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SPORTS Monday 12 august 2019

Kevin Harvick wins NASCAR Cup race at Michigan

By LARRY LAGE in the playoff race when
BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) — Clint Bowyer was knocked
Kevin Harvick is so confi- out of the race after Paul
dent in his talent and team Menard appeared to
he doesn't get excited bump him. Bowyer began
when he wins. the day 15th in the playoff
"It's more of an expecta- standings and finished 37th
tion," Harvick said. at MIS, putting him in 16th in
He raced to the 47th NAS- the race for the final spot.
CAR Cup victory of his ca- Newman, who started the
reer and his second in less day tied with Johnson in
than a month Sunday, pull- the playoff standings , was
ing away from the pack to 12th in the 38-car field and
win at Michigan Interna- that was good enough to
tional Speedway for the move him up to 15th.
second straight year. Pole-sitter Brad Keselowski
With just three races be- was 19th, extending his
fore the playoffs, the timing winless streak to 21 at the
of his latest strong perfor- track about 70 miles from
mance may help him win a his hometown in suburban
second championship. Detroit. Keselowski got off
"Hopefully, we're peaking to a strong start and led for
at the right time," he said. a race-high 66 laps, but a Kevin Harvick celebrates with his son, Keelan, after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at
Late in the race, the Stew- flat tire during the second Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich., Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019.
art-Haas Racing driver cre- stage set off sparks behind Associated Press
ated a cushion between him and was a setback he
his Ford and the competi- couldn't overcome. WHO'S NOT off point all seem to be driving with an injured
tion and finished more than "Someone once told me Johnson finished 30th or having bad luck," he said. shoulder, hurting it while
a second ahead of Denny faith isn't believing when worse for the third time in Johnson's last Cup victory throwing a nerf ball. Har-
Hamlin. everything is going your five races and in the oth- was on June 4, 2017 at Do- vick said he couldn't lift his
"Nothing I could really do," way, it's believing when er two, he was 15th and ver International Speed- arm in June at Sonoma
said Hamlin, who drove a nothing is going your way," 19th, putting his postseason way. Raceway, but estimated
Toyota-powered car for Keselowski posted on Twit- chances in peril. PLAYING HURT his shoulder is 80-percent
Joe Gibbs Racing. "Didn't ter . "Today was a test of "The guys around that cut- Harvick said he has been healthy.q
have enough speed." faith. We will return and win
Kyle Larson was third, more here, just not today."
than 16 seconds behind Joey Logano won at Michi- Tour says it will explore
Harvick. He was followed gan in June, helping Ford
by Martin Truex Jr., Daniel win four straight at the track
Suarez and points-leader and bragging rights over
Kyle Busch. Chevrolet and Toyota in a pace-of-play policy
Seven-time champion Jim- state where the manufac-
mie Johnson will have to tures have a big presence.
close the regular season "We want to win every By DOUG FERGUSON an 8-foot putt on the eighth and our players and fans
strong to extend his streak race, but definitely here," AP Golf Writer hole Friday. That led to are very passionate about
of earning a spot in every said Mark Rushbrook, glob- JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) — players criticizing DeCham- this issue," Dennis said in a
postseason since the for- al director for Ford Perfor- The PGA Tour says it will beau for his pace and the story posted on the tour's
mat was created 15 years mance. look closer at its pace-of- tour for a policy that makes website.
ago. He started the race WHO'S HOT play policy, which could penalty shots rare. For more than a decade,
tied for the 16th and final Harvick also won at New lead to timing players who Tyler Dennis, the tour's chief the tour has been using
spot in the playoffs and Hampshire Motor Speed- typically take a long time of operations, says the tour ShotLink in an unofficial ca-
slipped to 18th. Johnson way last month, giving him playing shots. might be able to use its pacity to let players know
had an early setback, mak- two wins in a four-race The issue has been around ShotLink technology that how long they take over
ing contact with a wall on stretch. He finished sixth as long as today's genera- measures every shot to various shots.
Lap 15 that damaged his and seventh between the tion of players has been help with a solution. The time was unofficial
right rear quarter panel victories. alive. "We know that the individ- because it was based on
and tire, and finished 34th. "We still have to get a lot It gained attention this ual habits of players when when the scorer recorded
Johnson was several laps better, but we're in better week with a video of Bryson they are preparing to hit a the shot, not when it was
back for much of the race, shape than we were," crew DeChambeau taking 2 shot can quickly become a deemed to be his turn to
but got a break potentially chief Rodney Childers said.
minutes, 6 seconds to hit focal point in today's world, hit.q