Chase race finally delivered on thrills

AVONDALE, Ariz. -- On one beautiful sun-splashed day in the desert, NASCAR's Chase for the Sprint Cup was everything it was supposed to be.

That hadn't been the case for much of this year's playoff, which was lacking the drama and excitement that seemed to flow so easily in the first two years of the elimination-style format.

But that all changed Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway, where a thrilling Can-Am 500 redeemed this year's playoff for a day and gave NASCAR a shot of momentum heading into next week's championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

If you missed Sunday's race, you missed one of the best Chase races yet.

“Racing, I love you and I hate you,” tweeted Dale Earnhardt Jr., speaking for many fans who were watching the race along with him. “You make me want to scream for joy or vomit.”

Yes, Phoenix was that good.

Joey Logano, Kyle Busch clinch final Chase spots at Phoenix

For a time late in the race, all six drivers fighting for the final two championship race berths were in the top six. The points battle was edge-of-your seat intense -- and that was before the race's most memorable moment.

With Matt Kenseth en route to victory, Michael McDowell caused a caution and forced overtime. But on the first overtime restart, Kenseth wrecked going into Turn 1 -- he thought he was clear of Alex Bowman, who was subbing for the injured Earnhardt, but was mistaken. Joey Logano won the race instead.

And that opened a spot for Kenseth's Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch, who looked as though he would be eliminated moments earlier and denied a chance to defend his 2015 title.

It was unpredictable and thrilling, and a great reminder of why this Chase format is hard to beat on its best days.

And the sport will have a chance for more headlines next week based on its final four drivers.

Kyle Busch will have chance to defend Sprint Cup title

There's Jimmie Johnson, going for his record-tying seventh championship. Busch is going for two in a row. Logano and Carl Edwards are both marketable, championship-caliber drivers who haven't won one yet (and Logano should win many by the time he’s done).

All three manufacturers are represented. Two of the drivers are from the dominant team of the season (JGR) and will be going against two extremely worthy foes.

All of the drivers in the final four have won at least three races this season, and each of them have been in a championship situation before – which means it will be hard to play mind games. When they sit at the dais for Thursday’s championship news conference in Miami Beach, they’ll look around and see three other drivers whose title hopes are incredibly strong.

This is the strongest final four yet, and that means it’s really anyone's championship – which is what NASCAR CEO Brian France dreamed of when he pushed for this format.

There’s a good chance that, for the third year in a row, whoever becomes champion will have to win at Homestead. That elevated level of performance was on display Sunday, when the two drivers who advanced finished 1-2.

“This isn’t just a race, this is a championship,” Logano said. “We raced today like it was Homestead – because we had to.”

We've waited months for something big to happen in the Chase. Finally, it did – and it sets up next week’s race to be another memorable one.

Follow Gluck on Twitter @jeff_gluck