Kevin Harvick started the CampingWorld.com 500 at Phoenix International Raceway from the pole and delivered the win to become the first multi-win driver of the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup season.
Kevin started the race Sunday afternoon (3/15) as the dominant driver at Phoenix with the most wins all-time at the track with six victories. Those wins included four of the last five and the past three Sprint Cup series events in a row at Phoenix.
When the green flag waived it didn’t take long for the first yellow to be issued. The #55 Toyota driven by Brian Vickers and the #48 Chevrolet driven by Jimmie Johnson got together on lap two sending the #55 into the outside wall. There would be a total of 10 caution periods in the race including one for the #88 Chevrolet when it blew a right rear tire ending the day for Dale Earnhardt Jr. and relegating him to a 43rd place finish.
Joey Logano was one of four drivers to lead the race as he repeated what has happened to him in the last two races. Joey was able to get out front early, but lost the handle on his car soon after fading back as the race wore on.
Kevin Harvick felt déjà-vu as he again dominated the CampingWorld.com 500 at Phoenix. He led a race high 224 laps in the 312 lap competition. Even as the race endured some late caution periods Kevin was able to power forward on the re-starts to retain his lead in the final laps.
Kevin raced his #4 Chevrolet under the checkered flag to claim his seventh win at Phoenix International Raceway, fourth consecutive win at the track, second consecutive win in the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup series and became the first multi-win driver of the year following his win in Las Vegas the prior week.
Jamie McMurray followed Kevin across the finish line to claim second place with Ryan Newman grabbing a third place finish. Kasey Kahne finished in fourth place. Kurt Busch made a successful return to racing as he was able to finish in fifth place. See the complete race results for the CampingWorld.com 500 here.
The back-to-back wins in the 2015 Sprint Cup season solidifies Kevin’s spot as the leader of the NASCAR Sprint Cup point standings. It also locks the defending Sprint Cup Champion on the Chase Grid for a chance to defend his title when the Chase begins in September at Chicagoland Speedway.
The last place finish for Dale Jr. dropped him to sixth place in the point standings allowing both Joey Logano and Martin Truex Jr. to move up a spot each to second and third places respectively. Kasey Kahne moved up two spots to fourth place in the point standings leapfrogging AJ Allmendinger who remains in the fifth place. See the complete NASCAR Sprint Cup point standings here.
With Kevin becoming a repeat winner for the 2015 NASCAR season no other driver puts their name on the “all but locked in” list for the Chase Grid. You can see how the Chase Grid stands following the Phoenix race here.
This week the West Coast swing for the NASCAR Sprint Cup series continues as the race teams head to Fontana, California for the Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway Sunday, March 22nd.
By: Buck Stevens
