Final Nextel Cup top 5
- Jimmie Johnson: 6,475 points
- Matt Kenseth: 6,419 points
- Denny Hamlin: 6,407 points
- Kevin Harvick: 6,397 points
- Dale Earnhardt Jr.: 6,328 points
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Harvick wins Phoenix
Kevin Harvick won his second race of the Chase for the Championship on Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway but still trails Jimmie Johnson by 90 points with one race to go. Harvick led most the most laps, picked up his fifth win of the season and the 10th victory of his 213 race career. Harvick moved into a tie for 50th on NASCAR’s All-Time win list, tied with Donnie Allison, Greg Biffle and Sterling Marlin. He also won races at Phoenix in April, Watkins Glen, second Richmond and second New Hampshire.
Harvick swept Phoenix this year, he also won the spring race at this track. Harvick is the third driver in 2006 to sweep both races at a track this season. He joined Denny Hamlin (Pocono) and Kasey Kahne (Charlotte). Harvick is the only Chase driver to score two victories in the 2006 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. Harvick scored his second victory in eight races at Phoenix. Harvick has scored three top-10 finishes at Phoenix, all top fives. Harvick is the fourth different driver to post back-to-back victories at Phoenix.
“I wish we were a little closer than we are in the points,” Harvick said, “but we did everything we could do today. However it falls, it falls. We have had a good year.”
With 100 laps to go, Harvick told his crew he was having alternator problems and the battery was losing charge. Harvick turned off all the blowers he could, including his air conditioner. In the closing laps Harvick had a few spirited battles with Mark Martin and Jimmie Johnson and he came out on top in both cases.
“My biggest concern was the alternator shut off,” said Harvick. “We didn’t have any fans so the brakes would get hot and kinda go away. I knew if I stayed behind him very long, I was going to be in trouble because the brakes would get hot and then the tire would get hot and it would start pushing.”
Johnson, who finished second to Harvick, needs only to finish 12th or better at Homestead next week to wrap up his first NASCAR Championship. He’s been the runner-up twice and now looks to take home the biggest prize. Five drivers have been mathematically eliminated at this point Jeff Gordon, Jeff Burton, Mark Martin, Kasey Kahne and Kyle Busch. Dale Earnhardt Jr., in fifth place in the standing is on life support, 115 points behind leader Johnson.
“Great battle all day long with the No. 29 he had a great car,” said Johnson. “He was one of the best cars and he did a great job. Being able to run here with Kevin (Harvick) at one of his best tracks says a lot about our Lowe’s Chevrolet team so we are real proud.
“We had a great race car,” Johnson continued. “I had a lot of confidence over the last couple of days after our qualifying effort knowing that we would be able to race strong today. We had a bad draw in qualifying and paid the price for that, but I took my time to drive a smart race to get up through the field and race for the win at the end. “Now we go to Miami, do all we can do and see what happens. We just have to keep doing what we have been doing these past weeks and that is all we can do.”
Finish the article at the Source: Insiderracingnews.com