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Harvick knocks off Pocono from winless list

LONG POND » Kevin Harvick hit pause on that victory swirl of scorched rubber and billows of smoke at Pocono Raceway. Sure, Harvick needed to save the engine for a repeat run in the same Ford and a shot at a weekend sweep in a Cup Series twin bill. He stood on his car alone again in victory lane in front of another race with barren grandstands and the only noise at the track just a few cheers from his Stewart-Haas Racing crew.

It’s not much of a blowout if there’s no one at the party.

“I’m not doing anymore celebrations with nobody out there to celebrate with,” Harvick said. “Until the fans come back, I’m not doing a burnout, I’m not standing on the car, I’m not doing any of that stuff. It doesn’t feel right not having my team in victory lane.”

Harvick snapped an 0-for-38 drought at Pocono, taking the checkered flag Saturday at one of two tracks where victory had

eluded him.

Harvick won the first of two NASCAR Cup races in front of no fans this weekend at Pocono and will start 20th on Sunday with the field set by inverting the lead-lap finishers.

The 44-year-old California driver has won at every active track except Kentucky Speedway (nine tries) and the 2014 series champion has three wins overall for SHR this season. He has three career wins at Charlotte Motor Speedway, though he’s lost two races on the roval configuration.

Harvick held off a hardcharging Denny Hamlin, whose efforts were hampered by a late vibration, for his 52nd career Cup victory. He had 12 topfive finishes in his other 38 starts at Pocono.

“That’s great to finally check Pocono off the list,” Harvick said.

Aric Almirola was third, followed by Christopher Bell and Kyle Busch.

Ryan Preece finished 20th and will start on the pole Sunday. Teams brought cars straight to

MATT SLOCUM — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Kevin Harvick celebrates in the winners circle after winning the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Pocono Raceway, Saturday, in Long Pond, Pa.

MATT SLOCUM — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Kevin Harvick waves a checker flag for photographers after winning the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Pocono Raceway, Saturday, in Long Pond.

MATT SLOCUM - AP Kyle Busch makes a pit stop during the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Pocono Raceway, Sunday. The race ended after this edition’s deadline.