NASCAR Sprint Cup: Kevin Harvick crowned champion after win at Homestead-Miami
Last Updated: 17/11/14 7:54am
Kevin Harvick claimed his first NASCAR Sprint Cup title with a victory in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida on Sunday.
Harvick needed to finish ahead of the other three title contenders - Denny Hamlin, Ryan Newman and Joey Logano – to be crowned the champion and he did so in style as he charged through the field from 12th to first over the final 15 laps.
The quartet, who were all chasing their first title, disputed the lead in the FordEco Boost 400 but Hamlin seemed to have the race in control until a caution with 20 laps to go.
That forced the teams to make some tough strategy decisions and Logano dropped out of contention after a problem with the jack as his team attempted to change all four of his tyres.
Harvick and Newman’s teams also changed all four of their tyres and Hamlin was left to suffer on his old tyres following another caution.
The restart saw Harvik slice through the field to take the lead from Hamlin with seven laps remaining and he then powered to victory ahead of Newman, with Brad Keselowski third.
Hamlin faded to seventh with Logano coming home a distant 16th.
Harvick, who was capping a superb first season with Stewart-Haas racing, said: "You had all the championship guys show up at the front of the pack. I was just going to hold the pedal down and hope for the best.”
Hamlin said: "I loved our chances, but they weren't there at the end. Strategy is part of winning, and the strategy for us didn't work out with the cautions."
