Kevin Harvick held off a late race charge by Carl Edwards to clinch the win and a tie for the Chase lead in a caution-filled 400 laps.
Qualifying
David Reutimann put his Toyota on the pole with the quickest time in qualifying. Jamie McMurray was second quick in his Chevrolet.
Hendrick Motorsports drivers swept row number two with Jimmie Johnson edging teammate Mark Martin for third. Clint Bowyer rounded out the top five in his Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet.
Drop Of The Green
When the green flag flew Jamie McMurray made the outside lane work and he drove past Reutimann for the early lead. The green flag didn't stay out for long as Andy Lally crashed on lap three bringing out the first yellow of the night.
The early part of the race was rocky as we saw a number of cautions. Jimmie Johnson lead the early going in the stop and go racing.
On lap eight Clint Bowyer spun and caused a pile up back in the pack behind him. Chase hopefuls Dale Earnhardt Jr and Denny Hamlin were involved in the mess. They each got a little bit of front end damage as the field screeched to a halt to try to avoid the wreck.
Denny Hamlin lost a lap trying to get his car repaired but with all the early race cautions Hamlin got the lucky dog and returned to the lead lap.
Brian Vickers was parked by NASCAR for ramming Marcos Ambrose's car under caution.
Storylines
As we came into the last race of the regular season fourteen drivers had a mathematical shot at the final three available Chase spots. Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Denny Hamlin were all in Chase spots but were not clinched.
In order to be guaranteed a Chase spot regardless of what anyone else did Tony Stewart needed to finish 18th or better while Dale Earnhardt Jr. needed to end up 20th or better. Denny Hamlin simply needed to stay ahead of any other single race winners in the points.
After being involved in that early race incident Dale Earnhardt Jr. flirted with being eliminated from the Chase. At one time he was just two points ahead of Brad Keselowski for tenth but when it all came down to it Stewart was seventh, Earnhardt was sixteenth and Denny Hamlin's wild card spot was safely in hand.
Chasing The Checkers
Kevin Harvick dominated most of the second half of the 2011 Wonderful Pistachios 400 but as the laps started to wind down last week's winner Jeff Gordon started to chip away at Harvick's lead. With 29 laps to go Gordon caught Harvick for the lead and dove low for the win. Harvick battled back on the outside and held him off.
A few laps later Gordon went to the high side as the leaders were working lapped traffic. Harvick bobbled on the bottom and Gordon got past for the lead with 22 laps to go. It looked like Gordon was a sure winner before the caution flew once again with seventeen laps to go.
All of leaders hit pit road for four tires and fuel and Kevin Harvick's crew got him back on track first.
Harvick and Gordon took the green for the final time with twelve laps to go. Harvick made it stick on the bottom and lead by five car lengths when they completed the first green flag lap. Carl Edwards passed Jeff Gordon for second and set off to try to catch Harvick for the win.
Edwards was able to get to him with five laps to go. Like they say, catching him is one thing but passing him is another story. Harvick was able to hold him off and take the checkered flag for his fourth win of 2011.
Top Ten
- Kevin Harvick
- Carl Edwards
- Jeff Gordon
- David Ragan
- Kurt Busch
- Kyle Busch
- Tony Stewart
- Ryan Newman
- Denny Hamlin
- Mark Martin
The Points
The 2011 Chase for the Cup drivers are now locked in. There were no changes due to tonight's race except Kevin Harvick's Chase seed changed as he scored the additional win.
All Chase drivers now have their points set to 2,000 plus three points per win. Wild card drivers Keselowski and Hamlin do not get the bonus points for their wins.
The 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Standings:
- Kyle Busch -0
- Kevin Harvick -0
- Jeff Gordon -3
- Matt Kenseth -6
- Carl Edwards -9
- Jimmie Johnson -9
- Kurt Busch -9
- Ryan Newman -9
- Tony Stewart -12
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. -12
- Brad Keselowski -12
- Denny Hamlin -12
