Harvick picks up first Cup win at Michigan

By MICKEY ALVARADO

This may very well be Kevin Harvick’s year to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship.

The Cup Series points leader has been making his mark at just about every track he’s been on this season including Michigan International Speedway (MIS). He won his first ever Sprint Cup race on the wide, 2-mile, track on Sunday.

There was no burnout to speak of at the conclusion of the 200-mile run. Instead, Harvick waived to the crowd as he slowly made his way to Gatorade Victory Lane. He radioed back to his crew chief after winning and said, “It’s been seven years since I’ve been in Victory Lane here, but my first in the Sprint Cup. I’m not sure how to even get there.”

Harvick’s only other victory at MIS was in a NASCAR Nationwide race in 2003.

With his victory, Harvick becomes the first driver to secure a spot in the 10-race Chase for the Championship. He currently holds a 293-point lead over Jeff Gordon with three races to go before the Chase for the Cup officially begins.

“This has been a very bad track for us and to come here and do what we did today says a lot about where Richard Childress Racing is,” said Harvick. “This win means a lot. To come here to Michigan and win is very important.”

Team owner Richard Childress was also having a bit of a dry spell on the track. It had been 20 years since having a driver representing his team in victory lane at MIS. His last came when Dale Earnhardt won the race in 1990.

“You know that was 20 years ago. I remember winning here and how proud we were to win for GM Goodwrench back in those days and to win in a GM product up here,” said Childress. “There’s a lot of pride. It’s great to be here today and win.”

Denny Hamlin won the June race at MIS and had an opportunity to log back-to-back wins but finished second. Harvick passed him with 11 laps remaining for the 17th lead change of the day.

Carl Edwards finished third, Greg Biffle, fourth and Matt Kenseth, fifth.
There were just four yellow flag cautions. Kurt Busch brought out a caution when blowing his engine on lap 32 for his second DNF this season. A light rain caused the second caution 60 laps into the race while Ryan Newman was spun out by Joey Logano with 52 laps remaining for the third caution. The crowd of more than 100,000 cheered when the final yellow came out (lap 154) when Jeff Gordan’s left front tire appeared to be down. Jeff Burton also went to pit lane with bent fenders.

Rounding out the top 10 places were Tony Stewart (6th), Juan Pablo Montoya (7th), Martin Truex Jr. (8th), Elliott Sadler (9th) and Logano (10th).