Kevin Harvick was on the precipice of a Cook Out Southern 500 win at Darlington. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)
DARLINGTON, S.C. – Kevin Harvick brought home a 19th place finish from his last Southern 500 last Sunday evening.
The Darlington race weekend started off on the right foot for Keven Harvick, with him qualifying seventh in the No. 4 car for Stewart- Haas Racing.
Once the race started, it appeared that Harvick had notable speed and he would possibly be able to contend for the race win. The No. 4 car maintained speed throughout Stage 1, and was even able to gain some track position for a fourth place stage finish.
Throughout Stage two, the Bakersfield, California native showed speed, but lost a bit of track position by the end of the stage, ending with a 12th place finish. Stage 3 appeared to be going very well for Harvick and the No. 4 team, with Harvick driving up to second place by Lap 300
The 2014 Cup Series champion ran into trouble when trying to make a green flag pit stop. On Lap 310 of the 367 lap race, Harvick alongside Tyler Reddick (No. 45), Ryan Newman (No. 51), William Byron (No. 24) and Martin Truex Jr (No. 19) were approaching pit road.
Tyler Reddick hit his brakes trying to make pit road which caused Ryan Newman to run into the rear of Reddick’s car as Harvick entered pit road after it officially closed.
Following the pit road penalty, Kevin Harvick finished 19th at Darlington. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)
The penalty for the No. 4 team was to go to the back of the field, where he took the checkered flag from the 19th position. After the race, Harvick thought the best mindset to leave Darlington with was to just keep putting in the work in search of the results they hope for.
“We’ll just go and put the gas pedal down and do the exact same thing we’ve done for 23 years,” Harvick said.
Darlington is a notoriously difficult racetrack, doubtlessly earning the nickname “Too Tough to Tame.” However, Harvick has had more luck recently racing at Darlington than at many races at the track earlier in his career.
The 47-year-old swept both wins in South Carolina in 2020 alongside a top ten finish in every race at Darlington since 2012, except the September race last year.
Notably, in his 17th playoff appearance, Harvick leaves Darlington two points below the cutline to make it into the next round of the Cup Series Playoffs, behind Bubba Wallace, one point below the cutline.
Kansas Speedway will be Harvick’s next opportunity to make up points, with the No. 4 finishing 11th at Kansas during the spring race earlier this season.
