Brad Keselowski is the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion, after Jimmie Johnson suffered a drive line problem 43 laps from the finish at Homestead-Miami Speedway. That meant the #48 ended the final NASCAR race of 2012 in the garage, while Keselowski was able to cruise safely home to the chequered flag with no pressure to collect his maiden championship.

Before the mechanical failure, Johnson had looked to have put himself into a strong position to win the race after pit strategy meant he had only one more stop to make compared to Keselowski's two. However, a lugnut fumble meant he was forced to make an extra return to pit road, and the drive line issue ten laps later was the final blow for his dwindling championship hopes.

Bouncing back from the controversial events at the end of last week's race, Jeff Gordon clinched the race win by just over a second from his Phoenix nemesis Clint Bowyer. It was Gordon's 87th Cup win in 689 starts, his second win in 2012 after previously making it to victory lane seven races ago at Pocono in August. It's Gordon's first win at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 14 starts at the 1.5-mile oval: the only track on the Cup calendar that Gordon hasn't won at in his career is Kentucky.

Gordon led for just 14 of the 267 laps of the Ford EcoBoost 400, including the final 13 laps of what proved to be a fuel-conservation race. His win hands Chevrolet its 15th win of 2012, and is Hendrick Motorsports' 209th Cup win - ten of them in 2012 alone.

A full race report is now available.

In Saturday practice, Matt Kenseth set the fastest time in the first of the day's two practice sessions with a lap of 31.900s (169.279 mph) that put him 0.117s ahead of his Roush Fenway Racing team mate Greg Biffle who was second fastest despite the accident that sent him, Denny Hamlin and polesitter Joey Logano to their backups and to the back of the grid for the start of the race as a result.

Kyle Busch topped the times in the final happy hour session with a lap of 32.052s (168.476 mph) just 0.056s faster than Martin Truex Jr. The session saw another driver - Regan Smith - hit the wall heavily enough to require him to take to the backup car, so the #51 Phoenix Racing car joined Logano et all at the back of the grid for the start of the race on Sunday. Michael McDowell also scraped the wall in practice but did not do significant damage to his #98 car.

Race results

1. #24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 267 laps 2hrs 48mins 56secs (47/4 pts)
2. #15 Clint Bowyer Toyota 267 laps + 1.028s (42/0 pts)
3. #39 Ryan Newman Chevrolet 267 laps + 13.519s (42/1 pts)
4. #18 Kyle Busch Toyota 267 laps + 16.593s (42/2 pts)
5. #16 Greg Biffle Ford 267 laps + 17.540s (39/0 pts)
6. #56 Martin Truex Jr. Toyota 267 laps + 17.704s (39/1 pts)
7. #43 Aric Almirola Ford 267 laps + 19.517s (37/0 pts)
8. #29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 267 laps + 20.924s (36/0 pts)
9. #78 Kurt Busch Chevrolet 267 laps + 24.432s (35/0 pts)
10. #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 267 laps + 26.596s (34/0 pts)
11. #27 Paul Menard Chevrolet 267 laps + 27.389s (33/0 pts)
12. #99 Carl Edwards Ford 267 laps + 34.075s (32/0 pts)
13. #9 Marcos Ambrose Ford 267 laps + 39.533s (32/1 pts)
14. #20 Joey Logano Toyota 267 laps + 45.536s (30/0 pts)
15. #2 Brad Keselowski Dodge 267 laps + 1 lap (29/0 pts)
16. #55 Mark Martin Toyota 267 laps + 1 lap (28/0 pts)
17. #14 Tony Stewart Chevrolet 267 laps + 1 lap (27/0 pts)
18. #17 Matt Kenseth Ford 267 laps + 1 lap (27/1 pts)
19. #31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet 267 laps + 1 lap (25/0 pts)
20. #1 Jamie McMurray Chevrolet 267 laps + 1 lap (24/0 pts)
21. #5 Kasey Kahne Chevrolet 267 laps + 1 lap (24/1 pts)
22. #22 Sam Hornish Jr. Dodge 267 laps + 1 lap (0pts)
23. #21 Trevor Bayne Ford 267 laps + 1 lap (0pts)
24. #11 Denny Hamlin Toyota 267 laps + 1 lap (20/0 pts)
25. #47 Bobby Labonte Toyota 265 laps + 2 laps (19/0 pts)
26. #93 Travis Kvapil Toyota 265 laps + 2 laps (18/0 pts)
27. #83 Landon Cassill Toyota 265 laps + 2 laps (17/0 pts)
28. #42 Juan Montoya Chevrolet 264 laps + 3 laps (16/0 pts)
29. #13 Casey Mears Ford 264 laps + 3 laps (15/0 pts)
30. #51 Regan Smith Chevrolet 264 laps + 3 laps (14/0 pts)
31. #34 David Ragan Ford 263 laps + 4 laps (13/0 pts)
32. #36 Dave Blaney Chevrolet 263 laps + 4 laps (12/0 pts)
33. #38 David Gilliland Ford 262 laps + 5 laps (11/0 pts)
34. #10 David Reutimann Chevrolet 261 laps + 6 laps (10/0 pts)
35. #37 J.J. Yeley Chevrolet 261 laps + 6 laps (9/0 pts)
36. #48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 224 laps Rear Gear (9/1 pts)
37. #32 Ken Schrader Ford 219 laps Engine (7/0 pts)
38. #30 David Stremme Toyota 183 laps Electrical (6/0 pts)
39. #6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Ford 157 laps Accident (0pts)
40. #26 Josh Wise * Ford 38 laps Vibration (4/0 pts)
41. #98 Michael McDowell Ford 34 laps Overheating (3/0 pts)
42. #23 Scott Riggs Chevrolet 23 laps Vibration (2/0 pts)
43. #119 Mike Bliss Toyota 16 laps Electrical (0pts)

