Cup: Phoenix - Race results
In a weekend that had started with his being linked to a 2014 move from his current spot at Richard Childress Racing to Stewart/Haas Racing in 2014, it was only fitting that Kevin Harvick ended Sunday firmly in the spotlight all over again and this time for the best of reasons after clinching victory in the AdvoCare 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.
It's Harvick's 19th victory in 429 Cup starts, his first win in 2012 which breaks a 44-race winless streak dating back Richmond in September 2011. It's his third win in 20 starts at Phoenix. He won after heading just 15 of the 319 laps of the race, compared with Kyle Busch who was in the lead for 237 laps on the one-mile raceway.
In what had been a relatively straightforward race centring on strong runs for Joe Gibbs Racing duo Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin at the front and a cagey battle between Chase rivals Jimmie Johnson and Brad Keselowski, there was a stunning turn of events on lap 236 when Johnson suffered a cut tyre and hit the wall. That left Johnson classified in 32nd place at the finish while Keselowski went on to clinch sixth place, putting him a potentially decisive 20pts ahead in the championship with one race remaining.
The race ended in bizarre circumstances, when a row between Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer led to on-track retaliation that spilled out into a pit lane brawl between the respective crews, controversy over whether the race had actually ended or not, and finally a green-white-chequered finish that controversially carried on despite some major wrecks erupting on the circuit, sparked by a big accident for Danica Patrick.
Between Friday's qualifying session and Sunday's race, the Cup field had the opportunity to take part in two practice sessions on Saturday which were both topped by Kyle Busch with times of 26.558s (135.552 mph) and 26.617s (135.252 mph.) Jeff Burton had another crash during the ssssion, his second in 24 hours: since he was already in the backup car, the Richard Childress Racing crew had to go back to the primary damaged on Friday and get to work fixing it for the race.
Race results
1. #29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 319 laps 2hrs 52mins 9secs (47/4 pts)
2. #11 Denny Hamlin Toyota 319 laps + 0.580 (43/1 pts)
3. #18 Kyle Busch Toyota 319 laps + 0.765 (43/2 pts)
4. #5 Kasey Kahne Chevrolet 319 laps + 1.017 (40/0 pts)
5. #39 Ryan Newman Chevrolet 319 laps + 2.252 (40/1 pts)
6. #2 Brad Keselowski Dodge 319 laps + 2.446 (39/1 pts)
7. #16 Greg Biffle Ford 319 laps + 2.755 (37/0 pts)
8. #78 Kurt Busch Chevrolet 319 laps + 2.949 (36/0 pts)
9. #27 Paul Menard Chevrolet 319 laps + 2.967 (35/0 pts)
10. #55 Mark Martin Toyota 319 laps + 3.220 (35/1 pts)
11. #99 Carl Edwards Ford 319 laps + 3.316 (33/0 pts)
12. #42 Juan Montoya Chevrolet 319 laps + 4.214 (32/0 pts)
13. #31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet 319 laps + 4.905 (31/0 pts)
14. #17 Matt Kenseth Ford 319 laps + 5.526 (30/0 pts)
15. #47 Bobby Labonte Toyota 319 laps + 5.691 (29/0 pts)
