⢠Kevin Harvick picked up his 18th career victory in his 348th start and, in turn, clinched one of the two top seeds in the 2011 Chase.
⢠This was Kevin Harvick’s second Richmond victory in his 22nd start.
⢠It was also Kevin Harvick’s eighth victory with Gil Martin, the most he has enjoyed with any of the five crew chiefs with whom he’s worked.
⢠It was a bit of a turn of fortunes for Kevin Harvick as it was his first top-five finish since Pocono, 13 races ago.
⢠Kevin Harvick led five times for 202 laps, the most of any driver. That total is 72 more than he had led in the first 25 races combined.
⢠Dale Earnhardt Jr. (16th), Tony Stewart (seventh) and Denny Hamlin (ninth) secured their spots in the Chase.
⢠Carl Edwards (second) earned his second top-five in two races at Richmond; it was also his 12th top-five of 2011.
⢠Jeff Gordon (third) has finished 13th or better in his past 11 races, extending a streak he began at Infineon.
⢠David Ragan (fourth) finished in the top five in both Richmond races, but fell short of his first Chase berth.
⢠Kurt Busch (fifth) earned his best finish at Richmond in his past four races there.
⢠Kyle Busch (sixth) recovered from an early pit stop on Lap 70 and got the free pass on the sixth caution.
⢠Denny Hamlin (ninth) overcame a Lap 8 wreck that put him as low as 40th and one lap down on Lap 10.
⢠Dale Earnhardt Jr. (16th) pitted 17 times and earned the free pass three times.
(Racing Recall/nascar.com)(9-12-2011)