Practice 3 times

1. #18 Kyle Busch Toyota 32.052s (Leader) 168.476 mph
2. #56 Martin Truex Jr. Toyota 32.108s (-0.056) 168.182 mph
3. #17 Matt Kenseth Ford 32.111s (-0.059) 168.167 mph
4. #2 Brad Keselowski Dodge 32.112s (-0.060) 168.161 mph
5. #16 Greg Biffle Ford 32.166s (-0.114) 167.879 mph
6. #15 Clint Bowyer Toyota 32.166s (-0.114) 167.879 mph
7. #5 Kasey Kahne Chevrolet 32.366s (-0.314) 166.842 mph
8. #43 Aric Almirola Ford 32.377s (-0.325) 166.785 mph
9. #31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet 32.383s (-0.331) 166.754 mph
10. #9 Marcos Ambrose Ford 32.396s (-0.344) 166.687 mph
11. #1 Jamie McMurray Chevrolet 32.411s (-0.359) 166.610 mph
12. #24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 32.423s (-0.371) 166.548 mph
13. #78 Kurt Busch Chevrolet 32.430s (-0.378) 166.512 mph
14. #55 Mark Martin Toyota 32.432s (-0.380) 166.502 mph
15. #99 Carl Edwards Ford 32.433s (-0.381) 166.497 mph
16. #20 Joey Logano Toyota 32.433s (-0.381) 166.497 mph
17. #51 Regan Smith Chevrolet 32.455s (-0.403) 166.384 mph
18. #48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 32.455s (-0.403) 166.384 mph
19. #11 Denny Hamlin Toyota 32.549s (-0.497) 165.904 mph
20. #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 32.553s (-0.501) 165.883 mph
21. #29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 32.642s (-0.590) 165.431 mph
22. #22 Sam Hornish Jr. Dodge 32.651s (-0.599) 165.385 mph
23. #39 Ryan Newman Chevrolet 32.664s (-0.612) 165.320 mph
24. #13 Casey Mears Ford 32.675s (-0.623) 165.264 mph
25. #27 Paul Menard Chevrolet 32.682s (-0.630) 165.229 mph
26. #47 Bobby Labonte Toyota 32.767s (-0.715) 164.800 mph
27. #14 Tony Stewart Chevrolet 32.784s (-0.732) 164.714 mph
28. #6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Ford 32.795s (-0.743) 164.659 mph
29. #42 Juan Montoya Chevrolet 32.797s (-0.745) 164.649 mph
30. #21 Trevor Bayne Ford 32.830s (-0.778) 164.484 mph
31. #93 Travis Kvapil Toyota 32.861s (-0.809) 164.329 mph
32. #30 David Stremme Toyota 33.028s (-0.976) 163.498 mph
33. #83 Landon Cassill Toyota 33.058s (-1.006) 163.349 mph
34. #34 David Ragan Ford 33.112s (-1.060) 163.083 mph
35. #38 David Gilliland Ford 33.168s (-1.116) 162.807 mph
36. #23 Scott Riggs Chevrolet 33.169s (-1.117) 162.803 mph
37. #37 J.J. Yeley Chevrolet 33.252s (-1.200) 162.396 mph
38. #10 David Reutimann Chevrolet 33.292s (-1.240) 162.201 mph
39. #36 Dave Blaney Chevrolet 33.302s (-1.250) 162.152 mph
40. #98 Michael McDowell Ford 33.336s (-1.284) 161.987 mph
41. #119 Mike Bliss Toyota 33.349s (-1.297) 161.924 mph
42. #26 Josh Wise* Ford 33.401s (-1.349) 161.672 mph
43. #32 Ken Schrader Ford 33.582s (-1.530) 160.800 mph

