Kevin Harvick Dominates Dover to Preserve Sprint Cup Title Hopes

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By Jove, he’s done it again!

Forced to win at Dover International Speedway to keep his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship hopes alive Sunday, Kevin Harvick did just that, dominating Sunday’s AAA 400 to stave off elimination from the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

In a virtual carbon copy of last year’s Chase race at Phoenix, where the 2014 premier series champion had to win to advance to the Championship Round at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Harvick led 355 of 400 laps – a career best at any track – in winning for the third time this year and the 31st time in his career.

“I think we’re better than we were last year, just because of the experiences and things that we’ve had,” Harvick said after the race. “I think when we look at everything that’s gone on over the last couple of years, it’s just been a lot of fun.

“So, it’s just that never-quit attitude. That’s what (team co-owner) Tony Stewart said when we went to Homestead last year. He said, ‘Whatever you do, do not quit until they throw that checkered flag.’”

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NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA 400 at Dover Preview

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NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

Next Race: AAA 400

The Place: Dover International Speedway

The Date: Sunday, Oct. 4

The Time: 2:30 p.m. (ET)

TV: NBCSN, 2 p.m. (ET)

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM Ch. 90

Distance: 400 miles (400 laps)

 

Harvick on the Ropes Heading into Dover

Defending champion Kevin Harvick has two options heading into Sunday’s AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway – the first cutoff race of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup – win or go home.

The No. 4 Chevrolet driver ranks 15th out of 16 drivers on the Chase Grid and sits 23 points below 12th-place Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the cutoff line. He mathematically can still make the Contender Round on points, but it would be a tough task, requiring him to jump three drivers.

Basically, if Harvick doesn’t visit Victory Lane, he is out of NASCAR’s playoffs as one of the four winless drivers lowest in points. Continue reading

John Wes Townley Scores First Truck Series Victory In Las Vegas

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John Wes Townley collected his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Saturday night, saving just enough fuel during his last run to win the Rhino Linings 350.

Townley, who qualified his No. 05 Chevrolet second, battled among the top-five for much of the race taking the lead from two-time series champion Matt Crafton with five laps to go when Crafton had to pit road for a splash of fuel.

Townley’s victory came in the Georgia veteran’s 89th career start. He scored a previous-best finish of third at Texas Motor Speedway in June. His best performance at Las Vegas had been a seventh place.

Both Townley and crew chief Michael Shelton credited the team’s spotter, Terry Cook, for coaching Townley through the deciding laps. Continue reading

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rhino Linings 350 at Las Vegas Preview

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NASCAR Camping World Truck Series

Next Race: Rhino Linings 350

The Place: Las Vegas Motor Speedway

The Date: Saturday, Oct. 3

The Time: 10 p.m. (ET)

TV: FS1, 9:30 p.m. (ET)

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM Ch. 90

Distance: 219 miles (146 laps)

 

Standings Snapshot: Crafton Gains on Jones at New Hampshire

Matt Crafton finished runner-up in Saturday’s UNOH 175 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway to jump Tyler Reddick for the second spot in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series standings. Crafton trails standings leader Erik Jones, who finished seventh at New Hampshire, by a mere seven points. Reddick, now third, needs to erase a 19-point deficit to catch Jones in the last six races.

Jones heads to Las Vegas as the defending race winner. He enters the race riding a streak of nine consecutive top-ten finishes. Continue reading

Regan Smith Pulls Away to Dramatic XFINITY Win at Dover

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Regan Smith charged from fourth to first during a restart on lap 121 and stayed there for the rest of the Hisense 200 NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Dover International Speedway Saturday, posting his second victory of the season and working his way back into championship contention.

After a 31-minute rain delay, Smith passed Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and leader Elliott Sadler on the restart on lap 121 of 200, staved off intense pressure from Hamlin midway through the last green-flag run and pulled away as the Joe Gibbs Racing teammates battled for second place. Continue reading