{"id":29660,"date":"2020-06-07T20:29:44","date_gmt":"2020-06-08T01:29:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=29660"},"modified":"2020-06-07T20:31:27","modified_gmt":"2020-06-08T01:31:27","slug":"kevin-harvick-continues-atlanta-motor-speedway-dominance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2020\/06\/07\/kevin-harvick-continues-atlanta-motor-speedway-dominance\/","title":{"rendered":"Kevin Harvick continues Atlanta Motor Speedway dominance"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Busch Light For The Farmers Ford, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on June 07, 2020 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service<\/em><\/p>\n

Kevin Harvick has had an exceptional relationship with Atlanta Motor Speedway and the 2014 NASCAR Cup Series champion showed that again Sunday afternoon winning the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500, his third victory at the historic track.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Busch Light For The Farmers Ford, crosses the finish line to win the NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on June 07, 2020 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Harvick led a race high 151 of 325 laps en route to his 51st career win, prevailing in a valiant contest with Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr., who finished second and third.<\/p>\n

Truex led 62 laps, won the opening two stages of the race and kept Harvick\u2019s No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford honest. Harvick passed both JGR Toyotas to open the third stage of the race and held them at bay to win by a healthy 3.527-seconds. Busch passed Truex for second with five laps to go.<\/p>\n

It was Harvick\u2019s second victory of the season (he also won at Darlington Raceway in NASCAR\u2019s first race back since the sport was sidelined during the COVID-19 pandemic) and it is the 44-year old Californian\u2019s ninth top-10 finish in 10 races this year. With it, Harvick extends his NASCAR Cup Series championship lead to 48 points over Penske Racing\u2019s Joey Logano.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Busch Light For The Farmers Ford, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on June 07, 2020 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Logano\u2019s teammate Ryan Blaney and JGR driver Denny Hamlin rounded out the Top-5 at Atlanta followed by Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Chase Elliott and Penske Racing teammates Brad Keselowski and Logano. For Kurt Busch, the Top-10 was an especially impressive effort considering he started last in the field because of inspection violations.<\/p>\n

Clint Bowyer led 58 laps only to have to pit late in the race and fall out of a Top-10 finish.  He ended up 20th.<\/p>\n

Harvick\u2019s Ford was considered the car to beat at Atlanta even before the retiring seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Johnson gave the command to start engines Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\n

Harvick earned an emotional career first NASCAR Cup Series win at Atlanta back in 2001, three weeks after taking over driving duties for the late seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt, who was killed in the Daytona 500 season-opener. Harvick held up three fingers in a reverse victory lap Sunday in honor of Earnhardt and the champ\u2019s famed No. 3 car.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Busch Light For The Farmers Ford, takes the checkered flag to celebrate winning the NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on June 07, 2020 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cFirst [career] win came for me here at Atlanta and this is just a race track that I\u2019ve taken a liking to,\u2019\u2019 Harvick said. \u201cYou always have those memories and now you want to celebrate everything that Dale Earnhardt did for this sport. To come here and be able to do that with wins and go to victory lane is pretty special.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had a great pit stop, got to restart on the bottom and got my car to take off and I was able to get track position. Once I could get through those first 10 laps and my car was freed up enough I could get in a rhythm and really hit my marks, then with about 25 laps I could just drive away.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

Harvick has certainly been the driver of record as of late. He answered that first win 17 years later (in 2018) and is currently in the midst of an amazing nine-year run at the track. He\u2019s now led at least 100 laps in seven of the last nine races \u2013 more than 10,000 laps out front since joining the Stewart-Haas Racing team in 2014. And he\u2019s earned Top-10 finishes in nine of the last 11 races.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, and Aric Almirola, driver of the #10 Smithfield Ford, lead the field prior to the start of the NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on June 07, 2020 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Truex Jr.\u2019s two stages wins were the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series champion\u2019s first of the season. And for much of the race, he was there ready to interrupt Harvick\u2019s longtime dominance at the track. That opportunity never came.<\/p>\n

It would have been the first win of the season for Truex, who has been so-close at Atlanta  -finishing second in 2019 and scoring Top-10 finishes in the last six races.<\/p>\n

Tyler Reddick, driver of the No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, was the top finishing Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate \u2013 with a 16th-place finish.<\/p>\n

Prior to the race NASCAR President Steve Phelps addressed the race field and the nation pledging that the sport is absolutely sensitive to the country\u2019s current social unrest and committed to improving race relations.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur country is in pain and our people are justifiably angry, demanding to be heard,\u2019\u2019 Phelps said. \u201cOur sport must do better. Our country must do better.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

The NASCAR Cup Series races next in the Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).<\/p>\n

Media Center Interviews:<\/h3>\n

Kevin Harvick – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/NCS_Atlanta_Harvick_060720.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rodney Childers – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/NCS_Atlanta_Childers_060720.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Kyle Busch – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/NCS_Atlanta_KyBusch_060720.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Martin Truex Jr. – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/NCS_Atlanta_Truex_060720.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jimmie Johnson – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/NCS_Atlanta_Johnson_060720.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Austin Dillon – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/NCS_AMS_ADillon_060720.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Matt Kenseth – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/NCS_AMS_Kenseth_060720.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

NASCAR Cup Series Race – 61st Annual Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500<\/strong><\/p>\n

