Kevin Harvick, unstoppable, wins in Richmond

A champion like Kevin Harvick is definitely never stronger than when his retirement is predicted too early. If he was able to demonstrate impeccable consistency at the start of the season, remaining close to the Top 10 in the general classification, now that he has regained a taste for victory the young guard can start to worry. 

Kevin Harvick, screaming sixty-year-old © Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Kyle Busch, qualifié seulement 29ème,  animait le début de course en brossant le muret à 2 reprises au 54ème et 67ème tour. Une mauvaise habitude ces dernières courses pour le pilote de Vegas souvent en délicatesse au volant de sa Toyota Camry. Ross Chastain réalisait la meilleure entame de course et enlevait le premier court segment de 70 tours devant Denny Hamlin revenu dans ses échappements dans les derniers tours.

Martin Truex Jr., victorious in three of the last six races contested on this short 0,75 mile (1,207 km) oval, seemed in good shape, but the start of the second segment saw him tumble in the standings, colliding with Ricky Stenhouse Jr., fortunately without major damage, and finally lost a lap at the end of the second round of pit stops. But the man from New Jersey is a formidable fighter, and with the strength of his wrist he managed to stay in the wake of the winner of the second segment, Joey Logano, to recover his lap before the end of the section.

The Nos. 18 and 1 spin at the start of the Final Stage. pic.twitter.com/gNPXAVPRGq

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 14

On the restart, Kyle Busch and Ross Chastain collided under the nose of Truex Jr. who miraculously escaped without damage. At the front, Kyle Larson had to face the virile assaults of Chris Buescher and Denny Hamlin and came away with an unbalanced car, losing contact with the Top 10.

Kevin Harvick, #4 Mobil 1 Ford Mustang © Chris Graythen/Getty Images

With 65 laps to go, Kevin Harvick, winner last Sunday at Michigan, stole the lead from Joey Logano after a superb pass and immediately took several lengths of lead. While in control, the 2014 Champion resisted the return of Christopher Bell and Chris Buescher to pocket his 60th career victory, equaling Kyle Busch on the list of winners. Clear race for the Championship leader, Chase Elliott, who takes 5th place behind Denny Hamlin.

He's done this a time or 60. pic.twitter.com/R6YNV7AQ0L

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 14

Paradoxically, these two victories by Kevin Harvick at Michigan and at Richmond place two drivers in the spotlight, Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Blaney. The Playoffs are getting closer, and as a reminder, qualification is conditional on a victory during the regular season or a place among the first 16 drivers in the general classification. With now 15 victorious drivers this season, there is only one ticket left to be awarded and the first two drivers to share this last qualifying place are Blaney and Truex Jr. separated by only 26 small points to the advantage of the first city.

Ryan Blaney's place in the Playoffs hangs by a thread © Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Has this place therefore been acquired by one of these two men? With three regular season races remaining to be contested, the possibility of seeing more than 16 victorious drivers cannot be ruled out and would result in the exclusion of a victorious driver. Aric Almirola, Chris Buescher or Bubba Wallace, to name but a few, would see themselves thwarting the predictions... A scenario never seen since the introduction of this system in 2014, but we are no longer within a surprise this season .

The next two races, the last of the regular season, will be contested on very specific tracks with the Watkins Glen road course and the Daytona Superspeedway. Lands ripe for surprises.

Standings for the Federated Auto Parts 400 in Richmond:

ALSO READ > Kimi Räikkönen delivers his first sensations after his Nascar test