Kevin Harvick turned last year’s loss at the
Auto Club Speedway into a win on Sunday.
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| Denny Hamlin started second and led 15 laps early before a blown engine ended his day on Lap 105 of the Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway. (Photo: Jeff Gross/Getty Images) |
"Last year taught me a lot about what patience and the things I needed to do to beat a guy that doesn't make mistakes. In order to do that, you can't make mistakes yourself. This race one year ago is what helped us win today, by being patient, not taking yourself out of the race, having something there at the end until it was time to go," said Kevin Harvick.
On the last lap Harvick gave Jimmie Johnson a little tap on the bumper just enough to force Johnson to open up the high line and Harvick motored ahead for the win.
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| Kevin Harvick bumps Jimmie Johnson - Image: nascar.com |
Kevin Harvick and crew chief Gil Martin had only one tense moment – the final caution after Bobby Labonte’s wreck on lap 186. In Saturday’s Nationwide race Kyle Busch took two tires while Harvick (and Carl Edwards) took four tires for the win on the last caution. On Sunday the top seven drivers did not pit on the final caution.
Crew chief Martin smiled and said "if we would have pitted Richard (Childress the car owner) would have killed me," and laughed.
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| Kyle Busch and Tony Stewart traded the lead several times during the Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway. (Photo: Victor Decolongon/Getty Images for NASCAR) |
