SPEEDWAY, Ind. — Kevin Harvick was able to cap off the double-header weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with his second consecutive win in the Brickyard 400.
An early gamble on pit strategy paid off for the now three-time winner of the event. Harvick assumed the lead of the race with five laps to go after what looked like an assured win for Denny Hamlin was ripped from his grasp when he cut a tire entering turn one and crashing from the lead.
Harvick said it would have been tough to catch him had Hamlin been able to go the distance.
“We knew he was going to be really close on tires. That was all the pressure I could give,” Harvick said. “It’s the Brickyard man, this what I wanted to do growing up — win at the Brickyard. Really, really proud of these guys.”
The win equalizes Harvick with Hamlin atop the NASCAR Cup playoff standings with four wins each.
Harvick’s win makes him the third driver in the history of the Brickyard 400 to win the event back-to-back, joining the likes of Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson.
It’s also his 53rd career win, tying him with Lee Petty for 11th on the all-time NASCAR Cup wins list.
