LOUDON, N.H. – Until an uncharacteristic miscue on pit road cost him precious track position late in Sunday’s 5-Hour ENERGY 301 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Kevin Harvick appeared a likely candidate for Victory Lane.
Harvick was leading the race when NASCAR called the sixth caution of the event on lap 251 because of fluid on the track. But after a slow four-tire stop, Harvick’s No. 4 Chevrolet was fifth off pit road and restarted sixth because eventual race winner Kyle Busch stayed out on seven-lap-old tires.
Harvick quickly moved to fourth, and on Lap 288 of 301 he passed Joey Logano for the third spot. But the reigning series champion couldn’t overcome the loss of track position on pit road.
Nevertheless, Harvick believed the four-tire call was the right one.
“I think we had the right strategy, just a little miscue on the last pit stop,” he said. “Those guys have done great all year. They did great today. It just took me a little longer to get around a couple of those cars and lost the track position.
“I just have to thank everybody (on our team) for everything they do. We were off on Friday, and we were able to really rebound and have a good Saturday and good race car today. It’s encouraging for two months.”
Two months hence, that is, when the Cup series returns to New Hampshire for the second race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
Source: Reid Spencer / NASCAR Wire Service
