Race Weekend Central

Kevin Harvick Goes Back-to-Back in 2018 with Las Vegas Win

Atlanta Part 2.

For the second straight weekend, Kevin Harvick scored a victory in dominating fashion in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. After doing so at Atlanta Motor Speedway one week ago, he backed it up with a win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Sunday.

The No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford led 214 of 267 laps toward his 39th career Cup win and second at Las Vegas. The win also marks the 100th of Harvick’s NASCAR career across the three national series.

“It all happens so fast over the last couple weeks,” Harvick said. “It lets you reminisce about a lot of things you’ve done in the sport. Winning last week and being able to put some closure on 2001 in Atlanta. Now, winning 100 races is something I thought I’d never do.”

Kyle Busch made a late charge in his No. 18 Toyota, jumping from fifth to finish second, 1.9 seconds behind Harvick.

“We were really strong in the last 100 laps or so,” Busch said. “Just no catching that [No.] 4. They were just on rails today, lights out. I don’t know what we need to do to catch up to those guys. We have some homework to do.”

Kyle Larson finished third and was at the center of close racing inside the top five throughout Sunday’s Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube. Battling the likes of Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano, he beat them all toward third-place.

“I felt most of the day we were second or third best,” Larson said. “If we can clean up everything, we can get more wins. We’re not too far off.”

It was a straightforward day for most of the field behind Harvick. Michael McDowell led for 11 laps under pit cycle while Truex, Kyle Busch and pole-sitter Blaney led for a total of 16.

Joey Logano led the next-most laps at 25. The No. 22 fell to finish seventh.

The most significant incident of the day occurred on lap 182 when Kurt Busch slid up and crashed with Chase Elliott. The Las Vegas native Busch said he was caught off-guard when his No. 41 turned loose in Turn 4.

“Turn 4, I always know it’s slick, but I wasn’t even pushing through there,” Busch said. “It just stepped out on me. I hate it for all the Chase Elliott fans, Kurt Busch fans, my hometown fans. I wasn’t even pushing hard. It was ridiculous.”

Brad Keselowski came home sixth with Erik Jones, Paul Menard and Aric Almirola the top 10. Jimmie Johnson rebounded from 36th to finish 12th.

UNOFFICIAL PENNZOIL 400 RESULTS

About the author

Growing up in Easton, Pa., Zach Catanzareti has grown his auto racing interest from fandom to professional. Joining Frontstretch in 2015, Zach enjoys nothing more than being at the track, having covered his first half-season of 18 races in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 2017. With experience behind the wheel, behind the camera and in the media center, he thrives on being an all-around reporter.

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RR

These Nascar Races are very BORING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DoninAjax

The 3 got a free pass after each 80 lap heat. The last two tracks aren’t like Daytona or Talladega. He should have been out of the “power” rankings already.

The same cars finished in the top ten in the two heats. The order was changed to protect the guilty.

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