Harvick leads lap that counts

Times wires
Sunday, March 27, 2011

FONTANA, Calif. — Kevin Harvick isn't one of those drivers who jumps out front and stays there all the way to the checkers.

He's a lingerer and closer, staying close to the front then make his move at just the right time.

Harvick was at his pass-at-the-end best on Sunday, overtaking Jimmie Johnson on the final turn at Auto Club Speedway to win after trailing the entire race.

"I wish we could just go out there and wear 'em out one day, just not have to worry about waiting until the last lap," Harvick said. "It does kind of seem we wait until the last moments to really get going. It's probably somewhat of a bad habit I have, but I guess it worked out."

Kyle Busch had the dominant car most of the day and led a race-high 151 laps, including off a restart with nine laps left.

Johnson, a five-time winner at Fontana, chased down Busch for the lead with two laps left. Then Harvick nailed the finish.

Harvick had a rough start to the season, finishing 42nd at Daytona after a blown engine and hadn't pulled it together since despite having fast cars. His best finish was fourth at Phoenix.

Harvick didn't have a particularly strong qualifying session at Fontana, starting 24th.

He gradually worked to the front, pulling up behind Johnson after getting past Busch.

Taking advantage of a small gap to the outside, Harvick made his move going into Turn 3, and completed it coming around Turn 4 for his 15th career win.

"I really felt good when they had that restart because I knew his car was really fast on the long run," said Richard Childress, owner of Harvick's No. 29 car. "I knew if they didn't get too far out in front of us, we'd have a shot. All we needed was to get him side-by-side and start racing. That gave Kevin a chance to catch them and he made the right move going into 3."

There were few lead changes, in part because the opening 75 laps were under green to set a track record. Overnight rain, which lingered as mist, also played a role. Drivers who got the setup right got out front and stayed there while others tinkered.

Busch took his first lead on Lap 22 and lost it a few times on green-flag pit stops, but was out front within a few laps, pulling away on each of the four restarts.

He just didn't have enough left after the leaders stayed out on the last caution.

"It's real unfortunate and disappointing and frustrating all in one," Busch said. "You ask a little bit more from your race car at the last moments and it just doesn't have anything left to give. We were just a sitting duck waiting for those guys to go around us."

Johnson started 16th and worked toward the front, tracking Busch down for the late pass after losing a race off the line to him on the final restart. Johnson just couldn't hold off Harvick,.

"Looking back, maybe if I could have got by Kyle a lot earlier, maybe it could have made a difference," Johnson said. "But he (Harvick) was rolling off the top really, really fast."

Pole sitter Juan Pablo Montoya remained winless in oval races. A two-time winner on road courses, he led the first six laps, then drifted back before making a late charge to finish 10th.

. fast facts

Gearhead stats

Winner's average speed: 150.849 mph

Time of race: 2 hours, 39 minutes, 6 seconds

Margin of victory: 0.144 seconds

Caution flags: 4 for 16 laps

Lead changes: 18 among 10 drivers

Lap leaders: J.Montoya 1-6; D.Hamlin 7-21; Ky.Busch 22-31; J.Montoya 32; C.Bowyer 33; J.Johnson 34; J.Yeley 35-36; Ky.Busch 37-66; M.Truex Jr. 67; T.Stewart 68-69; Ky.Busch 70-76; T.Stewart 77-79; R.Newman 80-87; T.Stewart 88-91; Ky.Busch 92-137; T.Stewart 138-139; Ky.Busch 140-197; J.Johnson 198-199; K.Harvick 200

Sprint Cup points

Through 5 of 36 races. The top 10 drivers plus two wild cards (based on wins) through 26 races make the Chase for the Championship.

Driver Pts. Back

Carl Edwards 187—

Ryan Newman 178 9

Kurt Busch 17710

Kyle Busch 176 11

Jimmie Johnson 173 14

Tony Stewart 17017

Paul Menard 16423

Juan Montoya 16126

Kevin Harvick 157 30

Matt Kenseth15730

Kasey Kahne15730

Note: Points unofficial; NASCAR posts official points today.

Up next

Goody's Fast Relief 500, 1 p.m. Sunday, Martinsville Speedway, Martinsville, Va. TV: Ch. 13.

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/harvick-leads-lap-that-counts/1160126

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