Kevin Harvick turned what could have been a series of pit road disasters into a victory coming back to win the rain-delayed Nationwide Race at Las Vegas, beating Denny Hamlin at the finish line.
In Victory Circle, Harvick who led the most laps but admonished his crew on the radio said: “The car was really fast. We definitely have to work on pit road,” he said.
“We had our worst day ever on pit road,” said his crew chief Ernie Cope. Harvick explained: “I get mad; they know how I am and what I expect from them.”
Hamlin, who had taken the lead on the final pit stop with that faster, two-tires strategy about 50 laps before the end, explained he couldn’t catch Harvick who had taken four tires: “Those tires got us. I didn't want to risk tearing up the car.”
On the final restart, with 25-laps to go, Harvick went low to battle Hamlin and took the lead with Kyle Busch in third. Harvick then took off like he was shot out of a cannon. Meanwhile Kyle got over-aggressive brushed the wall and damaged his car.
Carl Edwards finished third. Reunited with his nationwide crew chief, Drew Blickensderfer, he said: “There was a lot going on in that race; it changed a lot.” Edward is now the series points leader.
The race was delayed about 90 minutes due to a rain shower before the start of the race.
Earlier in the race, much attention was on Danica Patrick who was making her last NASCAR appearance until the June Nationwide race at New Hampshire.
After starting 37th, she began working her way forward, as high as 23rd, until she was in contact with Michael McDowell. McDowell, running 65-laps behind the leader, was just trying to earn points.
McDowell had the high line, on used tires, saw her car, on new tires, closing rapidly. He thought she’d go high, but turned down on Patrick, eliminating both of them.
She explained: “The car ahead of me was going very slow. I went low to go underneath him, and, sure enough, he turned down and took us both out.”
McDowell said: “I guess she was coming out on new tires. I tried to give her the outside. It was 100 per cent my fault.”
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| Photo: Philippe Champoux/Auto123.com |
In Victory Circle, Harvick who led the most laps but admonished his crew on the radio said: “The car was really fast. We definitely have to work on pit road,” he said.
“We had our worst day ever on pit road,” said his crew chief Ernie Cope. Harvick explained: “I get mad; they know how I am and what I expect from them.”
Hamlin, who had taken the lead on the final pit stop with that faster, two-tires strategy about 50 laps before the end, explained he couldn’t catch Harvick who had taken four tires: “Those tires got us. I didn't want to risk tearing up the car.”
On the final restart, with 25-laps to go, Harvick went low to battle Hamlin and took the lead with Kyle Busch in third. Harvick then took off like he was shot out of a cannon. Meanwhile Kyle got over-aggressive brushed the wall and damaged his car.
Carl Edwards finished third. Reunited with his nationwide crew chief, Drew Blickensderfer, he said: “There was a lot going on in that race; it changed a lot.” Edward is now the series points leader.
The race was delayed about 90 minutes due to a rain shower before the start of the race.
Earlier in the race, much attention was on Danica Patrick who was making her last NASCAR appearance until the June Nationwide race at New Hampshire.
After starting 37th, she began working her way forward, as high as 23rd, until she was in contact with Michael McDowell. McDowell, running 65-laps behind the leader, was just trying to earn points.
McDowell had the high line, on used tires, saw her car, on new tires, closing rapidly. He thought she’d go high, but turned down on Patrick, eliminating both of them.
 |
| Photo: Philippe Champoux/Auto123.com |
She explained: “The car ahead of me was going very slow. I went low to go underneath him, and, sure enough, he turned down and took us both out.”
McDowell said: “I guess she was coming out on new tires. I tried to give her the outside. It was 100 per cent my fault.”
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