Kevin Harvick continues hot streak

Kevin Harvick took a streak of six top two finishes in a row to Phoenix and walked out with a seventh.  The number four team found itself in victory lane on Sunday Morning after battling numerous numerous cautions and the hot Phoenix sun all day.

Harvick was followed by Jamie McMurray and Ryan Newman closing out the top three.  Newman, much like Harvick, has been very consistent this season, finishing the last two races in third position and now advancing to 8th in the points standings in line for a playoff spot.  Don’t worry, we know that the season is just four races over.

The race was lead for the most part by Kevin Harvick, who did not nail his restarts, but was progressively faster on long runs.  However, the long green flag runs were not seen very often.  Ten caution flags flew during Sundays race, five of them in the last 100 laps.  This kept the race interesting, but in the end, Harvick drove off for the W.

Going back to the points standings, we have seen some rather big surprises in the race for the Chase.  Filling the 3, 4, and 5 spots are Martin Truex Jr, Kasey Kahne, and AJ Allmendinger.  Those three drivers combined for one win in 2014, Allmendinger’s upset victory at Watkin’s Glen.

NSCS Points Standings
As of Daytona
Pos.	Driver (Wins)		Pts.	Behind
1	Kevin Harvick (2)		182	0
2	Joey Logano (1)		160	22
3	Dale Earnhardt Jr. (1)		126	56
4	Martin Truex Jr.		155	27
5	Kasey Kahne		132	50
6	AJ Allmendinger		127	55
7	Jimmie Johnson		124	58
8	Ryan Newman		123	59
9	Brad Keselowski		116	66
10	Matt Kenseth		113	69
11	Paul Menard		112	70
12	Casey Mears		111	71
13	Denny Hamlin		108	74
14	Aric Almirola		105	77
15	Clint Bowyer		101	81
16	Greg Biffle		101	81
Playoff Cut Line
17	Kyle Larson		98	84
18	David Ragan		98	84
19	Jamie McMurray		97	85
20	David Gilliland		92	90
21	Carl Edwards		88	94
22	Austin Dillon		88	94

Of those, Martin Truex might be the most impressive. The single car team based out of Colorado has finished in the top ten every race this season, a feat that only series leaders Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano have accomplished this season.  Truex averages a P20 finish at Auto Club Speedway, but has grabbed three top tens in his career there.

Upcoming NSCS Events
Date	Event		Track
Mar. 22	Auto Club 400		Auto Club Speedway
Mar. 29	STP 500		Martinsville Speedway
Mar. 15	Duck Commander 500		Texas Motor Speedway
Mar. 22	Food City 500		Bristol Motor Speedway