A winning combination - Mike Kelly, Jack Roush, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. on the grid at Texas Motor Speedway - Credit: Skirts and Scuffs |
Although Dillon and Sadler fought hard, Stenhouse Jr. clinched his second straight title with a sixth place finish. Stenhouse Jr. becomes the sixth driver in series history to repeat joining Sam Ard, Larry Pearson, Randy LaJoie, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Martin Truex Jr. Second place points finisher Elliott Sadler finishes behind Stenhouse Jr. for the second year in a row with Rookie of the Year winner Austin Dillon wrapping up third place in the title hunt. Joe Gibbs Racing led by Joey Logano and the No. 18 team captured the Owner's Championship.
Starting from the pole position, Kyle Busch looked to have the strongest car of the afternoon dominating the first portion of the race. As the race progressed, the No. 54 lost track position finishing second marking the first season since 2004 that Busch, the all-time series leader in wins, hasn't won in the series.
Regan Smith, who will join JR Motorsports in 2013 to contend for the Nationwide Series Championship, took home the win. In his victory lane interview Smith said he was sad to see the season end now, but looks forward to what the team can do in the future.
Top 10 in standings: Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Elliott Sadler, Austin Dillon, Sam Hornish Jr., Michael Annett, Justin Allgaier, Cole Whitt, Mike Bliss, Brian Scott, Danica Patrick
Final running order:
- Regan Smith
- Kyle Busch
- Brendan Gaughan
- Sam Hornish Jr.
- Austin Dillon
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
- Brian Scott
- Ryan Blaney
- Elliott Sadler
- Cole Whitt
- Justin Allgaier
- Michael Annett
- Danica Patrick
- Joey Coulter
- Kenny Wallace
- Joey Logano
- Brad Sweet
- Joe Nemechek
- Mike Bliss
- Scott Lagasee Jr.
- Kevin Swindell
- Jeremy Clements
- Jeffrey Earnhardt
- David Starr
- Dakoda Armstrong
- Mike Wallace
- Eric McClure
- Andrew Ranger
- Jason Bowles
- Hal Martin
- Danny Efland
- Joey Gase
- Robert Richardson Jr.
- Johanna Long
- Erik Darnell
- John Blankenship
- Juan Carlos Blum
- Ryan Truex
- Blake Koch
- Jeff Green
- Chase Miller
- Josh Wise
- Dexter Stacey