Dominant Harvick takes points lead
Kevin Harvick assumed the points lead in the Chase for the Cup today, after a dominant win in New Hampshire International Speedway
This is the first time in Harvick's career that he is at the top of the Cup standings. And, with his Busch title a foregone conclusion, the Richard Childress Racing driver has positioned himself as early favourite to become the first to clinch both titles in the same season.
Harvick, who led 196 of the race's 300 laps, now holds a 35-point lead ahead of rookie Denny Hamlin, who finished today's Sylvania 300 in fourth position, behind reigning champion Tony Stewart - who did not make it into the Chase - and Cup contender Jeff Gordon.
The biggest loser of the day, though, was Jimmie Johnson, who was leading the points standing for 22 rounds - and has now dropped seven places to 9th overall, 139 points behind Harvick.
"Right now it looks like things are out of our control to get back in this thing right now," said Johnson, who retired from today's race some 70 laps before the end and was classified a lowly 39th.
"I can only judge on how guys are running today, and the fact is, all the Chase guys are running up front."
Harvick, on the other hand, knew exactly what he needs to do to clinch the Cup. "We just have to keep doing what we're doing," he said in Victory Lane, having taken his fourth win of the season - and the second in a row.
"If we keep winning races, we're not going to get outscored in points."
Pos Driver Male Laps 1. Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 300 Chase 2. Tony Stewart Chevrolet 300 3. Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 300 Chase 4. Denny Hamlin Chevrolet 300 Chase 5. Brian Vickers Chevrolet 300 6. Elliott Sadler Dodge 300 7. Jeff Burton Chevrolet 300 Chase 8. J.J. Yeley Chevrolet 300 9. Dave Blaney Dodge 300 10. Matt Kenseth Ford 300 Chase 11. Mark Martin Ford 300 Chase 12. Ryan Newman Dodge 300 13. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 300 Chase 14. Greg Biffle Ford 300 15. Robby Gordon Chevrolet 300 16. Kasey Kahne Dodge 300 Chase 17. Reed Sorenson Dodge 300 18. Carl Edwards Ford 300 19. Kurt Busch Dodge 300 20. David Stremme Dodge 300 21. Casey Mears Dodge 300 22. Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet 300 23. Michael Waltrip Dodge 299 24. Clint Bowyer Chevrolet 299 25. Sterling Marlin Chevrolet 299 26. Tony Raines Chevrolet 299 27. Travis Kvapil Chevrolet 299 28. Dale Jarrett Ford 298 29. Jamie McMurray Ford 297 30. Kevin Lepage Dodge 297 31. Scott Wimmer Chevrolet 296 32. Joe Nemechek Chevrolet 295 33. Ken Schrader Ford 294 34. Chad Chaffin Dodge 292 35. Scott Riggs Dodge 291 36. David Gilliland Ford 291 37. Kyle Petty Dodge 290 38. Kyle Busch Chevrolet 275 Chase 39. Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 232 Chase 40. Bobby Labonte Dodge 207 41. Ted Christopher Chevrolet 123 42. Morgan Shepherd Dodge 61 43. Jeff Green Chevrolet 2 CHASE FOR THE CUP - POINTS STANDING: Pos Driver Change Points 1. Kevin Harvick + 2 5230 2. Denny Hamlin + 3 5195 - 35 3. Matt Kenseth - 2 5189 - 41 4. Jeff Gordon + 5 5180 - 50 5. Jeff Burton + 3 5166 - 64 6. Mark Martin + 1 5155 - 75 7. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - 1 5149 - 81 8. Kasey Kahne + 2 5120 -110 9. Jimmie Johnson - 7 5091 -139 10. Kyle Busch - 6 5084 -146
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