Countdown to the Finals...

After the Takedown at Texas, otherwise known as the AAA 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, the lines have been drawn for advancing to the season finale this weekend at Phoenix.

For Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin, they have the easiest roads to the finals. Both need to finish 11th or better, 12th with a lap led or 13th with the most laps led. Ryan Newman has to finish ninth or better, 10th with a lap led or 11th with most laps led.

For the remaining five drivers--Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards, Brad Keselowski and Kevin Harvick--they control their own destiny only by winning the race at Phoenix. Of course, if any of the top three falter, it's Katie bar the door and goes to the scorecards...which is sort of apropos after the prize fight at the end of the Texas race. 

Interestingly, Newman has not yet won this season, and neither has Kenseth. Both are within striking distance of the final winner-take-all race at Homestead. The race among the top eight is quite tight, with Harvick just six points--finishing positions--out of the final four.