NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
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CUP: Harvick Happy In Michigan
Kevin Harvick won his third race of the year Sunday...
Tom Jensen  |  Posted August 15, 2010   Brooklyn, MI
Kevin Harvick celebrates with his crew in victory lane after he won the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series CARFAX 400 at Michigan International Speedway. (Photo: Getty Images)
NASCAR Sprint Cup points leader Kevin Harvick knew the only thing separating him from a flawless season was his tally in the victory column relative to his rivals. So he went out a did something about it.

LINK> UNOFFICIAL RESULTS: CARFAX 400 - MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
PDF > UNOFFICIAL DRIVER POINTS: CARFAX 400 - MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

Harvick, who has led the points since Richmond in early May, passed Denny Hamlin in the closing laps to capture Sunday’s Carfax 400 at Michigan International Speedway, historically one of his weakest tracks.

The victory was the third of the year for Harvick, giving him 30 bonus points, trailing only the 50 that Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson have. Harvick is now officially locked into the Chase for the Sprint Cup and, just as importantly, by keeping Hamlin out of victory lane, he prevented a potential 20-point swing in bonus points.

Harvick passed Hamlin with 11 laps to go to seal a victory after a fierce duel in one of the better races of the season. It was the 14th victory of Harvick’s Cup career and the first for Richard Childress Racing at MIS since 1990.

Behind Harvick and Hamlin came the Roush Fenway Racing Fords of Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth. The second five was Matt Kenseth, Juan Pablo Montoya, Martin Truex Jr., Elliott Sadler and Joey Logano.

The race started out slow, but ended in dramatic fashion.

Johnson went from the outside of Row 1 into the lead on the opening lap, relegating pole-sitter Kasey Kahne to second.

On Lap 15, two-time MIS winner Greg Biffle moved into the lead for the first time, his No. 16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford looking strong in the early going. Johnson soon began to fall back, Tony Stewart taking second on Lap 18 and Kevin Harvick third the following time around.

Harvick then went past Stewart and closed on Biffle, but a yellow flag flew on Lap 33 when Kurt Busch lost the engine in his No. 2 Penske Racing Dodge.
Kevin Harvick, driver of the #29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet, crosses the start / finish line to take the checkered flag and win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series CARFAX 400 at Michigan International Speedway. (Photo: Getty Images)

Biffle held sway on pit road, leading when the green came back out on Lap 39.

At the one-quarter distance, Biffle was still out front ahead of Harvick, Johnson, Stewart and Martin Truex Jr.

On Lap 61, the caution flew for the second time for a light rain shower, but Biffle again held onto the lead during the ensuing caution period. The green waved on Lap 67 this time out.

Stewart then began to run down Biffle, taking over the point for the first time on Lap 84. At halfway, Stewart was 0.588 seconds up on Harvick, with Biffle third, then Kahne and Clint Bowyer.


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