HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA – JUNE 14: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Busch Light Ford, and Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Messages Toyota, lead the field during the NASCAR Cup Series Dixie Vodka 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on June 14, 2020, in Homestead, Florida. Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Homestead Power Ranking this week as the NASCAR Cup Series now heads to the Superspeedway of Talladega for the upcoming weekend.
Homestead-Miami Speedway is no longer the site of the NASCAR Cup Series championship race, The 1.5-mile oval track, however, still provides some drama and exciting racing. Kyle Busch came into the weekend as the defending winner at the track, but instead, his teammate Denny Hamlin dominated the race by winning both stages and eventually the race. It was his third victory of the season. Hamlin’s win, as well as disappointing performances from other drivers near the top of the standings, caused some shake-ups in this week’s rankings.
HAMPTON, GEORGIA – JUNE 07: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Busch Light For The Farmers Ford, crosses the finish line to win the NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on June 07, 2020 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Coming off the race at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee a week ago, the NASCAR Cup Series headed to Georgia’s Atlanta Motor Speedway for Sunday’s race. The 1.54-mile track is known for rough pavement and fast speeds. Similar to Auto Club Speedway, the pit window is cut down because tire wear shows up quickly.
The First Stage
Chase Elliott held the pole and was able to jump out to a nice lead. He led up to the competition caution on lap 25. All drivers came down pit road for servicing and Joey Logano won the race off pit road.
Logano jumped to the bottom on the restart, but it was Kevin Harvick who followed him and made an early pass for the lead. The field fell into a single file with Harvick at the point. He was the first to come to pit road for green-flag pit stops.
HAMPTON, GEORGIA – JUNE 07: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Busch Light For The Farmers Ford, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on June 07, 2020, in Hampton, Georgia. Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images
Kevin Harvick continues dominance in the NASCAR Cup Series, Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday.
In an exceptional relationship with Atlanta Motor Speedway, Kevin Harvick, the 2014 NASCAR Cup Series champion showed that again Sunday afternoon winning the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500, his third victory at the historic track.
NASCAR is back. It may look different, with no fans in the stands, drivers wearing masks, and practicing social distancing throughout the facility. Still, for 293 laps around Darlington Raceway, life felt pretty normal again in the racing world. After over two months off, drivers came to one of the circuit’s most demanding tracks to race without practice or qualifying. That gives an advantage to the veterans, holding firm with Kevin Harvick picking up his 50th career win. With that being said, here is the first power ranking in over ten weeks.
DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – MAY 17: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Busch Light #YOURFACEHERE Ford, celebrates with a burnout after winning during the NASCAR Cup Series The Real Heroes 400 at Darlington Raceway on May 17, 2020, in Darlington, South Carolina. NASCAR resumes the season after the nationwide lockdown due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19). Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Kevin Harvick Wins the Real Heroes 400 at Darlington Raceway – in NASCAR’s Return Back to Action
The NASCAR Cup Series held its first race after a two-month break due to the COVID-19 outbreak. This race was at Darlington Raceway without fans. Even though it seemed off due to the lack of fans in attendance, it was therapeutic for many fans, drivers, and all workers within NASCAR operations. It was a sight for sore eyes to watch NASCAR racing again.
Brad Keselowski brought the field to the green flag to begin the race. It did not take long for the first caution to wave. However. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. wrecking coming out of turn two after taking the field four-wide onto the backstretch.
After a quick cleanup, the field reset and went at it again. Keselowski continues to lead. The competition caution came out on lap 30, and this was a much-needed opportunity for teams to make adjustments to their cars. Keselowski jumped back out into the lead, but it was Alex Bowman who stayed with him and stole the lead on the following lap.
