Pattern shows Roush rules in NASCAR finales

By Sarah Rothschild , McClatchy Newspapers

Last update: November 16, 2008 - 11:41 AM

MIAMI — Homestead-Miami Speedway might as well be called Roush's house. Roush Fenway drivers have raced their Fords to Victory Lane in five of the past six Cup finales. Overall, Roush drivers have accounted for five wins in the nine-year history here.

"It doesn't have anything to do with Ford sponsoring the race track, but our cars are real good," said Carl Edwards, who qualified fourth for the Ford 400. "We run well on the mile-and-a-halfs."

Teams will be competing in the NASCAR-designed Car of Tomorrow for the first time at Homestead, but they don't believe it will slow Roush.

"I would say Roush is definitely going to be the team to beat," said driver Bobby Labonte, who won this race in 2003.

Kurt Busch, who won this race in 2002 with Roush, added: "Even though this is the first time with the COT in Miami, Roush cars are strong here. We have no reason to believe they'll be anything but fast."

Roush driver Greg Biffle won three consecutive Ford 400s from 2004 to 2006. Last year his teammate Matt Kenseth won.

Hendrick Motorsports, meanwhile, has clinched two Cup champions at Homestead in 2006 and last year but not reached Victory Lane. Hendrick drivers Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Casey Mears are winless here.

STEWART LEAVING 'HOME'

Tony Stewart's 12-year run at Joe Gibbs Racing will end Sunday, but if he's emotional about leaving the only NASCAR team he's known, he isn't talking about it. Stewart, who will start 13th, offered terse responses to questions about his emotions. But making the jump to being a driver/owner at Stewart-Haas Racing clearly is a big move.

"To think wow I've spent one-third of my life at one organization and now you just pack up and go somewhere else, that's scary," Stewart, 37, said in a recent interview. "Everybody is scared when they left home for the first time. That's kind of the same feeling it is.

"They've been my security blanket. You didn't worry about who I was driving for; they've always surrounded me with good people."

Stewart said Sunday would be the "hardest" day of the year. J.D. Gibbs, president of Joe Gibbs Racing, also said it will be difficult.

"We're pretty close to the same age," Gibbs said. "It was kind of fun to grow up together. Now's a chance for him to do something he's always wanted to do."

Stewart won two Cup championships and 33 races with Gibbs, establishing himself as a top driver and at times one of the sport's more controversial.

JOHNSON GETTING FASTER

Early drama in Sunday's Ford 400 season finale will center on Johnson's progress from the 30th starting position after an atypically poor qualifying performance.

But Johnson alleviated any conceivable concerns during the so-called "happy hour" final practice Saturday. The fastest of his 45 laps, at 163.478 miles per hour, ranked him fourth in speed.

Rival Edwards, by contrast, will take the green flag from outside on the second row and in striking position for five bonus points if he can lead a lap early. But Edwards, confronting prohibitive odds against overhauling Johnson in points, checked in 23rd with a lap of 162.113.

Juan Pablo Montoya, a Miami resident, and Martin Truex Jr. scraped the wall but with only minor damage apparent. Neither should need a backup car.

TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE

Tickets still are available for the Ford 400, Homestead-Miami Speedway president Curtis Gray said Saturday afternoon. In past years, the race sold out weeks and even months in advance. Gray said the economic downturn and wide points margin in the Chase contributed to slower ticket sales.

Gray said that ticket sales have picked up recently. "We'll have a full house," he predicted.

Miami Herald staff writer Gary Long contributed to this report.