16. #43 Aric Almirola Ford 319 laps + 13.452 (28/0 pts)
17. #10 Danica Patrick Chevrolet 319 laps + 1 lap (0pts)
18. #9 Marcos Ambrose Ford 319 laps + 1 lap (26/0 pts)
19. #14 Tony Stewart Chevrolet 319 laps + 1 lap (25/0 pts)
20. #93 Travis Kvapil Toyota 319 laps + 1 lap (25/1 pts)
21. #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 317 laps + 2 laps (23/0 pts)
22. #13 Casey Mears Ford 317 laps + 2 laps (22/0 pts)
23. #1 Jamie McMurray Chevrolet 317 laps + 2 laps (21/0 pts)
24. #51 Regan Smith Chevrolet 316 laps + 3 laps (20/0 pts)
25. #83 Landon Cassill Toyota 316 laps + 3 laps (19/0 pts)
26. #36 Dave Blaney Chevrolet 316 laps + 3 laps (18/0 pts)
27. #20 Joey Logano Toyota 312 laps Accident (17/0 pts)7 Laps
28. #15 Clint Bowyer Toyota 312 laps Accident (16/0 pts)7 Laps
29. #32 Timmy Hill Ford 312 laps + 7 laps (0pts)
30. #24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 309 laps Accident (14/0 pts)10 Laps
31. #22 Sam Hornish Jr. Dodge 299 laps Accident (0pts)20 Laps
32. #48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 281 laps + 38 laps (12/0 pts)
33. #34 David Ragan Ford 280 laps Accident (11/0 pts)
34. #30 David Stremme Toyota 86 laps Brakes (10/0 pts)
35. #33 Stephen Leicht * Chevrolet 74 laps Rear Gear (9/0 pts)
36. #38 David Gilliland Ford 50 laps Accident (8/0 pts)
37. #26 Josh Wise * Ford 50 laps Brakes (7/0 pts)
38. #98 Michael McDowell Ford 36 laps Brakes (6/0 pts)
39. #87 Joe Nemechek Toyota 30 laps Brakes (0pts)
40. #144 David Reutimann Ford 28 laps Vibration (4/0 pts)
41. #119 Mike Bliss Toyota 15 laps Accident (0pts)
42. #191 Jason Leffler Toyota 10 laps Brakes (0pts)
43. #56 Martin Truex Jr. Toyota 10 laps Engine (1/0 pts)
Practice 3 times
1. #18 Kyle Busch Toyota 26.617s (Leader) 135.252 mph
2. #5 Kasey Kahne Chevrolet 26.634s (-0.017) 135.166 mph
3. #20 Joey Logano Toyota 26.666s (-0.049) 135.003 mph
4. #43 Aric Almirola Ford 26.675s (-0.058) 134.958 mph
5. #24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 26.684s (-0.067) 134.912 mph
6. #56 Martin Truex Jr. Toyota 26.707s (-0.090) 134.796 mph
7. #15 Clint Bowyer Toyota 26.708s (-0.091) 134.791 mph
8. #11 Denny Hamlin Toyota 26.713s (-0.096) 134.766 mph
9. #2 Brad Keselowski Dodge 26.756s (-0.139) 134.549 mph
10. #78 Kurt Busch Chevrolet 26.762s (-0.145) 134.519 mph
11. #48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 26.774s (-0.157) 134.459 mph
12. #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 26.785s (-0.168) 134.404 mph
13. #39 Ryan Newman Chevrolet 26.785s (-0.168) 134.404 mph
14. #83 Landon Cassill Toyota 26.791s (-0.174) 134.374 mph
15. #14 Tony Stewart Chevrolet 26.800s (-0.183) 134.328 mph
16. #16 Greg Biffle Ford 26.820s (-0.203) 134.228 mph
17. #55 Mark Martin Toyota 26.826s (-0.209) 134.198 mph
18. #93 Travis Kvapil Toyota 26.839s (-0.222) 134.133 mph
19. #27 Paul Menard Chevrolet 26.841s (-0.224) 134.123 mph
20. #99 Carl Edwards Ford 26.841s (-0.224) 134.123 mph
21. #42 Juan Montoya Chevrolet 26.861s (-0.244) 134.023 mph
22. #31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet 26.867s (-0.250) 133.993 mph
