Kevin Harvick Wins 3rd Consecutive Playoff Race at Texas Motor Speedway

Stewart-Hass driver Kevin Harvick, in his Busch Beer/Ducks Unlimited Ford, wins the AAA Texas 500 becoming the first Ford driver to qualify for the upcoming NASCAR Monster Energy championship race held at Homestead-Miami Speedway in two weeks. When the playoffs started, the Stewart-Hass team back at the shop must have circled this race date on their calendar because all four of the Stewart-Hass race cars were ready to go immediately after unloading from the haulers. All four of the Stewart-Hass cars led the race at some point, they swept all of the stage wins, and were able to finish 1-3. It took Harvick 31 races to figure out the Texas Motor Speedway; but since the repaving, he and Rodney Childers have owned the fall race winning the last three fall playoff races.

Harvick-Stewart-Hass AAA Texas 500 Dominance

Busch Pole, qualifying lap 28.465 seconds at 189.707 mph
American Ethanol Green Flag Restart Award
Fastest Race Lap Award
Hard Charger Award
Led Race high 117 laps
Won Stage 1
Won race, third time in a row for the AAA Texas 500 fall playoff race

When asked about how much prep the car needed Rodney Childers replied, We had a great car off the truck. We didn't have to chase anything during practice ... we didn't have to change anything on our setup ... we were able to work on the little things during the weekend. During Harvick's Friday question-and-answer session with the media, he emphasized many different times that the key to the team's success this year was their ability to minimize their mistakes each week and that would also be the key to winning the championship.

As it turned out, confusion over a pit road rule on when a tire can be placed in the pit box caused the team to be penalized which had Harvick starting at the tail end of the pack and potentially keeping the best car of the day from winning the race. But championship caliber teams who "want to put themselves in the best possible position to win races and not race for points" find ways to win. Childers made a few adjustments and a timely tire call and along with some determined, but patient driving, Harvick was leading again lap 225. He had to make one more green flag pit stop and then led the race unchallenged to the end. The victory locked Harvick and the Stewart-Hass team in for another run at a Championship for the fifth time in six years.

With the win, Harvick also tied his SHR boss and 3 time Cup series champion Tony Stewart for 14th on the all-time wins list at 49 wins. Stewart was asked about his thoughts on Harvick tying him with 49 career wins. I'm excited about the fact that he is going to far surpass this landmark ... I'm really proud that the night he did tie it that it's on a night that was so significant ... this is a big win ... It's not just an early season win or a second win that doesn't mean anything ... This is the win that locks him in to run for a championship at Homestead ... It's cool to be here and be a part of it with him.

The next Monster Energy cup race will be held at ISM Raceway in Phoenix Arizona this coming Sunday. This will be the last chance for the 6 playoff drivers to qualify for the championship race. There are only two slots left and 6 drivers vying for them. There will be 4 drivers left out, so it will be a great race as the pressure and emotions will be running high.