A TUMS’ “FIGHTS BACK FAST”MOMENT
(For each of the 36 races during the 2011 Sprint Cup season, TUMS will provide a brief historical recap of a moment when a team fought back to overcome an obstacle, one that can easily be described as a TUMS “Fights Back Fast” Moment. This week, the focus is on Indianapolis Motor Speedway).
KEVIN HARVICK SECURES FIRST WIN FROM THE POLE POSITION AT INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
The date was Aug. 3, 2003. In an event that track position and survival against mechanical failures and crashes was critical, Kevin Harvick wheeled his RCR Enterprises Chevrolet to victory from the pole position and became the first driver to win from the No. 1 position.
NOTE: TUMS is the sponsor of the TUMS Fast Relief 500, the seventh race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, at Martinsville Speedway on October 30.
With 16 laps remaining, Harvick fought off challenges from Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray and Robby Gordon by using lapped cars to secure the win. A frantic late-race restart prompted a multi-car pile-up behind the leaders and dictated they race back to the flag stand under caution.
“I always look forward to restarts because I usually make up some ground,” Harvick said. “Jamie went high, we went low, Robby followed us and it was like the seas parted. That was pretty much the race.
“When we got out there in clean air, and I saw that Robby was doing what he had to do to keep them back there, I just put it in cruise control and tried not to make any mistakes.”
