Harvick Kicks-Off Playoffs with a Victory

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Kevin Harvick kicks-off playoffs with a victory in the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 on Saturday, September 6th at Darlington Raceway.
DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 06: Kevin Harvick, driver of the No. 4 Busch Beer Throwback Ford, crosses the finish line to win the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 06, 2020, in Darlington, South Carolina. Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Harvick kicks-off playoffs with a victory in the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 on Saturday, September 6th at Darlington Raceway.

The NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs are officially underway. The first Round of 16 is running at three extremely different tracks. They begin this past Sunday night at Darlington Raceway, then the series is heading to Richmond Raceway, before ending at Bristol Motor Speedway. When these three races are complete, four drivers at the bottom of the standings are put below the cutline and no longer eligible for championship contention.

The First Stage

Chase Elliott led the field to the green flag to begin the Cookout Southern 500. Elliott was able to lead the field deep into the first stage of the race until a debris caution came out on lap 82. Kurt Busch stayed out while everyone else came down pit road. Martin Truex Jr. won the race off pit road and quickly jumped out front to the lead. Martin Truex Jr. was able to win the first stage of the event.

The Second Stage

Truex Jr. continues to lead into the second stage of the race. He stays upfront and leads the field through a long 58 lap green-flag stretch. While the rest of the field was pitting under the green-flag, Truex Jr. followed suit and was able to cycle back into the lead. The first and only caution of the second stage came out when Bubba Wallace spins on lap 181. Martin Truex Jr. continues to charge ahead when the race returns to green. He was then able to pull in the win for the second stage.

The Third Stage

In between stages, it was Denny Hamlin winning the race off pit road. His lead was short as a quick caution comes out when John Hunter Nemechek hits the fence. Martin Truex Jr. moves back into the lead after winning the race off pit road. Once again, the race moves into a long green-flag run lasting 71 laps.

This time, Kevin Harvick was able to pit from fourth and cycle into the lead at the end of the green flag stops. Ten laps later, a debris caution came out bringing the field back together. All the lead lap cars pit and Chase Elliott was able to win off pit road.

Martin Truex Jr. and Chase Elliott enter a historic battle for the lead with forty laps remaining. With fourteen laps remaining, Truex Jr. was able to reach Chase Elliott heading into turn one. Truex Jr. dove down to the bottom, but his car became loose. He moves up the track into Elliott and both catch the wall. Both have enough damage forcing them to pit allowing Kevin Harvick to take the lead.

Austin Dillon tracks down Harvick but is unable to complete the pass. Kevin Harvick wins the first race of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.

The Cook Out Southern 500 Results

The NASCAR Cup Series Point Standings

With the first playoff race complete, Cole Custer, Matt DiBenedetto, and Ryan Blaney all sit below the cutline of 12th-place. Aric Almirola and Clint Bowyer are currently even for the final spot with two races remaining in the first round.

If there is one way to solidify a place in the next playoff round, it’s to win. And the design of the playoff schedule gives all teams an equal shot at victory. The NASCAR Cup Series is racing at many different tracks throughout the ten-race playoff stretch. And championship titleholders all show the ability to find a win, even when they don’t have the best equipment. And winning with less is exactly what Kevin Harvick was able to do on Sunday night to win the first playoff event.