Equipped with a fast race car and full of motivational vigor, Kevin Harvick was an easy pick to win this weekend at Chicagoland. And for much of Sunday’s race, he looked to make good on it and collect his first victory of 2019 after an eight-win 2018.

He started his No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford on the outside of the front row, finished seventh in the opening stage and won the second stage. He led a race-best 132 of the 267 laps – up front in all three portions of the race. But Harvick’s Ford hit the outside wall on lap 173 bringing out the fifth caution of the race and relegating him to catch-up mode. He ultimately finished 14th – his 14h top-15 through the opening 17 races.

He heads to Daytona International Speedway next week fourth in the standings, 67 points behind leader Joey Logano and is the only driver among the top-seven drivers in the championship standings without a victory yet.

He has 11 top-ten and five top-five finishes – with a best showing of fourth four times.