There was plenty of other smaller incidents though, including the last one which flipped AJ Allmendinger Ford, sending it pirouetting on its’ nose but otherwise leaving the driver uninjured.
Ironically it was Bowyer who might have ended Harvick’s day on lap 141. Racing in tight quarters he tapped the rear end of Marcos Ambrose’s car sending it into a sharp left turn where it bumped Harvick in front, damaging its’ nose.
The RCR pit crew made repairs to the car and although it looked like an aerodynamic nightmare it raced like a dreamboat as he struggled to the front.
Kevin Harvick said "cool that it came down to myself and Clint. We didn't know who won. I knew that we had beat him to the start/finish line, but I didn't know when the caution had come out."
Third place Juan Pablo Montoya, still seeking his first oval NASCAR win, explained "the best chance I had to win the race was push Bowyer up front, when we got to the line, try to make a move. I've been twice here; I've been running second or third, whatever. Every time you're there a caution comes out on the last lap. If you make a move, then it doesn't come out and you finish 20th," he said laughing.
Jimmie Johnson who ran at the back most of the day began his charge with about 15 laps to go, but, came up short on the final restart on lap 184, of the 188-lap race, when he was behind Bowyer.
"Where things kind of went wrong for us was on that restart. The 77 (Sam Hornish, Jr.) and I were the only ones in the middle lane, which was the outside lane at the restart. The inside lane was well organized. The outside lane, I think Kevin and some of those guys were hooked up and motoring on by."
If there was a feeling of redemption for Bowyer, Richard Childress had a sentimental moment after his 11th win as the leading car owner at Talladega.
"Especially standing in the winner's circle a while ago with Clint, the team, it was real special because it brought back memories of being here 10 years ago with Dale Earnhardt when he won this race. I was thinking about that," Richard Childress said.
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| A frustrated Jeff Burton kicks the No. 31 Cat Financial Chevrolet after contact with Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Photo John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR) |
Ironically it was Bowyer who might have ended Harvick’s day on lap 141. Racing in tight quarters he tapped the rear end of Marcos Ambrose’s car sending it into a sharp left turn where it bumped Harvick in front, damaging its’ nose.
The RCR pit crew made repairs to the car and although it looked like an aerodynamic nightmare it raced like a dreamboat as he struggled to the front.
Kevin Harvick said "cool that it came down to myself and Clint. We didn't know who won. I knew that we had beat him to the start/finish line, but I didn't know when the caution had come out."
Third place Juan Pablo Montoya, still seeking his first oval NASCAR win, explained "the best chance I had to win the race was push Bowyer up front, when we got to the line, try to make a move. I've been twice here; I've been running second or third, whatever. Every time you're there a caution comes out on the last lap. If you make a move, then it doesn't come out and you finish 20th," he said laughing.
Jimmie Johnson who ran at the back most of the day began his charge with about 15 laps to go, but, came up short on the final restart on lap 184, of the 188-lap race, when he was behind Bowyer.
"Where things kind of went wrong for us was on that restart. The 77 (Sam Hornish, Jr.) and I were the only ones in the middle lane, which was the outside lane at the restart. The inside lane was well organized. The outside lane, I think Kevin and some of those guys were hooked up and motoring on by."
If there was a feeling of redemption for Bowyer, Richard Childress had a sentimental moment after his 11th win as the leading car owner at Talladega.
"Especially standing in the winner's circle a while ago with Clint, the team, it was real special because it brought back memories of being here 10 years ago with Dale Earnhardt when he won this race. I was thinking about that," Richard Childress said.