Kevin Harvick Wins at “Home” Track in California

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Kevin Harvick got to sample the sweet taste of winning in his home state of California by scoring his first career victory at Auto Club Speedway. The Bakersfield native only led one lap in his No. 29 Jimmy John’s Chevrolet, but it was the one that counted.

After starting 24th in the 43-car field of the Auto Club 400, Harvick methodically worked his way through the field to put himself in position for a dramatic last-lap pass of fellow Team Chevy driver Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet.

Scoring his 15th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) win moved Harvick six places up in the standings to ninth position.

Five time defending NSCS champion Johnson moved up two positions in the standings to fifth following his runner-up finish.

Ryan Newman, No. 39 US Army Chevrolet, continued his tremendous start to the 2011 NSCS season with a fifth place finish today in the 200-lap/400-mile race. After scoring three top-five and four top-10 finishes in the five races run so far this season, Newman is second in the point standings, just nine points down to the leader.

Clint Bowyer, No. 33 The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation Centennial Celebration Chevrolet, finished seventh and advanced seven positions in the standings to 17th place.

Pole winner Juan Pablo Montoya, No. 42 Target Chevrolet, finished 10th in the final order and sits eighth in the standings.

Paul Menard, No. 27 Serta/.Menards Chevrolet, sits seventh in points after his 16th place finish today.

Tony Stewart, No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet, suffered handling problems in the closing laps of the race and had to settle for the 13th finishing position after leading four times for 11 laps. The two-time NSCS champion is sixth in the point standings.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr., No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet, finished 12th in today’s race and sits 12th in points to give Team Chevy seven of the top-12 drivers in the standings.

Team Chevy Racing PR

 

Speedway Digest Staff
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