23. #29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 26.873s (-0.256) 133.964 mph
24. #22 Sam Hornish Jr. Dodge 26.877s (-0.260) 133.943 mph
25. #51 Regan Smith Chevrolet 26.909s (-0.292) 133.784 mph
26. #9 Marcos Ambrose Ford 26.943s (-0.326) 133.615 mph
27. #17 Matt Kenseth Ford 26.948s (-0.331) 133.591 mph
28. #13 Casey Mears Ford 26.960s (-0.343) 133.531 mph
29. #10 Danica Patrick Chevrolet 27.021s (-0.404) 133.230 mph
30. #38 David Gilliland Ford 27.023s (-0.406) 133.220 mph
31. #1 Jamie McMurray Chevrolet 27.025s (-0.408) 133.210 mph
32. #47 Bobby Labonte Toyota 27.043s (-0.426) 133.121 mph
33. #30 David Stremme Toyota 27.070s (-0.453) 132.988 mph
34. #34 David Ragan Ford 27.080s (-0.463) 132.939 mph
35. #191 Jason Leffler Toyota 27.153s (-0.536) 132.582 mph
36. #98 Michael McDowell Ford 27.169s (-0.552) 132.504 mph
37. #119 Mike Bliss Toyota 27.218s (-0.601) 132.265 mph
38. #26 Josh Wise* Ford 27.242s (-0.625) 132.149 mph
39. #36 Dave Blaney Chevrolet 27.253s (-0.636) 132.096 mph
40. #87 Joe Nemechek Toyota 27.271s (-0.654) 132.008 mph
41. #33 Stephen Leicht* Chevrolet 27.354s (-0.737) 131.608 mph
42. #144 David Reutimann Ford 27.362s (-0.745) 131.569 mph
43. #32 Timmy Hill Ford 27.532s (-0.915) 130.757 mph
Practice 2 times
1. #18 Kyle Busch Toyota 26.558s (Leader) 135.552 mph
2. #11 Denny Hamlin Toyota 26.670s (-0.112) 134.983 mph
3. #56 Martin Truex Jr. Toyota 26.685s (-0.127) 134.907 mph
4. #2 Brad Keselowski Dodge 26.688s (-0.130) 134.892 mph
5. #20 Joey Logano Toyota 26.689s (-0.131) 134.887 mph
6. #27 Paul Menard Chevrolet 26.718s (-0.160) 134.741 mph
7. #43 Aric Almirola Ford 26.723s (-0.165) 134.715 mph
8. #15 Clint Bowyer Toyota 26.724s (-0.166) 134.710 mph
9. #5 Kasey Kahne Chevrolet 26.725s (-0.167) 134.705 mph
10. #24 Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 26.795s (-0.237) 134.353 mph
11. #16 Greg Biffle Ford 26.808s (-0.250) 134.288 mph
12. #78 Kurt Busch Chevrolet 26.810s (-0.252) 134.278 mph
13. #83 Landon Cassill Toyota 26.818s (-0.260) 134.238 mph
14. #29 Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 26.826s (-0.268) 134.198 mph
15. #51 Regan Smith Chevrolet 26.835s (-0.277) 134.153 mph
16. #14 Tony Stewart Chevrolet 26.847s (-0.289) 134.093 mph
17. #39 Ryan Newman Chevrolet 26.852s (-0.294) 134.068 mph
18. #9 Marcos Ambrose Ford 26.868s (-0.310) 133.988 mph
19. #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 26.872s (-0.314) 133.968 mph
20. #31 Jeff Burton Chevrolet 26.884s (-0.326) 133.909 mph
21. #55 Mark Martin Toyota 26.887s (-0.329) 133.894 mph
22. #17 Matt Kenseth Ford 26.888s (-0.330) 133.889 mph
23. #93 Travis Kvapil Toyota 26.911s (-0.353) 133.774 mph
24. #48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 26.917s (-0.359) 133.745 mph
25. #99 Carl Edwards Ford 26.919s (-0.361) 133.734 mph
26. #47 Bobby Labonte Toyota 26.920s (-0.362) 133.730 mph
27. #42 Juan Montoya Chevrolet 26.947s (-0.389) 133.596 mph
28. #13 Casey Mears Ford 26.963s (-0.405) 133.516 mph
29. #34 David Ragan Ford 26.969s (-0.411) 133.487 mph
