USA TODAY International Edition
Harvick edges Hamlin on frantic, finishing lap
Believe it or not, Kevin Harvick entered the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series weekend winless in 2019. The Stewart-Haas Racing driver who won eight times last year and finished third in the championship race had opportunities to win but could never live up to his nickname of “The Closer.”
Harvick made sure he closed out the race Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, holding off Denny Hamlin, who caught him in the final two laps and bumped him twice before Harvick edged him at the line to win the Foxwoods Resort Casino 301.
“(Hamlin) got to me and tried to move me out the way,” a relieved Harvick said after climbing out of his car. “I knew that was coming as close as he was. But I just hit the throttle down the back straightaway and I’m like, ‘You’re not getting under me again.’ He drove to the outside, and I waited until he got near me then put a wheel on him.”
The victory was Harvick’s first in 21 races since he took the checkered flag at Texas Motor Speedway in November.
Hamlin saw the frantic battle the same way Harvick did.
“I wanted to just tap him there,” Hamlin said, “but I didn’t want to completely screw him, I wanted to give him a fair shot. Then he turned right and came up on me coming out of the corner. I don’t know, I would have done the same thing . ... It was a great race. Congratulations to him and his team.”
Harvick, who won this race last year, benefited from a risky call by his crew chief.
When many of the drivers brought their cars down pit road with 35 laps left for tires, Rodney Childers told Harvick to stay out. “It was really questionable with how that was going to go,” Harvick said in victory lane. “It was a heck of a finish, closer than we wanted. Like I said, I would never have (made the call), but that’s why he’s the one on the box.”
Harvick earned his 46th Cup Series win and locked himself into the playoffs.
Erik Jones finished third, Ryan Blaney fourth and Matt DiBenedetto fifth for his second top-five of 2019. Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Newman, Kyle Busch, Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski rounded out the top 10.