Practice 2 times

1. #17 Matt Kenseth Ford 31.900s (Leader) 169.279 mph
2. #16 Greg Biffle Ford 32.017s (-0.117) 168.660 mph
3. #55 Mark Martin Toyota 32.088s (-0.188) 168.287 mph
4. #18 Kyle Busch Toyota 32.104s (-0.204) 168.203 mph
5. #24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 32.119s (-0.219) 168.125 mph
6. #11 Denny Hamlin Toyota 32.131s (-0.231) 168.062 mph
7. #15 Clint Bowyer Toyota 32.197s (-0.297) 167.717 mph
8. #99 Carl Edwards Ford 32.284s (-0.384) 167.266 mph
9. #5 Kasey Kahne Chevrolet 32.308s (-0.408) 167.141 mph
10. #20 Joey Logano Toyota 32.317s (-0.417) 167.095 mph
11. #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 32.327s (-0.427) 167.043 mph
12. #9 Marcos Ambrose Ford 32.333s (-0.433) 167.012 mph
13. #43 Aric Almirola Ford 32.346s (-0.446) 166.945 mph
14. #56 Martin Truex Jr. Toyota 32.356s (-0.456) 166.893 mph
15. #2 Brad Keselowski Dodge 32.442s (-0.542) 166.451 mph
16. #31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet 32.479s (-0.579) 166.261 mph
17. #27 Paul Menard Chevrolet 32.480s (-0.580) 166.256 mph
18. #22 Sam Hornish Jr. Dodge 32.497s (-0.597) 166.169 mph
19. #29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 32.512s (-0.612) 166.092 mph
20. #1 Jamie McMurray Chevrolet 32.573s (-0.673) 165.781 mph
21. #48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 32.621s (-0.721) 165.538 mph
22. #14 Tony Stewart Chevrolet 32.659s (-0.759) 165.345 mph
23. #39 Ryan Newman Chevrolet 32.660s (-0.760) 165.340 mph
24. #6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Ford 32.701s (-0.801) 165.133 mph
25. #13 Casey Mears Ford 32.705s (-0.805) 165.112 mph
26. #21 Trevor Bayne Ford 32.762s (-0.862) 164.825 mph
27. #36 Dave Blaney Chevrolet 32.763s (-0.863) 164.820 mph
28. #78 Kurt Busch Chevrolet 32.802s (-0.902) 164.624 mph
29. #51 Regan Smith Chevrolet 32.869s (-0.969) 164.288 mph
30. #42 Juan Montoya Chevrolet 32.895s (-0.995) 164.159 mph
31. #47 Bobby Labonte Toyota 32.902s (-1.002) 164.124 mph
32. #38 David Gilliland Ford 32.916s (-1.016) 164.054 mph
33. #83 Landon Cassill Toyota 33.016s (-1.116) 163.557 mph
34. #34 David Ragan Ford 33.042s (-1.142) 163.428 mph
35. #30 David Stremme Toyota 33.206s (-1.306) 162.621 mph
36. #10 David Reutimann Chevrolet 33.220s (-1.320) 162.553 mph
37. #98 Michael McDowell Ford 33.249s (-1.349) 162.411 mph
38. #26 Josh Wise* Ford 33.297s (-1.397) 162.177 mph
39. #23 Scott Riggs Chevrolet 33.361s (-1.461) 161.866 mph
40. #93 Travis Kvapil Toyota 33.362s (-1.462) 161.861 mph
41. #32 Ken Schrader Ford 33.372s (-1.472) 161.812 mph
42. #119 Mike Bliss Toyota 33.451s (-1.551) 161.430 mph
43. #37 J.J. Yeley Chevrolet 33.465s (-1.565) 161.363 mph

