Harvick sweeps Michigan doubleheader in the NASCAR Cup Series, FireKeepers Casino 400/ Consumers Energy 400 as a championship favorite with back-to-back victories on consecutive days.

With the regular season winding down, the NASCAR Cup Series heads to Michigan for a double-header weekend. Multiple teams are currently sitting on the bubble and looking for an opportunity to race their way into the playoffs. Michigan International Speedway is most likely the best opportunity for these teams to take care of business. With high speeds and long sweeping corners, this track always hosts action-packed races.

Saturday’s First Stage

Joey Logano drew the pole to begin the race on Saturday afternoon. Logano battled with Denny Hamlin early for the race lead, but after the competition caution, Kevin Harvick took the race over. Other than the competition caution, stage one ran caution-free and Kevin Harvick was able to pull away for the victory in the first stage.

Saturday’s Second Stage

Hamlin began the second stage with the lead after winning the race off pit road. He continued to lead through the green flag pit stops, but it was Kevin Harvick cycling into the lead. Hamlin scrapped the wall on lap 78 but was able to recover and hold third place. With another caution-free stage, Kevin Harvick presses on to win the second stage.

Saturday’s Third Stage

Harvick rolled into the third stage continuing his lead over the field. After an early caution, Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick battle for the lead on the restart with Harvick prevailing for the lead. The race was winding down with Harvick in the lead, but a caution flag waved which eventually became a red flag scenario with fluids in the fourth turn.

NASCAR quickly cleaned up the mess, and the race moved into overtime. Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski battled on the restart, but Harvick had a run on the top side. Harvick cleared Keselowski and that was all he needed. Kevin Harvick wins the Firekeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway.

FireKeepers Casino 400 Results

Sunday’s First Stage

Clint Bowyer held the pole for the second race of the weekend. He jumped out to an early lead and did not look back. The first stage of the race ran caution-free with Bowyer at the helm for its entirety. Clint Bowyer wins stage one.

Sunday’s Second Stage

Kyle Busch cycles into the lead to begin stage two, but Kevin Harvick had a great jump on the restart. Kevin Harvick receives a push from Clint Bowyer and moves into the lead. The second stage ran caution-free once again, and nobody could catch Harvick. Kevin Harvick wins stage two.

Sunday’s Third Stage

Kevin Harvick brought the field to green flag to begin the third stage, but Brad Keselowski and Ryan Blaney had a better restart. Both teammates took the top-two spots with Blaney leading. However, Keselowski was too aggressive trying to pass Blaney on the bottom of the second turn. Keselowski lost control and crashed into Blaney, taking them both out of the race.

Kevin Harvick passed Denny Hamlin for the lead on the following restart. Harvick had the fastest car of the weekend and he proved it coming down the stretch on Sunday afternoon. Harvick and Hamlin had to battle hard coming to the white flag. Hamlin right on Harvick’s tail but could not catch him. Kevin Harvick seals the deal and sweeps the weekend at Michigan International Speedway. The victory marks the first time since 1971 when Richard Petty also won back-to-back NASCAR Cup Series races on back-to-back days.

Consumer Energy 400 Results

NASCAR Cup Series Point Standings

Kevin Harvick a Championship Favorite

After that dominant performance at Michigan International Speedway, Kevin Harvick proves to be the early favorite to win the championship. That is his sixth win of the season. In his 22 starts this season, he now has nineteen top-ten finishes with 15 of those being top-fives. His average finish on the year is sixth place. With a high average finish, Kevin Harvick is in the zone. He’s a major contender in every race, and he will likely continue as the one to beat coming down the stretch.