It was a very eventful weekend for Kevin Harvick in Richmond. He made news even before the cars hit the track for practice when he announced that his very sucessful Kevin Harvick Inc. team would no longer field Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series entries next season. His trucks and shop will be sold and his two Nationwide teams will be run out of Richard Childress Racing's shop in Welcome, North Carolina. He was involved in some controversy in the Nationwide race Friday night when he had run-ins with both Jason Lefler and Trevor Bayne. And Saturday night he capped his weekend with a victory in the Wonderful Pistachios 400.
The race began with a tribute to those lost ten years ago in the 9/11 attacks. Danny Rodriguez, former NYPD officer, performed a stirring rendition of "God Bless America" and the US Army 29th Infantry Division Band out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia, performed one of the best versions of the "Star Spangled Banner" I've ever heard. This was a very fitting, very poignant moment of reflection and celebration of our freedoms.
The race began when Frank Siller, founder of the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, waved the green flag and pole winner David Reutimann led the field into turn one. Not long after, the action to start. On lap nine, Clint Bowyer divebombed under Reutimann as they entered turn three. This sent Bowyer's car into the wall, but the wreck was just beginning. A few cars didn't see Bowyer against the wall and eleven other cars were collected in the incident. This included Chase hopefuls Denny Hamlin and Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
More controversy ensued when Marcos Ambrose and Brian Vickers got together entering turn three, sending Vickers up the track and into his lame duck teammate Kasey Kahne. Vickers, none too pleased with what had happened, turned his car in front of Ambrose's and made contact with him to express his displeasure. Later in the night, Bowyer got to Reutimann and spun him back for what had happened earlier (because Bowyer making a bonehead move is somehow Reutimann's fault). This sent the back of the No. 00 car into the wall and relegated a very competitive Aaron's Dream Machine to a 26th place finish.
But the biggest story of the night was Jimmie Johnson and Kurt Busch picking up where they left off at Pocono a few weeks back. The fight began with the two bumping and banging down the "Long Pond Straightaway" at the "Tricky Triangle" and resumed when Busch locked up his tires and slid up the track, sending Johnson's No. 48 into the wall. Later on in the race, Johnson dumped Busch in the same spot and sent him spinning. However, Kurt moved on unscathed and Jimmie hit the wall again. You'd think a five time champ would have better aim. Kurt then blasted Johnson on the radio, saying "What a chump!! I got your number!!"
But when the smoke cleared, it was Harvick who took the checkers, after a fast pit stop got him the lead back and he held off a late charge from Jeff Gordon and Carl Edwards. The Chase field was also finalized and, much to the delight of Junior Nation, Dale Earnhardt, Jr will make his first playoff appearance since 2008. Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin also secured Chase berths. Now there is nothing left to do but race for the title. The first race of the ten race Chase for the Championship will take place, for the first time, at the Chicagoland Speedway. It will be interesting to see if this shakes up the standings and to see who will pull into victory lane. Will it be a Chaser or will David Reutimann win back to back events in the Windy City? In this season of first time winners and "boys have at it", anything can happen.
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