Inland Waterways » Jeff Burtons old car, but

MIAMI - Theres no Jeff, Jimmie or Junior. Bad Brad missed the cut and Smoke never contended.NASCARs biggest stars are all absent from this final field of four racing for the Sprint Cup championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday.The new elimination format introduced by NASCAR this season was designed to emphasize wins over points and create a survival-of-the-fastest finale. Jeff Gordon and Brad Keselowski were eliminated last week. Six-time and defending champion Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCARs most popular driver, were knocked out in the second round. Three-time series champion Tony Stewart didnt even make the 16-driver field.It was a startling development for NASCAR, particularly since Earnhardt, Gordon, Johnson and Keselowski combined to win 18 of 35 races this season. They will be racing only for pride and a trophy on Sunday while Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano and Ryan Newman will be chasing the Sprint Cup championship.The quartet lacks star power. But it is a formidable field and all four drivers have their share of tangled histories and compelling journeys that have them within reach of what will be the first NASCAR title for one of them.Harvick spent 13 seasons driving for Richard Childress, who hastily called him up to the big leagues to drive Dale Earnhardts car just five days after the Hall of Famer was killed in the 2001 Daytona 500. He had raw talent to go with his hair-trigger temper.But Richard Childress Racing could never get him close enough — he finished a career-best third in the standings three times — and he began talking to good friend Stewart about his future in 2012. Stewart told Harvick if he left RCR to drive for Stewart-Haas Racing, he could get Harvick a title.Harvick joined SHR at the end of 2013 and this first season has been nothing short of magical. Harvick has four wins — including last weeks version of a walk-off home run to race his way into the finale — and his 2,083 laps led are tops in the series this season.These moments are what you live for when youre racing or a professional athlete, he said of his first true chance to win a championship. You want these moments.To make room for Harvick, Stewart had to jettison Newman, the driver he brought with him in 2009 when he became part-owner of Stewart-Haas.Newman got his pink slip last July and promptly won the Brickyard 400 the next race out. That victory raised his stock and Childress brought him on board. He drives Jeff Burtons old car, but in many senses it was a bit of a seat swap with Harvick.Newman, who won a Daytona 500 driving for Roger Penske and at Indianapolis Motor Speedway driving for Stewart, was the final seed in the 16-driver field after a steady if unspectacular run in the playoffs. Last week, he moved Kyle Larson out of his way to snag the last spot in the finale and bumped Gordon.Despite just 41 laps led all year and no wins, he has a chance to end the 20-year championship drought for Childress.Were in this hunt, Newman said. Just to have this opportunity, this is a chance for a dream to come true.Of the foursome, only Hamlin has been in this position before.He was the points leader headed into the finale under a different format in 2010. But his nerves were shaky before he even got in the car and he lost the championship to Johnson. Hamlin hasnt been the same driver since.Last season, Hamlin feuded for more than a month with Logano, his former Joe Gibbs Racing teammate. Things boiled over at California when they raced each other hard and contact sent Hamlin hard into the wall. He broke his back, missed five races and failed to make the Chase for the first time in his career.Logano, meanwhile, was on a career resurgence at Team Penske after failing to meet expectations in four seasons with Gibbs. The former 18-year-old phenom dubbed Sliced Bread was pushed into Stewarts ride before he was ready when Stewart left for SHR.Cast aside so Gibbs could add Matt Kenseth last year, the fit with Penske has been spectacular as Logano made the Chase for the first time last year, then held his own with five wins against the big dogs this season.Now 24 and the youngest of the title contenders, Logano is racing for a championship against his old team and two drivers he has clashed with in Hamlin and Harvick, who relentlessly picked on him when he first came into the series.Logano has never before been in such a high-stakes situation, but hes done it by listening to the advice of crew chief Todd Gordon.Todd said to me, Dont reinvent the wheel at this point. You just polish the wheel a little bit and just become a little better in every area, Logano said. Thats what weve been able to do. Its been a fun ride so far. Tennessee Jerseys From China .com) - The San Francisco Giants delivered plenty of big hits to tie the World Series. Authentic Tennessee Jerseys . The team