Kevin Harvick swept the weekend at Kansas Speedway and won the caution filled Hollywood Casino 400 from the pole. The victory was Harvick’s 22nd career victory and his third victory in 2013. This is his first victory at Kansas Speedway. “It was an interesting weekend with everyone battling tires and the track. It was like driving on a razor blade and I said we have to find consistency. It was like driving two different cars – one out front and no one else even close and a different one back in traffic,” said Harvick.
After having to go to a back up car and starting in the rear, Kurt Busch came back to take second. Busch would have an exchange with third place finisher Jeff Gordon. Both competitors discussed the situation and came away with an understanding of the situation according to Jeff Gordon. Busch said, ” Today is a small victory in my own mind. This was the last track I needed a top-5 at and we got that today.”
Third place finisher Jeff Gordon said, “We had a great car all day. These surfaces are too smooth. It doesn’t dissipate the heat. Goodyear is at the mercy of the track. But to me it’s the surface. We are paving these tracks like we pave new highway and this isn’t a highway, it’s a racetrack.”
Tires were the story of the day. With the new tire cording and blistering, the race teams struggled to find consistency and grip on the newly repaved racetrack.
Kyle Busch’s curse at Kansas continued. Busch who started in the rear in a backup car was wrecked three times in one race. Busch commented, “The race track is the worst race track I’ve ever driven on. The tires are the worst tires I’ve ever driven on and track position is everything. You can’t do anything unless you’re out front. You get back in traffic — Kevin Harvick couldn’t pass me — he led the first 80 laps of the race, so I’d say it’s pretty pathetic.”
The race had 15 cautions for 71 laps and there were 24 lead changes among 12 drivers. Harvick crossed the start finish line 1.140 seconds ahead of Kurt Busch.
Matt Kenseth took the points lead over Jimmie Johnson, who finished the race on 7 cylinders.
Finish Order:
1) Kevin Harvick 2) Kurt Busch 3) Jeff Gordon 4) Joey Logano 5) Carl Edwards 6) Jimmie Johnson 7) Paul Menard 8) Dale Earnhardt Jr. 9) Marcos Ambrose 10) Aric Almirola 11) Matt Kenseth 12) Jeff Burton 13) Greg Biffle 14) Clint Bowyer 15) Kasey Kahne 16) Jamie McMurray 17) Brad Keselowski 18) Juan Pablo Montoya 19) Martin Truex Jr. 20) A.J. Allmendinger 21) Casey Mears 22) Mark Martin 23) Denny Hamlin 24) David Gilliland 25) Dave Blaney 26) Travis Kvapil 27) JJ Yeley 28) Timmy Hill 29) Tony Raines 30) Ricky Stenhouse Jr 31) Cole Whitt 32) Brian Vickers 33) Landon Cassill 24) Kyle Busch 35) Ryan Newman 36) David Ragan 37) David Reutimann 38) Michael McDowell 39) Justin Allgaier 40) Josh Wise 41) Joe Nemechek 42) Reed Sorenson 43) Danica Patrick
Chase Points Following Kansas:
1) Matt Kenseth 2183
2) Jimmie Johnson 2180
3) Kevin Harvick
4) Jeff Gordon 2151
5) Kyle Busch
6) Greg Biffle
7) Kurt Busch
8) Dale Earnhardt Jr 2129
9) Clint Bowyer 2128
10) Joey Logano 2124
11) Carl Edwards 2123
12) Ryan Newman 2110
13) Kasey Kahne 2100
