Harvick shakes off scandal, wins pole

AVONDALE, Ariz. — The cheating scandal that knocked Kevin Harvick out of NASCAR’s championship round didn’t slow him a bit at one of his favorite race tracks.

Harvick won the pole for Sunday’s final qualifying race for the championship finale with a strong run that briefly overshadowed the controversy his Stewart-Haas Racing team created with an illegal part.

Harvick turned a lap at 139.340 mph Friday around ISM Raceway outside Phoenix to put himself in position to requalify for the championship. His winning car from last week was found to have an illegal spoiler and the punishment cost him his automatic berth into the final four.

As for what exactly happened with his race-winning car last week, Harvick didn’t offer any new information after claiming the top starting spot at ISM Raceway outside of Phoenix.

“I don’t build the cars. I can’t tell you what’s good and what’s bad. I just show up and drive the cars,” Harvick said Friday.