Atlanta Motor Speedway<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hampton, Georgia<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sunday, June 7, 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n

               1. (9)  Kevin Harvick, Ford, 325.<\/p>\n

               2. (4)  Kyle Busch, Toyota, 325.<\/p>\n

               3. (11)  Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 325.<\/p>\n

               4. (7)  Ryan Blaney, Ford, 325.<\/p>\n

               5. (10)  Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 325.<\/p>\n

               6. (12)  Kurt Busch, Chevrolet, 325.<\/p>\n

               7. (15)  Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 325.<\/p>\n

               8. (1)  Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 325.<\/p>\n

               9. (6)  Brad Keselowski, Ford, 325.<\/p>\n

               10. (3)  Joey Logano, Ford, 325.<\/p>\n

               11. (16)  Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 324.<\/p>\n

               12. (8)  Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 324.<\/p>\n

               13. (22)  Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, 324.<\/p>\n

               14. (17)  Ryan Newman, Ford, 324.<\/p>\n

               15. (19)  Matt Kenseth, Chevrolet, 324.<\/p>\n

               16. (24)  Tyler Reddick #, Chevrolet, 324.<\/p>\n

               17. (2)  Aric Almirola, Ford, 324.<\/p>\n

               18. (27)  Christopher Bell #, Toyota, 324.<\/p>\n

               19. (31)  Cole Custer #, Ford, 324.<\/p>\n

               20. (5)  Clint Bowyer, Ford, 324.<\/p>\n

               21. (23)  Bubba Wallace, Chevrolet, 324.<\/p>\n

               22. (13)  Chris Buescher, Ford, 324.<\/p>\n

               23. (18)  John Hunter Nemechek #, Ford, 324.<\/p>\n

               24. (36)  Michael McDowell, Ford, 324.<\/p>\n

               25. (21)  Matt DiBenedetto, Ford, 324.<\/p>\n

               26. (29)  Ryan Preece, Chevrolet, 323.<\/p>\n

               27. (25)  Corey LaJoie, Ford, 323.<\/p>\n

               28. (14)  Erik Jones, Toyota, 322.<\/p>\n

               29. (28)  Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 322.<\/p>\n

               30. (33)  Brennan Poole #, Chevrolet, 321.<\/p>\n

               31. (37)  Daniel Suarez, Toyota, 316.<\/p>\n

               32. (35)  Quin Houff #, Chevrolet, 314.<\/p>\n

               33. (20)  William Byron, Chevrolet, 313.<\/p>\n

               34. (32)  Josh Bilicki(i), Ford, 313.<\/p>\n

               35. (34)  Garrett Smithley(i), Chevrolet, 312.<\/p>\n

               36. (30)  JJ Yeley(i), Chevrolet, 311.<\/p>\n

               37. (40)  Reed Sorenson, Chevrolet, 310.<\/p>\n

               38. (26)  Joey Gase(i), Ford, 308.<\/p>\n

               39. (38)  Timmy Hill(i), Toyota, Electrical, 259.<\/p>\n

               40. (39)  BJ McLeod(i), Chevrolet, Clutch, 3.<\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:  142.966 mph.<\/p>\n

Time of Race:  3 Hrs, 30 Mins, 3 Secs. Margin of Victory:  3.527 Seconds.<\/p>\n

Caution Flags:  5 for 24 laps.<\/p>\n

Lead Changes:  21 among 9 drivers.<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:   C. Elliott 1-26;B. Keselowski 27;J. Logano 28-36;K. Harvick 37-65;M. Truex Jr. 66-68;K. Busch 69;K. Harvick 70-86;M. Truex Jr. 87-108;C. Bowyer 109-113;M. Truex Jr. 114;C. Bowyer 115-146;M. Truex Jr. 147-159;B. Keselowski 160-163;C. Bowyer 164-184;M. Truex Jr. 185-203;K. Busch 204-206;M. Truex Jr. 207-213;K. Busch 214-217;K. Harvick 218-267;R. Blaney 268-269;J. Logano 270;K. Harvick 271-325.<\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Kevin Harvick 4 times for 151 laps; Martin Truex Jr. 6 times for 65 laps; Clint Bowyer 3 times for 58 laps; Chase Elliott 1 time for 26 laps; Joey Logano 2 times for 10 laps; Kyle Busch 2 times for 7 laps; Brad Keselowski 2 times for 5 laps; Ryan Blaney 1 time for 2 laps; Kurt Busch 1 time for 1 lap.<\/p>\n

Stage #1 Top Ten: 19,18,14,11,4,9,47,20,48,12<\/p>\n

Stage #2 Top Ten: 19,12,18,11,9,4,21,2,14,48<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service Kevin Harvick has had an exceptional relationship with Atlanta Motor Speedway and the 2014 NASCAR Cup Series champion showed that again Sunday afternoon winning the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500, his third victory at the historic track. Harvick led a race high 151 of 325 laps en route […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":29676,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11],"tags":[52,95,16],"class_list":["post-29660","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-atlanta-motor-speedway","tag-kevin-harvick","tag-nascar"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/NCS_AMS_VL_060720-scaled-e1591579566319.jpg?fit=640%2C427","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-7Io","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29660","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29660"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29660\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29681,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29660\/revisions\/29681"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29676"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29660"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29660"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29660"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}