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SPORTS Monday 26 February 2018

Harvick adds Cup win to dominant weekend at Atlanta

By CHARLES ODUM Clint Bowyer was third, fol-
AP Sports Writer lowed by Denny Hamlin.
HAMPTON, Ga. (AP) — Harvick quickly moved
Kevin Harvick completed from 19th back to the lead
his weekend mastery of following a green flag pit
Atlanta Motor Speedway stop early in the race and
by holding off Brad Kesel- again quickly moved back
owski on Sunday in the rain- to the lead following a pit
delayed NASCAR Monster stop on lap 252.
Energy Cup race. He took the lead following
Harvick, who was dominant a competition caution on
Saturday in winning the lap 30 and stayed in front
second-tier Xfinity event, to take the first stage win.
started fourth in the Cup Harvick's crew had difficul-
race and quickly proved ty during his pit stop follow-
he had the car to beat. ing the first stage, and he
Harvick was comfortably had lost ground when he
in the lead when Trevor returned to the pit.
Bayne's engine blew with 28 Harvick was 19th following
laps to go. The restart gave the unscheduled pit stop
contenders a chance to and returned to the lead
grab the lead, but Harvick on lap 131 before Brad Kes-
beat Keselowski to remain elowski won stage 2.
in control. Harvick's No. 4 Ford has be-
"What a relief," Harvick told come a familiar figure in Kevin Harvick (4) crosses the start finish line during the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Atlanta
his crew after crossing the the lead at Atlanta. He led Motor Speedway in Hampton, Ga., on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2018.
finish line. He led 292 laps in 141 of 163 laps Saturday for Associated Press
Atlanta last year before fin- his Xfinity win after his strong
ishing ninth following a pit performance in last year's car. Following the win, Har- Wallace was the first black fore finishing fifth.
road speeding penalty. Cup race. vick held three fingers out driver in the Daytona 500 Jimmie Johnson, who won
The start was delayed 2 Despite that recent domi- of the window in tribute to field since 1969, and he be- in Atlanta in 2015 and 2016,
hours, 30 minutes by rain. nance, this was only Har- Earnhardt. came the first black Cup finished 27th. There were
The threat of more rain vick's second Cup win in At- Harvick duplicated that racer in an Atlanta race no wrecks but there was a
added urgency in the late lanta. He also won in 2001, three-finger salute after since Bill Lester finished 38th caution after Johnson's spin
battle for the lead. There giving the Richard Childress Sunday's win. in 2006. in turn 2 on lap 160.
were reports of drops of team a win following the Rookie Darrell "Bubba" Martin Truex Jr., the 2017 With no "open" cars, the
rain with more than 130 death of Dale Earnhardt Wallace Jr., coming off a series champion, started 36-car field was NASCAR's
laps remaining, leading to in Daytona a few weeks second-place finish at last 35th after failing to qualify smallest since 1996. There
increased concerns the earlier. Harvick was given week's Daytona 500, fin- on Saturday but was up to were 40 cars in the Dayto-
race could end early. a new No. 29 in Earnhardt's ished 32nd. fourth by the 12th lap be- na field.q

NHRA great John Force crashes hard at Arizona Nationals

CHANDLER, Ariz. (AP) — a hospital for further evalu- The crash happened two weekend in Arizona. Force's chutes from both cars got
Sixteen-time Funny Car ation. Lindberg exited his weeks after one of Force's engine exploded at the fin- tangled at that point, and
champion John Force and mangled dragster under daughters, reigning Top ish line, sending him veering Lindberg's car dragged
Jonnie Lindberg collided at his own power. "I got up Fuel champion Brittany across the right lane in front Force's back across the
the NHRA's Arizona Nation- and walked away," Lind- Force, was hospitalized fol- of Lindberg and hard into a track and into the left wall.
als on Sunday. The 68-year- berg said. "I felt good and lowing a hard crash at the retaining wall. The hit lifted It was the second time in
old Force was speaking the doctors came to my season opener in Pomona, his rear tires off the ground, two events that Force blew
with safety personnel be- trailer to check me out and California. Brittany Force and they landed on Lind- an engine in elimination
fore being transported to told me that I'm good." was back in the car this berg's canopy. The para- rounds.q