Kevin Harvick cruises to victory—again—this time at Michigan

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The “Big 3” of 2018 are still very much a factor and Kevin Harvick proved that again Sunday.

Harvick led a race high 108 laps, swept both Stages for the third time in his career, and won the Consumers Energy 400 at Michigan International Speedway.  It was his seventh win of the season and the 44th of his career tying him with Bill Elliott on the all-time wins list.

The highlight for Harvick may have come after the checkered flag.  Son Keelan,6, had asked his dad earlier in the week if he could get the checkered flag should dad win.  Dad honored that request and Keelan took the flag at the finish line, then a ride in dad’s racecar to victory lane.

“Usually when I get home the next day we have to mock up a victory lane celebration,” the proud dad said in victory lane. “For him to be here and able to do that and be a part of NASCAR and bring your son to work and do all the things that we get to do with our kids, I have had him with me by myself the last three weeks and we have had a ball. I couldn’t be happier to be a dad and be a part of NASCAR where they let your family come to the race track and be a part of it.”

The second of the Big 3, Kyle Busch led 22 laps and finished third ahead of Brad Keselowski.

“You better be right on to win these races these days with the guys that are winning and being able to execute at the end of the day,” Busch said. “Our Interstate Batteries Camry was pretty close, but certainly wish we had just a tick more. Overall, good day for us – it’s Michigan and we don’t count on much when we come to Michigan.”

The third of the Big 3, Martin Truex Jr., had a drama filled day. He led 25 laps but faded late after rallying back from a spin, running out of fuel near the end of the second stage and a penalty for an uncontrolled tire. Truex finished 14th.

“There’s one thing that was for certain, it was not our day,” Truex said. “I told our friends in the 5-hour Energy suite this morning that whatever it is, we either finish top-five or 14th. Sure enough we’re 14th.

Austin Dillon continued the strong weekend for Richard Childress Racing leading 5 laps late in the going and threatening Harvick for the lead. A vibration on the final lap slowed Dillon who still held on for fourth, his second top five finish of the season and his best finish and his first inside the top 10 since his win in the season opening Daytona 500; Ryan Blaney was fifth.

“It’s great momentum for the team,” Dillon said. “The pit crew was amazing all day. It just feels good. We have this capability when we put our best days together and we’ve got to keep doing it and work hard. And we’ve got a great opportunity this year with being in the Playoffs.”

Kurt Busch was sixth, Aric Almirola seventh, pole sitter Denny Hamlin, who led 13 laps was eighth with last week’s winner Chase Elliott ninth and Joey Logano who started in the back of the field after his crew was forced to have him pit to change a shock on the pace laps finished 10th.

“It is frustrating,” Logano said. “I felt like we finished 10th with a fifth-place car today. I couldn’t restart very well and I lost spots on every restart.”

June Michigan winner Kyle Larson finished 17th.

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series heads to Tennessee for the Bristol Night Race Saturday night.  Live coverage will be on NBCSN starting at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Greg Engle
About Greg Engle 7421 Articles
Greg is a published award winning sportswriter who spent 23 years combined active and active reserve military service, much of that in and around the Special Operations community. Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.