sent out a press release on Friday stating Poile was resting and recovering and that he will remain in hospital for further observation. The Predators were preparing for the game against the Wild when Poile was hit by a puck that flew off the ice at him where he was standing in a tunnel behind the bench. http://www.cheaptennesseejerseys.com/ .com) - The NFL is investigating whether the New England Patriots intentionally deflated balls during Sundays AFC Championship Game against Indianapolis. Jason Witten College Jersey . Ghoulam has put pen to paper on a four and a half year deal, tying him to Napoli until 2018. The 22-year-old Algeria international, who played for France at Under 21 level, has made 87 league appearances in four seasons at Saint-Etienne. Cheap Tennessee Jerseys Authentic . Lupul injured the hand in a fall at practice on Thursday. He will wear a cast for a minimum of 10 days before he can put a glove back on it and get some mobility back, said Carlyle, who added the winger wont go on the teams upcoming road trip.Wayne Mardle fears this weeks Premier League Darts in Sheffield will be the toughest to predict of the whole season - but weve managed to force him down from the fence. Sky Live: PL Darts All the details about arrows in Sheffield Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen or Gary Anderson could end Thursdays arrows on top of the league should results go their way. You can keep an eye on them live on Sky Sports 2 at 7pm.So, Wayne, whos going to win? James Wade v Raymond van Barneveld James Wade completes a sizzling 161 checkout on the bullseye Mardle said: This is a game that Barney cant afford to lose. In my opinion, the gap will become too big if James moves away from him. If Lewis then beats Wright, there will be a gap. Then youre relying on yourself to win every week, but also on the others slipping up. Thats not ideal with so many weeks to go.Prediction: A draw, I just cant separate them. Its one of those games which is a nightmare to predict. Theres a case for all three possible outcomes. (A draw is 7/2 with Sky Bet)Gary Anderson v Phil Taylor Watch the moment Gary Anderson was left to finish on eight and got his numbers horribly wrong! Mardle said: Six of their last seven Premier League matches have gone to the last leg. Im thinking that will happen again, although no outcome would surprise me. The bookies have got these odds very tightly packed. A Gary win? Yeah. A Phil win? Of course.Prediction: A draw is the likeliest, again. This is another nightmare to pick! Would you be surprised at any of the six possible outcomes of the first two matches? (A draw is 7/2 with Sky Bet)Robert Thornton v Michael van Gerwen Michael van Gerwen and Robert Thornton produced these fireworks earlier this season Mardle said: Thornton slipped up last week, but I know he escaped elimination.dddddddddddd Last year Barney escaped Judgement Night and said Ive moved two points closer to the play-offs. Last week Thornton escaped and said: Ive escaped, thats fine.Their attitudes are completely different. Thornton was just delighted not to be eliminated. I expect him to get better but hes not hunting for a place in the play-offs. Hes just hoping to move up one spot or two.Prediction: Thornton doesnt beat Michael, or take a point. Michael plays well and wins, after three weeks of not winning. It wont be comfortable - this is a little 7-4 job for Michael. (Van Gerwen to win 7-4 is 6/1 with Sky Bet)Adrian Lewis v Peter Wright Peter Wright eliminated Dave Chisnall last week Mardle said: I found this really tough to predict. Im slightly siding with Lewis for no real reason, apart from Wright has started doing something that he didnt do for the first seven weeks. He has started going through troughs of hitting 60, 60, 100 - Ive seen him do it in the Premier League and on Tour events. Thats not something Ive seen him do until the last few weeks.The 180s and 140s have turned into 60s and tons, for no elongated period, but youve only got to do it for one leg and suddenly youve lost 7-5. If Wright has a leg like that, he will not win this match. Thats the only reason Im going with Lewis.Prediction: Im going for a last leg shoot-out (we love those, dont we?) and Adrian to nick it. (Lewis to win is 11/8 with Sky Bet)Phil Taylor v James Wade Phil Taylor eliminated Michael Smith last week Mardle said: I dont really care that its their second match of the night, it doesnt matter. Last year, I remember Anderson played twice - he averaged 81 and was beaten 7-2, then followed up with a 107 average to beat Van Gerwen. Take from that what you will.Prediction: This is going down to the last leg. Phil will win 7-5, and will end the night top of the Premier League. (Taylor to win 7-5 is 7/1 with Sky Bet)Watch Premier League Darts on Thursday, live on Sky Sports 2 HD at 7pm. Or watch live for £6.99 without a contract, on NOW TV. 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