The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series returned to Texas Motor Speedway, the middle point in the round of eight. After a dramatic race at Martinsville last week, many drivers were looking to improve their position and set themselves up for a chance at the championship in Homestead-Miami.
Kevin Harvick won the pole award and led the field to the green flag. Harvick jumped out to an early lead, but a caution waved on lap nine as Chase Elliott spun out and slammed the wall, taking him out of contention for the race.
Nobody came down pit road under the early caution, so Harvick took the green flag once again and took off. On lap 43, Corie LaJoie brought out another caution. Harvick led a majority of the leaders down pit road for service. Harvick took fuel only and won the race off pit road. However, Erik Jones and several other drivers stayed out under the caution.
Jones took the restart in the lead, but shortly after, another caution flag waved as Brad Keselowski and Ricky Stenhouse Jr spun out, hitting the wall, and both cars sustaining major damage. Both drivers were out of the race after totaling their racing machines.
Clint Bowyer grabbed the lead on the restart and was followed by Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick. With the first stage winding down, Denny Hamlin lost control of his No. 11 car and took a bumpy spin through the grass. The field lined up one more time for a one-lap shootout in stage 1. Kevin Harvick had a great jump and was able to move around the leaders to claim the first stage.
Alex Bowman takes the green flag to begin stage two, but Jimmie Johnson quickly moved around Bowman for the lead. Aric Almirola then moved around Bowman for second-place and subsequently took the lead from Johnson as green flag stops began to cycle through on lap 145. Almirola cycled back into the lead with 14 laps remaining in the second stage and continued to show speed while winning stage two with ease.
Daniel Suarez wins the race off pit road, and the race continued with him taking the green flag. Jimmie Johnson then brings out another caution as he goes for a spin in turn two. Suarez continued to lead after the restart but was quickly passed by Almirola once again. Green flags stops began to cycle through once again. But Bubba Wallace ruins the party as he spins out in the middle of the green flag cycle to bring out another caution.
Almirola brought the field back to the green flag and immediately had to battle Kevin Harvick for the race lead. Harvick quickly moved around Kyle Busch for second place and was side-by-side with Almirola. The two battled hard for a few laps with Harvick eventually winning the battle. Harvick moved to the front and increased the gap to his nearest competitor. He came down pit road on lap 308 for fuel only and returned to the lead. Harvick was in a groove for the final stage of the race and wins the AAA Texas 500.
Kevin Harvick sat below the cut line heading into Sunday’s race at Texas Motor Speedway and he won his way into the championship race at Homestead-Miami. He will have another shot to race for his second championship alongside Martin Truex Jr.
Two other drivers have yet to move into the final four, and the next six drivers in the point standings will fight hard at Phoenix to secure their chance at chasing a championship. Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, and Chase Elliott are below the cut line. Elliott needs to win in Phoenix next weekend, as he now sits 78 points below the cut line. They all need a solid points day or a win to advance. Joey Logano and Kyle Busch are the two drivers above the cut line in a good position to move into the final round. Both drivers could advance with solid finishes at Phoenix.
Up next for the NASCAR Cup Series is the elimination event at ISM Raceway in Phoenix. This is the penultimate race and will likely be a shootout with a lot of strategies in play from drivers looking to advance their position for the championship showdown in just two weeks.