Harvick dominates at Phoenix
Kevin Harvick made up for his second-place finish in yesterday's Busch race by dominating the Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway
Harvick led over 250 of the race's 312 laps as he fought off a late challenge by points leader Jimmie Johnson, who finished the race in second place.
Denny Hamlin took third place after passing Jeff Gordon for the place on the final lap of the race, with Carl Edwards completing the top five.
Drivers in the Chase for the Championship dominated the top ten, with Mark Martin sixth, Kasey Kahne seventh, Dale Earnhardt Jr ninth and Jeff Burton tenth, taking eight of the top ten places.
With the final round next weekend at Homestead, only six drivers can still win the title, the other four drivers mathematically eliminated after today's race, including Jeff Burton, who led the Chase at the halfway point.
Jimmie Johnson remains the points leader, 63 ahead of Matt Kenseth, a twelfth place finish for Johnson good enough to secure him the title no matter what else happens. 27 points behind Kenseth are 2006 Busch champ Kevin Harvick and rookie Denny Hamlin.
The only other driver with a realistic chance of winning the title is Dale Earnhardt Jr, 115 points behind Johnson. Jeff Gordon can still win the title from 167 points behind Johnson, but it would require Johnson not starting the race to even be possible, a very unlikely scenario.
Pos Driver Make Laps
1. Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 312 Chase
2. Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 312 Chase
3. Denny Hamlin Chevrolet 312 Chase
4. Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 312 Chase
5. Carl Edwards Ford 312
6. Mark Martin Ford 312 Chase
7. Kasey Kahne Dodge 312 Chase
8. Kurt Busch Dodge 312
9. Dale Earnhardt Jr Chevrolet 312 Chase
10. Jeff Burton Chevrolet 312 Chase
11. Brian Vickers Chevrolet 312
12. Martin Truex Jr Chevrolet 312
13. Matt Kenseth Ford 312 Chase
14. Tony Stewart Chevrolet 312
15. Ryan Newman Dodge 312
16. David Gilliland Ford 312
17. Elliott Sadler Dodge 312
18. David Stremme Dodge 312
19. Joe Nemechek Chevrolet 312
20. J.J. Yeley Chevrolet 312
21. Tony Raines Chevrolet 312
22. Scott Riggs Dodge 312
23. Dave Blaney Dodge 312
24. Ken Schrader Ford 312
25. Kyle Petty Dodge 312
26. Casey Mears Dodge 312
27. Bobby Labonte Dodge 311
28. Ward Burton Chevrolet 311
29. Reed Sorenson Dodge 310
30. Travis Kvapil Chevrolet 310
31. Bill Elliott Dodge 309
32. Clint Bowyer Chevrolet 307
33. Robby Gordon Chevrolet 307
34. Greg Biffle Ford 306
35. Chad Chaffin Dodge 306
36. Sterling Marlin Chevrolet 303
37. Jeff Green Chevrolet 298
38. Kyle Busch Chevrolet 291 Chase
39. Dale Jarrett Ford 289
40. Jamie McMurray Ford 272
41. Mike Bliss Dodge 262
42. Michael Waltrip Dodge 234
43. Brandon Whitt Chevrolet 123
The Chase for the Cup:
Pos Driver Change Points
1. Jimmie Johnson 6332
2. Matt Kenseth 6269 - 63
3. Kevin Harvick +2 6242 - 90
4. Denny Hamlin 6242 - 90
5. Dale Earnhardt Jr -2 6217 -115
6. Jeff Gordon 6165 -167
7. Jeff Burton 6107 -225
8. Mark Martin +1 6059 -273
9. Kasey Kahne +1 6013 -319
10. Kyle Busch -2 5973 -359
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