NASCAR

Even In Last Place, Kevin Harvick In Perfect Position For Chase

By Ryan Pritt on November 4, 2014

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Kevin Harvick had a busy day on Sunday at Texas, even aside from his small but substantial role in the Brad Keselowski/Jeff Gordon brawl that marred the end of the race. True, Harvick remained in eighth place in points, dead last among the remaining chasers, but his second-place finish at Texas cut a once large deficit all the way down to just six points back from fourth-place Gordon. In fact, the gap between Harvick all the way up to the two-way first-place tie between Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin is just 18 points, meaning this week’s race at Phoenix, which will determine the four drivers who will compete in the championship race at Homestead, promises to be intense to say the least.

Even if Harvick hadn’t cut the gap at all, it’s hard to imagine a place he’d rather be going to with his championship hopes on the line than Phoenix. A win guarantees a berth into the championship race, and Harvick has made a habit of winning at Phoenix with five career victories there, including three of the last four and two in a row.

The new Chase for the Sprint Cup format has ramped up emotions and off-track drama to new highs over the past few weeks, and Harvick seems perfectly equipped to handle such things. His small shove of Keselowski, which triggered the melee that ensued on Sunday at Texas, was most likely nothing more than head games as Keselowski and Gordon, along with Logano, have likely had the only cars to rival Harvick’s on a week-to-week basis this season.

But make no mistake; Harvick saw what Keselowski did at Talladega three weeks ago with his season on the line. Keselowski’s victory in that race was his only way into the next round and he pulled it off.

Harvick’s situation isn’t quite so dire, as a solid finish combined with a couple of marginal finishes from the drivers in front of him would likely be enough to get him into the championship race. But if Harvick can tame Phoenix for the third straight time, he’ll have an automatic berth and a huge shot of momentum heading to Homestead next week.

Ryan Pritt is a NASCAR writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on twitter @RPritt, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.