Kevin Harvick edges Denny Hamlin to sweep Michigan Doubleheader

The NASCAR Cup Series concluded its doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Michigan International Speedway for the Consumer Energy 400. Based on yesterday’s results, the top twenty positions were inverted with Kevin Harvick, who won yesterday’s race, starting twentieth while Chris Buescher, who finished twentieth, started on the pole and next to him was Clint Bowyer. Before the race could get underway, several drivers headed to the rear of the field. Austin Dillon, Ryan Newman, Tyler Reddick, Aric Almirola, Chris Buescher, Michael McDowell, Ryan Preece, John Hunter Nemechek, and Cole Custer went to backup cars.

Josh Bilicki (driver change), Brennan Poole (engine change), Reed Sorenson (inspection), and Daniel Suarez (inspection) joined them in the back. With all of these cars going to the rear of the field, the starting grid changed. William Byron moved up to the front row, starting on the inside lane while Clint Bowyer was on the outside.

🟢 Round 2 at @MISpeedway is GREEN! 🟢 We're underway on NBCSN and streaming at https://t.co/BHXvTwrLoC pic.twitter.com/NOLh7HUtQB — NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 9, 2020

The race began with Austin Dillon having been assessed a pass-through penalty for unapproved adjustments on the grid. On the fifth lap, Kevin Harvick got Martin Truex Jr. loose as they were fighting for twelfth place. Truex would fall to nineteenth place. On lap 20, Harvick worked his way to ninth after starting twentieth. On lap 33, Alex Bowman passed Ricky Stenhouse Jr. for sixteenth place. He has a new spotter this week as Scott Dixon’s spotter Robbie Fast was substituting for Kevin Hamlin. Bowman would move up one more spot to fifteenth getting by Bubba Wallace. Upfront, Clint Bowyer was in control and would win stage one with Daniel Suarez getting the free pass.

He's a man of his word! @ClintBowyer backs up his guarantee and takes Stage 1 of the #ConsumersEnergy400 at @MISpeedway! pic.twitter.com/H4gzAKbbXL — NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 9, 2020

During the caution, Clint Bowyer led the field down pit road as all of the leaders pitted for four tires and fuel. Kyle Busch would win the race off of pit road, gaining six spots while Clint Bowyer came out third. Ryan Blaney would go back to pit road to top off fuel.

With the Choose rule in effect, drivers could select the inside or outside lane at the marker on the track. Kyle Busch would choose the outside lane while William Bryon was the first to go to the inside lane improving his position from fourth to second. Jimmie Johnson also went inside going from seventh to third. Busch would lead the field on the restart to start stage two on lap 48.

⬅️ or ➡️ Which lane would you choose at @MISpeedway? pic.twitter.com/Rexijqrvlc — NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 9, 2020

Kevin Harvick was right behind Busch on the restart, and he would take the lead away from Busch exiting off of turn two heading down the backstretch. On lap 55, William Byron, who restarted second, had fallen to twelfth as he reported to his crew chief that something was wrong with his car. Kevin Harvick continued to lead and would win stage two. Michael McDowell got the free pass.

Feel like we've seen this movie before …@KevinHarvick goes to the lead at @MISpeedway! pic.twitter.com/6MQP01d1sX — NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 9, 2020

During the caution, all of the leaders came to pit road with Harvick coming out on top. As the drivers approached the orange cone or the Choose Rule, Kevin Harvick took the outside lane while Denny Hamlin was the first car to go inside, moving him up from fifth to second. Ryan Blaney also chose the inside lane improving his position from seventh to third. The final stage got underway on lap 92. Harvick would lose a couple of the spots to Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney as Blaney gave Hamlin a good push. Harvick would settle for the moment for the third position. Ryan Blaney would then pass Denny Hamlin on the inside lane between turns three and four and moved up to take the lead.

Things are getting 𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴𝘺 at the front of the pack! 😬 📺: NBCSN | 📲: https://t.co/BHXvTwJmNc pic.twitter.com/T32AOPWLkN — NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 9, 2020

Four laps later, Brad Keselowski made his way up to second place to challenge his teammate Ryan Blaney for the lead. Unfortunately for Keselowski, he would get loose at turn two and hit Ryan Blaney, causing both cars to spin and hit the outside wall and bring out the caution for the third time. Clint Bowyer and Alex Bowman also suffered damage in the wreck. JJ Yeley got the free pass.

