"Road to Richmond" Paving the Way for Drivers to Break Into Chase
Harvick Takes Checkered Flag to Extend Points Lead
7/7/2010
Kevin Harvick recorded his second victory of the season by winning at Daytona International Speedway.
An action-packed NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway, culminating with a green-white-checkered finish is the kind of refreshment fans expect at the Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola. Kevin Harvick’s .092-second nail-biting win over runner-up Kasey Kahne was part of an Independence Day to remember, and a crucial stop on the “Road to Richmond” for several drivers.
Harvick, who started from the pole, captured his second win of the season and extended his points lead to 212. Kahne, who desperately needed a strong finish, recorded a 2nd-place finish to vault him an incredible four spots in the point standings to 16th—154 points out of the 12th and final spot in the 2010 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Only the top 12 drivers in the standings following the September 11th “One Last Race To Make The Chase” at Richmond International Raceway will make the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
Other big gainers on the night are Jeff Gordon (3rd), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (4th) and Jeff Burton (5th). The top-five finish for Earnhardt Jr. is particularly important because it moved him from outside the top-12 to currently 11th. With his moving him to the good side of The Chase standings, Mark Martin dropped two spots and is now on the outside looking in.
By earning his second win of 2010, Harvick is now tied for third most wins on the season—an important statistic because, after the point standings are reset following “One Last Race to Make The Chase” at Richmond International Raceway on Saturday, September 11, drivers are awarded 10 points per victory during the initial 26 events.
Looking at “The Bubble” situation, Carl Edwards remains in 12th place with a 39-point lead over Martin. Clint Bowyer jumped one spot to 14th, followed by Ryan Newman and Kahne. David Reutimann climbed two spots to 17th—170 points behind the final Chase spot.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will pack up and continue on the “Road to Richmond,” stopping at Chicagoland Speedway this Saturday. That race marks the third event of the 10-event “Race to The Chase,” which culminates in Richmond on Saturday, September 11.
Tickets for the Saturday, September 11 “One Last Race to Make The Chase” start at $40 and can be purchased online by clicking here or by calling 866-455-RACE (7223).
The weekend begins on Friday, September 10, with a full day of on-track activity, highlighted by the Virginia 529 College Savings 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series race “under the lights.” Friday’s ticket includes Fas Mart Pole Qualifying and practice for the Sprint Cup Series, as well as WRIC-TV8 Pole Qualifying and practice for the Nationwide Series. Friday’s tickets start at $30 and can be purchased online by clicking here or by calling 866-455-RACE (7223).
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