Page 19 - ATD05October2015
P. 19
SPORTS A19
Monday 5 October 2015
Harvick Kevin Harvick drives his car
during the NASCAR Sprint Cup
Continued from Page 17 series auto race, Sunday,
Oct. 4, 2015, at Dover
Jamie McMurray, Paul International Speedway in
Menard and Clint Bowyer Dover, Del. Associated Press
also were eliminated as
the Chase field was sliced Harvick said about the
from 16 to 12. Dale Earn- JGR drivers, “We’re going
hardt Jr. tied with McMur- to pound them into the
ray in points and earned ground.”
the final spot on a tie- He was instead a bust in
breaker. the first two Chase races
Four more drivers will be and finished 42nd in the
eliminated in the next Chase opener at Chica-
three-race segment that goland and 21st last week
starts next week at Char- at New Hampshire.
lotte Motor Speedway. Harvick would love to win
Joe Gibbs Racing driv- another championship
ers Denny Hamlin and not just for himself, but for
Matt Kenseth had already his friend and team owner
earned berths in the next Tony Stewart. Stewart an-
round with wins in the first nounced this week he will
two Chase races. Carl retire from Sprint Cup rac-
Edwards also advanced ing after the 2016 season.
along with Joey Logano, Stewart and Harvick
Ryan Newman, Kurt Busch, grabbed hands in cel-
Brad Keselowski, Martin ebration window-to-win-
Truex Jr., Jeff Gordon and dow with their Chevrolets
Kyle Busch. parked on the track.
Truex survived after he was “We weren’t in a good sit-
sent to the rear for the field uation coming into today,
after his team made an but that’s what this team
unapproved adjustment is made of,” Harvick said.
to the right rear after in- “This is what it’s all about,
spection. Gordon’s drive those big-time moments.”
for a fifth championship is Harvick’s team celebrat-
still alive in his final season. ed in victory lane chanting
Harvick did all that was “I believe that we will win!”
needed in the No. 4 Chev- They can believe it.
rolet and pulled off an- But no one can believe
other victory in a must- Johnson is out of the play-
win Chase race. He was off picture. In his 500th
eighth out of eight teams career start, he again
and had to win last season seemed poised to be in
at Phoenix International the hunt to win at one of
Raceway to advance into his favorite tracks.
the championship finale. But the No. 48 Chevy in-
He won the race, then stead spent a nice of
won it all the next week chunk of the race in the
when his second straight garage and his crew furi-
checkered flag gave him ously worked on repairs.
the highest finish among Johnson won champion-
four championship drivers ships in 2006, 2007, 2008,
to earn the crown. 2009, 2010 and 2013, put-
The rest of the Chase field ting him one shy of match-
knows they blew their shot ing Richard Petty and Dale
at eliminating what should Earnhardt for most on the
be their toughest con- career list.
tender in the final seven “I’ve lost championships
races. this way. I’ve won champi-
It was only three weeks onships this way,” Johnson
ago when a confident said. “It’s not the way we
want to end the season,
but it’s racing. Not much
we can do about it.”q
