Kevin Harvick’s victory at Michigan has marked him as a real contender for the Sprint Cup in the upcoming ten-race Sprint Cup Chase.
Harvick passed Denny Hamlin, who won at the two-mile oval in June, with 11-laps go and cruised to his third win of the year becoming the first driver locked into the Chase.
The victory was key on different levels. It wasn't just a victory, but the ten bonus points he will get on the reset when the Chase begins in three races.
“It’s important just for the fact that they [Denny Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson] won five races this year," Harvick explained. When the points reset (as of now), Harvick should be 20 points behind his rivals.
Harvick was able to move around Hamlin on the high line and explained: “He took my line away a couple of times, but, eventually, I got around him on the top.”
Hamlin, who was having a problem with a cooling fan, said: "I’m not sure we had anything for him today,” but it did make him feel more competitive: “It’s the run we needed to get back into the swing of things, the 29 was strong down the straightaway. I haven’t had that much fun racing someone for the win in a long time.”
The Fords of Carl Edwards, Gregg Biffle, and Matt Kenseth finished third through fifth witnessed by Jack Roush who was released from the hospital on Wednesday.
Edwards said: "We had the fastest car at the end, we just didn’t have enough time. Our Fords ran really well, we had three in the top-five and it is good to have Jack back here at the race track. I wish we could have got a win for him. Our team was good as it has been in a long time.”
The late race restarts looked wild but there were no major accidents. “It was like a 175mph parking lot,” Edwards commented.
The current season is shaping up with Harvick’s best shot at a championship since his rookie year when he took over the ride for Childress succeeding the late Dale Earnhardt Sr.
“This has been a very bad track for us, so to come here today and do this show where RCR is.''
The powerful Hendrick Motorsport Team struggled with Jimmie Johnson in 12th, Dale Earnhardt Jr. 19th, Jeff Gordon 27th and Mark Martin 28th.
Canada’s Patrick Carpentier had a shot at a rare oval event and finished 29th.
Kurt Busch had to be the biggest disappointment in the Dodge camp, as he experienced engine failure early in the race, a rare problem at Penske. He had to retire.
Talking about the resurgence of the RCR team, Harvick said: “This has been a very bad track for us, so for us to come here today and do this shows where RCR is.''
With three races remaining before the Chase Harvick says they’ll be “like a vacation.” His boss Richard Childress added: “We are going to be contenders, for sure.”
Harvick explained that, while he was confident he could challenge Jimmie Johnson for the series’ Championship, “we're fast enough to beat them for the title.” He adds: “Circumstances could play a role and there’s no need to get cocky now.”
Harvick passed Denny Hamlin, who won at the two-mile oval in June, with 11-laps go and cruised to his third win of the year becoming the first driver locked into the Chase.
The victory was key on different levels. It wasn't just a victory, but the ten bonus points he will get on the reset when the Chase begins in three races.
“It’s important just for the fact that they [Denny Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson] won five races this year," Harvick explained. When the points reset (as of now), Harvick should be 20 points behind his rivals.
Harvick was able to move around Hamlin on the high line and explained: “He took my line away a couple of times, but, eventually, I got around him on the top.”
Hamlin, who was having a problem with a cooling fan, said: "I’m not sure we had anything for him today,” but it did make him feel more competitive: “It’s the run we needed to get back into the swing of things, the 29 was strong down the straightaway. I haven’t had that much fun racing someone for the win in a long time.”
The Fords of Carl Edwards, Gregg Biffle, and Matt Kenseth finished third through fifth witnessed by Jack Roush who was released from the hospital on Wednesday.
Edwards said: "We had the fastest car at the end, we just didn’t have enough time. Our Fords ran really well, we had three in the top-five and it is good to have Jack back here at the race track. I wish we could have got a win for him. Our team was good as it has been in a long time.”
The late race restarts looked wild but there were no major accidents. “It was like a 175mph parking lot,” Edwards commented.
The current season is shaping up with Harvick’s best shot at a championship since his rookie year when he took over the ride for Childress succeeding the late Dale Earnhardt Sr.
“This has been a very bad track for us, so to come here today and do this show where RCR is.''
The powerful Hendrick Motorsport Team struggled with Jimmie Johnson in 12th, Dale Earnhardt Jr. 19th, Jeff Gordon 27th and Mark Martin 28th.
Canada’s Patrick Carpentier had a shot at a rare oval event and finished 29th.
Kurt Busch had to be the biggest disappointment in the Dodge camp, as he experienced engine failure early in the race, a rare problem at Penske. He had to retire.
Talking about the resurgence of the RCR team, Harvick said: “This has been a very bad track for us, so for us to come here today and do this shows where RCR is.''
With three races remaining before the Chase Harvick says they’ll be “like a vacation.” His boss Richard Childress added: “We are going to be contenders, for sure.”
Harvick explained that, while he was confident he could challenge Jimmie Johnson for the series’ Championship, “we're fast enough to beat them for the title.” He adds: “Circumstances could play a role and there’s no need to get cocky now.”