There are no signs of a let down from Kevin Harvick after winning the Sprint Cup title last season. With his win at Phoenix International Raceway, the driver of the No. 4 Jimmy John’s Chevy has finished either first or second in his last seven races. This is also his second win of the Sprint Cup season with only four races having been run so far.
Along with it being his second win this season, it is also Harvick’s fourth win in a row at Phoenix International Raceway. As reported by ESPN , he lead more than 200 laps in Sunday’s race , which is the third straight time he has done so in the Valley of the Sun.
Harvick has called Phoenix his favorite track and statistics show he dominates when he races there. He has won at PIR five out of the last six races and this was his seventh win overall, which is more than any other driver. Going back to last year’s Chase, this win also means he has won five out of the last 10 races.
The short-track is known for its chaos and Sunday’s race was no different. Tony Stewart, who had been running well for most of the day, crashed into the wall. Though he was able to get back in the race, he was involved in another crash with 24 laps remaining and finished outside of the top 30 for the fourth race in a row.
As reported by NBC Sports , Kurt Busch was back in the no. 41 Chevy for Stewart-Haas racing and finished fifth. Busch had finished NASCAR’s reinstatement program after he had been suspended for an act of domestic violence.
According to the Inquisitr , Dale Earnhardt, Jr. cut a tire and also crashed during the race. The crash ended his day, giving him his first DNF since the August 23 race last season at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Harvick gave credit for his fast cars to his team, led by crew chief Rodney Childers.
“I feel like we get better as we go through different situations. You see these guys hang out together, how mellow everybody is, how everybody gets along. It’s really, really special to be a part of. It’s scary how well we get along with each other. I don’t want to talk about it sometimes so I don’t jinx it.”
The fourth Stewart-Haas team member, Danica Patrick, finished 26th. The next race will be in Fontana, California, where Harvick will try to continue his good run.
[Image courtesy of Chris Graythen/Getty Images]