(By Sarah Farlee Managing Editor, CupScene.com)
Posted: Sunday,March 27th, 2011
Fontana, Calif., - Kevin Harvick had one thought coming to the checkers at Auto Club Speedway, “just don’t give anything away.”
Harvick did not give anything away, but instead the Bakersfield, Calif., native took one away– from Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch in Sunday’s Auto Club 400.
“We had them all beat last year, and we gave it away,” said Harvick in victory lane.
Harvick snagged the win by taking the lead from Johnson – who took the lead from Busch on lap 198 – as the top three came out of turn four to take the checkered flag.
Kevin Harvick, driver of the #29 Jimmy John's Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway on March 27, 2011 in Fontana, California. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
“You know those guys (Busch and Johnson) started racing and they got side-by-side and we were able to pull up in there,” added Harvick.
The finish was familiar to Harvick and Johnson, but this time around there was a different outcome.
“Reminds me of last year in the spring race, just didn’t hold him off this time,” said Johnson, who finished second. “I knew he was coming.
“It didn’t pan out, I hate loosing to him coming off four like that,” Johnson added. “But we had a good car all day. Glad it turned out to be a decent day.”
Busch was clearly the class of the field leading 151 of 200 laps. Busch said at the end the car “didn’t have what it took at the end.” Busch knew Johnson and Harvick were closing as the laps ticked down.
“I can see them growing bigger in the mirror, so I knew they were coming,” said Busch, who finished third. “Those guys were just better.
“We gave the race away today unfortunately,” added Busch, who praised the team for being fast all weekend, and said the last set of tires tightened up the car. “I couldn’t get the right speed that I needed.”
Matt Kenseth finished fourth, Ryan Newman was fifth and Carl Edwards was sixth – taking over the Sprint Cup point’s lead. Clint Bowyer was seventh, Brian Vickers was eighth and Kasey Kahne was ninth. Polesitter Juan Pablo Montoya rounded out the top-10.
Edwards sits atop the points just nine points ahead of Newman. Kurt Busch is third (-10), Kyle Busch is fourth (-11). Jimmie Johnson is fifth, 14 points back. Tony Stewart is sixth (-17), Paul Menard is seventh (-23) and Montoya is eighth (-26). Harvick, Kenseth and Kahne are tied for ninth through 11th (-30).
Other notes from the Auto Club 400
Trevor Bayne had what most would call a long day in California. The Daytona 500 winner scuffed the wall twice and finished a disappointing 30th.
“From the first lap to the last lap we were tight the whole time, sliding the nose through the center of the corner and all the way off,” said Bayne. “I couldn’t get the gas down and that cost us a lot of speed and a lot of position.”
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. drove to a 12th place finish. Earnhardt has been consistent as of late with top-12 finishes, but Earnhardt says the key to turning the corner isn’t on Sunday – but qualifying.
“I’ve got to do a better job helping them put a car on the track for qualifying that’s going to get us in the top 15 for qualifying,” said Earnhardt, who is 31 points behind leader Edwards in 12th. “You’re really not helping yourself starting races in 30th.”
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