Sprint Cup Series championship standings

1. (--) Brad Keselowski 2400pts
2. (+2) Clint Bowyer 2361pts (-39pts)
3. (-1) Jimmie Johnson 2360pts (-40pts)
4. (-1) Kasey Kahne 2345pts (-55pts)
5. (+2) Greg Biffle 2332pts (-68pts)
6. (-1) Denny Hamlin 2329pts (-71pts)
7. (-1) Matt Kenseth 2324pts (-76pts)
8. (--) Kevin Harvick 2321pts (-79pts)
9. (--) Tony Stewart 2311pts (-89pts)
10. (+1) Jeff Gordon 2303pts (-97pts)
11. (-1) Martin Truex Jr. 2299pts (-101pts)
12. (--) Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2245pts (-155pts)
13. (--) Kyle Busch 1133pts (-1267pts)
14. (--) Ryan Newman 1051pts (-1349pts)
15. (--) Carl Edwards 1030pts (-1370pts)
16. (--) Paul Menard 1006pts (-1394pts)
17. (--) Joey Logano 965pts (-1435pts)
18. (--) Marcos Ambrose 950pts (-1450pts)
19. (--) Jeff Burton 883pts (-1517pts)
20. (+1) Aric Almirola 868pts (-1532pts)
21. (-1) Jamie McMurray 868pts (-1532pts)
22. (--) Juan Montoya 810pts (-1590pts)
23. (--) Bobby Labonte 772pts (-1628pts)
24. (--) Regan Smith 747pts (-1653pts)
25. (--) Kurt Busch 735pts (-1665pts)
26. (--) Mark Martin 701pts (-1699pts)
27. (--) Travis Kvapil 638pts (-1762pts)
28. (--) David Ragan 622pts (-1778pts)
29. (--) Casey Mears 612pts (-1788pts)
30. (--) David Gilliland 605pts (-1795pts)
31. (--) Landon Cassill 598pts (-1802pts)
32. (--) AJ Allmendinger 453pts (-1947pts)
33. (--) Dave Blaney 417pts (-1983pts)
34. (--) David Reutimann 373pts (-2027pts)
35. (--) Brian Vickers 250pts (-2150pts)
36. (--) David Stremme 236pts (-2164pts)
37. (--) Michael McDowell 187pts (-2213pts)
38. (--) J.J. Yeley 166pts (-2234pts)
39. (--) Josh Wise* 147pts (-2253pts)
40. (--) Ken Schrader 146pts (-2254pts)
41. (--) Stephen Leicht* 126pts (-2274pts)
42. (--) Scott Speed 124pts (-2276pts)
43. (--) Michael Waltrip 94pts (-2306pts)
44. (--) Terry Labonte 94pts (-2306pts)
45. (--) Tony Raines 71pts (-2329pts)
46. (--) Scott Riggs 56pts (-2344pts)
47. (--) Brendan Gaughan 50pts (-2350pts)
48. (--) Boris Said 34pts (-2366pts)
49. (--) Bill Elliott 14pts (-2386pts)
50. (--) Hermie Sadler 13pts (-2387pts)
51. (--) Mike Olsen 11pts (-2389pts)
52. (--) Robby Gordon 11pts (-2389pts)
53. (--) Mike Skinner 10pts (-2390pts)
54. (--) Kelly Bires 9pts (-2391pts)
55. (--) Tomy Drissi 6pts (-2394pts)
56. (--) Stacy Compton 5pts (-2395pts)
57. (--) David Mayhew 4pts (-2396pts)
58. (--) Patrick Long 2pts (-2398pts)

* Denotes Rookie
Only drivers registered for points in this series are shown

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