30. #22 Sam Hornish Jr. Dodge 26.971s (-0.413) 133.477 mph
31. #1 Jamie McMurray Chevrolet 27.029s (-0.471) 133.190 mph
32. #38 David Gilliland Ford 27.078s (-0.520) 132.949 mph
33. #26 Josh Wise* Ford 27.092s (-0.534) 132.881 mph
34. #98 Michael McDowell Ford 27.140s (-0.582) 132.645 mph
35. #10 Danica Patrick Chevrolet 27.190s (-0.632) 132.402 mph
36. #30 David Stremme Toyota 27.203s (-0.645) 132.338 mph
37. #119 Mike Bliss Toyota 27.211s (-0.653) 132.299 mph
38. #144 David Reutimann Ford 27.319s (-0.761) 131.776 mph
39. #191 Jason Leffler Toyota 27.319s (-0.761) 131.776 mph
40. #33 Stephen Leicht* Chevrolet 27.336s (-0.778) 131.695 mph
41. #36 Dave Blaney Chevrolet 27.340s (-0.782) 131.675 mph
42. #32 Timmy Hill Ford 27.350s (-0.792) 131.627 mph
43. #87 Joe Nemechek Toyota 27.659s (-1.101) 130.156 mph
Sprint Cup Series championship standings
1. (+1) Brad Keselowski 2371pts
2. (-1) Jimmie Johnson 2351pts (-20pts)
3. (+1) Kasey Kahne 2321pts (-50pts)
4. (-1) Clint Bowyer 2319pts (-52pts)
5. (+2) Denny Hamlin 2309pts (-62pts)
6. (-1) Matt Kenseth 2297pts (-74pts)
7. (+3) Greg Biffle 2293pts (-78pts)
8. (+3) Kevin Harvick 2285pts (-86pts)
9. (-1) Tony Stewart 2283pts (-88pts)
10. (-4) Jeff Gordon 2281pts (-90pts)
11. (-2) Martin Truex Jr. 2260pts (-111pts)
12. (--) Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2211pts (-160pts)
13. (--) Kyle Busch 1091pts (-1280pts)
14. (--) Ryan Newman 1009pts (-1362pts)
15. (--) Carl Edwards 998pts (-1373pts)
16. (--) Paul Menard 973pts (-1398pts)
17. (--) Joey Logano 935pts (-1436pts)
18. (--) Marcos Ambrose 918pts (-1453pts)
19. (--) Jeff Burton 858pts (-1513pts)
20. (--) Jamie McMurray 844pts (-1527pts)
21. (--) Aric Almirola 831pts (-1540pts)
22. (--) Juan Montoya 794pts (-1577pts)
23. (--) Bobby Labonte 753pts (-1618pts)
24. (--) Regan Smith 733pts (-1638pts)
25. (--) Kurt Busch 700pts (-1671pts)
26. (--) Mark Martin 673pts (-1698pts)
27. (+1) Travis Kvapil 621pts (-1750pts)
28. (-1) David Ragan 609pts (-1762pts)
29. (+1) Casey Mears 597pts (-1774pts)
30. (-1) David Gilliland 594pts (-1777pts)
31. (--) Landon Cassill 581pts (-1790pts)
32. (--) AJ Allmendinger 453pts (-1918pts)
33. (--) Dave Blaney 405pts (-1966pts)
34. (--) David Reutimann 363pts (-2008pts)
35. (--) Brian Vickers 250pts (-2121pts)
36. (--) David Stremme 230pts (-2141pts)
37. (--) Michael McDowell 184pts (-2187pts)
38. (--) J.J. Yeley 157pts (-2214pts)
39. (+1) Josh Wise* 143pts (-2228pts)
40. (-1) Ken Schrader 139pts (-2232pts)
41. (+1) Stephen Leicht* 126pts (-2245pts)
42. (-1) Scott Speed 124pts (-2247pts)
43. (--) Michael Waltrip 94pts (-2277pts)
44. (--) Terry Labonte 94pts (-2277pts)
45. (--) Tony Raines 71pts (-2300pts)
46. (--) Scott Riggs 54pts (-2317pts)
47. (--) Brendan Gaughan 50pts (-2321pts)
48. (--) Boris Said 34pts (-2337pts)
49. (+13) Timmy Hill 15pts (-2356pts)
50. (-1) Bill Elliott 14pts (-2357pts)
51. (-1) Hermie Sadler 13pts (-2358pts)
52. (-1) Mike Olsen 11pts (-2360pts)
53. (-1) Robby Gordon 11pts (-2360pts)
54. (-1) Mike Skinner 10pts (-2361pts)
* Denotes RookieOnly drivers registered for points in this series are shown
