmie Johnson’s career driver rating at Homestead-Miami Speedway (second-best among the Championship 4).
99 – Total number of laps led at Homestead-Miami Speedway by Jimmie Johnson.
107.2 – Jimmie Johnson’s driver rating during the first nine races of the 2016 Chase.

#3 Seed – Carl Edwards

Carl Edwards has not won a NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship during his storied racing career. Here are the key number for Carl in the #19 Toyota.

1 – Number of times Carl Edwards has made it to the Championship 4 in the new Chase format.
2 – Number of wins Carl Edwards has posted at Homestead-Miami Speedway (2008 and 2010) – most among the Championship 4.
3 – Number of wins Carl Edwards has posted during the 2016 season; including one during the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup – (Bristol-1, Richmond-1 and Texas-2).
5 – Number of top-five finishes Carl Edwards has posted at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
6 – Number of Coors Light poles Carl Edwards has posted during the 2016 season (series-most).
7 – Number of top-10 finishes Carl Edwards has posted at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
9 – Number of top-five finishes Carl Edwards has posted during the 2016 season.
9.2 – Edwards’ average finish at Homestead-Miami Speedway (best among the Championship 4).
13.3 – Edwards’ average finish during the entire 2016 season.
14.9 – Edwards’ average finish during the first nine races of the 2016 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
18 – Number of top-10 finishes Carl Edwards has posted this season.
93.0 – Carl Edwards’ driver rating during the first nine races of the 2016 Chase.
109.4 – Carl Edwards’ career driver rating at Homestead-Miami Speedway (best among the Championship 4).
568 – Total number of laps led at Homestead-Miami Speedway by Carl Edwards (leads the series).

#4 Seed – Kyle Busch

Kyle Busch is the defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion having won his only championship by winning this race last year. Here are the key numbers for Kyle in the #18 Toyota.

1 – Number of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series titles Kyle Busch has won (2015).
1 – Number of wins Kyle Busch has posted at Homestead-Miami Speedway – 2015 (second-most among the Championship 4).
2 – Number of times Kyle Busch has made it to the Championship 4 in the new Chase format (tied with Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano for the most Championship 4 appearances).
2 – Number of top-five finishes Kyle Busch has posted at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
4 – Number of wins Kyle Busch has posted during the 2016 season; none during the Chase (Martinsville-1, Texas-1, Kansas-1 and Indianapolis).
4 – Number of top-10 finishes Kyle Busch has posted at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
7.3 – Busch’s average finish during the first nine races of the 2016 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
11.6 – Busch’s average finish during the entire 2016 season.
17 – Number of top-five finishes Kyle Busch has posted during the 2016 season (most among the Championship 4).
21.1 – Busch’s average finish at Homestead-Miami Speedway (fourth-best among the Championship 4).
24 – Number of top-10 finishes Kyle Busch has posted this season.
95.5 – Kyle Busch’s career driver rating at Homestead-Miami Speedway (third-best among the Championship 4).
103.3 – Kyle Busch’s driver rating during the first nine races of the 2016 Chase.
278 – Total number of laps led at Homestead-Miami Speedway by Kyle Busch (second-most among the Championship 4).

When the green flag waives to start the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway the championship story will begin to be written. There will be 267 laps around the 1.5-mile track that can change that story over the 400.5-miles of racing. With NASCAR’s style of playoffs there can be drama, tragedy, literal and figurative twists and turns as well as spoilers included in the final version of the story.

Which drivers will be portrayed as villains and which driver will become the hero of the story will be decided when the championship race starts Sunday, November 20th at 1:30 PM central time (2:30 PM eastern time).

By: Buck Stevens