Kevin Harvick passed Kyle Busch on lap 399 tonight at Richmond International Raceway and captured the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 for his third win of the season….but the story was who rounds out the “Chase”. Harvick’s win marks the third week in a row a driver has swept the weekend….you’re on your own next week cause the Busch boyz are off! This was the 8th career win for Harvick (he’s tied for 56th on the all-time win list with Kyle Petty) and the 80th for Richard Childress. It was worth $234,136 from the almost $5M in posted awards.
The odd-man out of the “Chase” is (gasp) defending Champion Tony Stewart! (He missed by 16 markers). In the short history since the format change, Tony’s the first Champion not to have the opportunity to repeat. You could make a case that Tony’s chances dropped dramatically about five minutes into practice yesterday when he wrecked his primary car….but that’s the nature of the beast nowadays. Oh, and Harvick makes up 294 points in an instant. Ain’t paper points wonderful?
Dave Blaney (4th….but you’d never have known it from the TV coverage, huh?) had his best finish since he was 3rd at Darlington in March of 2003! Blaney’s Top-5 finish gives us 27 drivers at that number this season….last year’s was 30. The Top-10 finish gives us 35 drivers at that level this season….last year we had 43 of ’em. Ken Schrader (7th….ditto from Blaney) had his best finish since he was 6th at Bristol in April of 2004! Casey Mears (11th) had his best finish since he was 7th at Daytona in July.
STREAKIN….Kyle Busch has 5 Top-10’s in the last 6 races. Matt Kenseth has 5 Top-10’s in the last 6 races.
This Week’s Elevator….UP: Operator of the Week is a lonely Tony Stewart (+22). DOWN: The Big Dropper was Martin Truex Jr (-33), followed by Jeff Gordon (-28), Carl Edwards (-26), and Scott Wimmer (-23). Tony is now tied with Casey Mears and Clint Bowyer with three Ops for the “Shaft” lead.
Sterling Marlin continues to lead over Kyle Petty for that 35th and final exempt spot in the Owner Points. The margin is 14 heading into next week, and you know we’re heading to a track where Kyle would rather be anywhere else but there.(StockCarFans)(9-9-2006)
