Kevin Harvick Wins His Third At Richmond

Kevin Harvick led only three laps Saturday night at Richmond International Speedway but the last two were the most important, as he moved from seventh to first on a green-white-checkered finish and edged Clint Bowyer to the finish line to win his first Sprint Cup race of the year. Before Saturday night, Harvick had only one Top 10 finish this season.

It looked like Juan Pablo Montoya was headed to his first victory since winning at Watkins Glen in 2010, but just a few laps from the end the caution flag waved for an accident involving Brian Vickers.

Montoya and Harvick were among the drivers that went to the pits for two new tires. On the restart, Montoya was sixth and Harvick was seventh, but Harvick shot to the front for his 20th career Cup victory and third at Richmond.

Following Bowyer, Joey Logano, Montoya and Jeff Burton completed the Top Five.

Montoya was looking for his first ever victory on an oval, and he was just a couple laps away until the yellow came out. His only two victories both have been on road courses.

Kyle Busch was looking to win his fifth straight Spring race at Richmond and held the lead in the last third of the race, but was involved in a three-car wreck and finished 27th.

Jimmie Johnson came in 12th, but still increased his championship lead to 43 points over Carl Edwards who jumped from sixth to second in the standings. Kasey Kahne dropped to third, 46 points back.

Next week – it’s off to Talladega and the sport’s longest track.