TEAMMATES WRECK!!! 😱@keselowski gets loose and slides up into @Team_Penske teammate @Blaney at @MISpeedway! pic.twitter.com/49xokMOKaK — NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 9, 2020

During the caution, some of the leaders came to pit road. Joey Logano and Ryan Preece took two tires, Bubba Wallace took fuel only while Erik Jones, John Hunter Nemechek, Michael McDowell, Cole Custer, and two others took four tires. Denny Hamlin chose the outside lane while Kyle Busch was the first to choose the inside, improving his position from fourth to second. Kurt Busch would line up behind his brother Kyle also advancing his position from seventh to third. The race was back underway, with 54 laps to go. Clint Bowyer had a tire rub and would come to pit road on lap 103.

Two laps later, the fourth caution would come out for Christopher Bell after he got loose and spun at turn two. Clint Bowyer got the free pass. During the caution, Aric Almirola stayed out due to a miscue of codewords while everyone else pitted. Denny Hamlin, Kurt Busch, Erik Jones, Ryan Newman, Joey Logano, Matt DiBenedetto, and Ryan Preece took fuel only. Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, and four others took two tires as the rest took four.

Usually hot dogs are a great thing to think about … but not in this case. 🌭 🔊🆙 | @Aric_Almirola pic.twitter.com/3OFBZadrK5 — NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 9, 2020

Aric Almirola would take the outside lane while Kevin Harvick was the first to choose the inside lane as the race resumed on lap 110. Almirola tried to hang onto the lead from his teammate Harvick, but his car was loose. On lap 116, Kevin Harvick powered his way past Almirola using a side draft to give him the momentum he needed to push past him. Harvick was then challenged by Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin, who had gained on the leader.

On lap 137, Alex Bowman suffered a flat right rear tire, and as he was coming to pit road, part of the tire stayed on the racetrack bringing out the fifth caution of the day. Christopher Bell would get the free pass.

Oh no, man, Bowman. Less than 20 laps remain at @MISpeedway on NBCSN! #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/bujQ7Oi8S1 — NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 9, 2020

During the caution, some of the leaders came to pit road while others decided not to give up track position. These drivers had to now be in fuel savings mode. Aric Almirola, Matt DiBenedetto, Bubba Wallace, Matt Kenseth, and four others pitted. Kevin Harvick chose the outside lane while Denny Hamlin was the first to choose the inside going from third to second. Martin Truex Jr. stayed behind Harvick while Joey Logano got behind Hamlin, improving his position from seventh to third. The race got back underway with 14 laps to go.

The two strongest drivers of 2020 find themselves battling for the win (AGAIN)! It's on between @KevinHarvick and @dennyhamlin! 😱 pic.twitter.com/gvzbNASYt6 — NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 9, 2020

Martin Truex Jr. would lose sight of both Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick as they pulled away from the field. Hamlin put all kinds of pressure on Harvick in the closing laps of the race. Both cars radioed that they were tight and had trouble in some corners. Hamlin looked as though he was going to pass Harvick, but then he would get tight, and Harvick pulled away. In the end, Kevin Harvick would go on to do something that no driver has done since Richard Petty in 1971, and that was to win back-to-back races taking the Consumer Energy 400 and sweeping the Michigan doubleheader by .093 seconds over Denny Hamlin. With the win, Harvick is now tied with Rusty Wallace for tenth on the all-time wins list with 55 career wins.

The 4️⃣ had 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 enough to hold off the 1️⃣1️⃣. Retweet to congratulate @KevinHarvick on win No. 6 of 2020! pic.twitter.com/tVrsSpv9uH — NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 9, 2020

Martin Truex Jr. would come in third place, Kyle Busch fourth, Joey Logano fifth, Aric Almirola sixth, Matt DiBenedetto seventh, Austin Dillon eighth, Chase Elliott ninth, and Kurt Busch rounded out the top ten. There were nine lead changes from six drivers and five cautions for 24 laps.

Updated playoff standings at follows: Kevin Harvick moves to first place (6 wins), Denny Hamlin second (5 wins), Brad Keselowski third (3 wins), Joey Logano fourth (2 wins), Ryan Blaney fifth (1 win), Chase Elliott sixth (1 win), Martin Truex Jr. seventh (1 win), Alex Bowman eighth (1 win), Austin Dillon ninth (1 win), and Cole Custer tenth (1 win) are locked in the playoffs.

In the playoffs right now are Aric Almirola eleventh, Kyle Busch twelfth, Clint Bowyer thirteenth, Kurt Busch fourteenth, William Byron fifteenth, and Matt DiBenedetto sixteenth. Outside looking in are Erik Jones seventeenth, Jimmie Johnson eighteenth, Tyler Reddick nineteenth, and Christopher Bell twentieth. The NASCAR Cup Series will now travel to Daytona International Speedway for the road course next Sunday for the GoBowling 235 at 3 pm on NBC.

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