Kevin Harvick Wins Wild Race At Daytona

By: Tyler Ward

At the Coke Zero 400 tonight, Kevin Harvick won a frantic race and was able to fend off Kasey Kahne for the win. The race started with a long 85 minute rain delay and most drivers were antsy to finally start one of the most popular races of the year.

Harvick started on the pole for the race, after Friday's qualifying was rained out. Kevin Harvick was not in the lead prior to a wreck that included Sam Hornish Jr, Elliott Sadler, and Kurt Busch. The caution was brought out and the race was forced to go under a green-white-checkered finish. With more than half the cars out of the race or damaged of some type, Harvick took the checkered flag after a long night. There were 18 different leaders in the race, which is a record for the event.

NASCAR red-flagged the race for over 20 minutes when there was just 12 laps to go in the race. There was a 20 car wreck, that started with Mark Martin, who got the worst of the wreck. Included in the melee were drivers such as Jimmie Johnson, Brad Keselowski, Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman, Joey Logano, and Juan Pablo Montoya. Analyst Kyle Petty said that it was "the official first fireworks of the Fourth of July".

This was Harvick's second win of the season and 13th of his career. He won at Talladega in April by passing this year's Daytona 500 winner, Jamie McMurray, at the finish line on the last lap. Harvick's win puts him a tie for 51st for most wins in Sprint Cup Series history, tying Tim Richmond, Denny Hamlin, and Dick Rathmann. His win also distances himself in the point standings, but it will eventually be cut down due to the Chase for the Championship that starts in a few months.

When asked if he could be the one that finally beats Jimmie Johnson, Harvick said, "I think until somebody beats him -- until we get to Homestead [the season finale] and that happens, he's still the guy to beat. For us, we've got to keep working hard. We're in a fortunate position with the start to our season, and we've got to keep working on our cars and trying to make things better, and hopefully, when the stress starts with 10 weeks to go, we'll be as ready as we've ever been."

Harvick beat out Kasey Kahne for the win. Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Jeff Burton rounded out the Top 5. Kurt Busch, Carl Edwards, Reed Sorenson, Mike Bliss, and Scott Speed finished out the Top 10, respectively. This also gives Harvick a 212-point advantage over Jeff Gordon in the point standings.

Overall, I'm happy for Harvick. I wouldn't go as far to say that he had the most dominant car because over half the field was knocked out of the race by the end. It was fitting that Harvick won tonight, though, as he has won 2 out of the 3 restrictor plate races this year. So far, Harvick seems to be the best driver, but anything can happen in the Chase. I think Harvick can do well in the Chase, but there have been some instances when the best driver entering the Chase, fails to win the championship. Hopefully, he can keep his momentum and win his first NASCAR Sprint Cup championship.

NOTES:

- This year's Daytona 500 winner, Jamie McMurray, finished a disappointing 39th.

- Rookie Kevin Conway had his best career finish (14th)

- Kevin Harvick's last three wins have come on restrictor plate tracks

- The summer Daytona race has been held 52 times. This is the 8th time that it has been won from the pole.

- This was Bobby Labonte's 600th career Sprint Cup series race and he finished a season-best 16th.