The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Harvick dominates at Dover for 7th Cup victory of season
DOVER, Del. — Kevin Harvick regained the NASCAR Cup Series victory lead with his seventh, dominating Sunday at Dover International Speedway.
A day after Denny Hamlin opened the doubleheader weekend with his sixth win to match Harvick, the Stewart-Haas racing driver one-upped his closest rival to claim NASCAR’s regularseason title. Harvick has 56 career Cup victories to tie Kyle Busch for ninth on the career list.
Harvick swept the stages in the No. 4 Ford and won for the third time in seven races. He gave Ford its 700th Cup victory.
“Man, what a year,” Harvick said. “I love the grit about our race team. Sometimes we don’t have the fastest car but we have guys that are willing to suck it up.”
Harvick long ago secured his spot in NASCAR’s playoffs. With just Daytona left next week before the 16driver field is set, Aric Almirola, Busch and brother Kurt Busch all wrapped up berths on points.
Martin Truex Jr. was second and Jimmie Johnson, Dover’s career wins leader with 11, was third. Johnson’s No. 48 team gambled on a late two-tire pit stop that gave the seventime champion a late surge.
Johnson is on the bubble, four points outside of the cutoff with his fate to be decided under the lights at Daytona. There are 13 drivers with a spot in the playoffs. Clint Bowyer, Matt DiBendetto and William Byron hold the final three spots on points. Johnson is the biggest outlier to have a chance at crashing the field — unless there’s a surprise winner.
Middeltown native Joey Logano finished in sixth place.
The only hiccup was a brief red flag needed when a hole in the concrete had to be patched. Harvick took it from there and continued to showcase what should be a fantastic battle with Hamlin for the championship.
“With Denny winning yesterday, we needed to win today,” Harvick said. “I know as we go week-to-week, we’re going to give it all that we have.”