Harvick breaks 49-year record with Cup brace
NASCAR CUP MICHIGAN (USA) 8-9 AUGUST ROUND 21-22/36
This year’s NASCAR Cup contest is becoming something of the Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin show.
The level that the two are consistently performing at is of the highest standard, and this was on full display during the double-header at Michigan last weekend.
Race one was comfortably going Harvick’s way until John Hunter Nemechek caused three quick-fire cautions after tyre failures, giving the pack half a chance of challenging the #4 Stewart-haas Ford Mustang.
Brad Keselowski took up the challenge of somehow shifting an immoveable object in overtime. He failed. A nudge from Chase Elliott was just enough to give Harvick the momentum he needed to break Keselowski’s draft. But still, a 1-2 for the Blue Oval on its home track was a fine result.
On Sunday, Clint Bowyer denied
Harvick a clean sweep of the six stages on offer, nabbing stage one honours as Harvick scythed through the field from 20th – the legacy of a top-20 reversed grid.
Not that he needed much help. Swift pit work at the stage-one break vaulted Harvick to second behind Kyle Busch – who was soon dealt with.
Hamlin worked his way up for Joe Gibbs Racing to form a late breakaway with the leader. The #11 Joe Gibbs Toyota Camry fell just 0.093s short of denying Harvick, but at least the Ford ace was made to work for the brace of victories.
Indeed, Harvick became the first driver to win Cup races on consecutive days since Richard Petty in July 1971.