Kevin Harvick Dominates At Las Vegas

What a start to the season for Kevin Harvick.  The defending Cup champion has opened with three straight top-2 finishes including a win in Sunday's Kobalt 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.  If you look back to the last three races of last season Harvick has six consecutive top-2 finishes, duplicating the feat of Jeff Gordon in 1996.

Harvick led 142 of 267 laps to win for the first time at Las Vegas in 15 tries.  Martin Truex, Jr. was second with Ryan Newman, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Denny Hamlin completing the Top-5.

Jimmie Johnson had a tough day even after leading 45 laps.  A loose tire forced him into the pits putting him a lap back.  He then twice cut a tire, one of them sending him into the outside wall.  He finished 41st.

Jeff Gordon won the pole with a record qualifying time, but was forced to start from the rear in a back-up car after a final practice collision with Danica Patrick.  Gordon came in 18th.

Joey Logano got off to a great start leading 47 laps but faded and finished 10th.

The race in Las Vegas was the first of three straight out west.  The schedule continues next weekend at Phoenix.