Harvick Sizzles to Victory in Hotlanta

Kevin “Happy” Harvick  dominated the final stage of the Folds of Honor QuickTrip 400 race Sunday evening to capturd his second win of the 2020 season and his third career Cup win at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

HAMPTON, GA – June 7, 2020 – ANTHONY HOLBROOK

The NASCAR Cup Series abbreviated Race schedule traveled to Hampton, Georgia on Sunday to the Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Folds of Honor QuickTrip 400.  

Continuing cooperation with CVC, no spectators and limited essential personnel only were allowed to attend the event. 

Prior to the race, the 40-car field stopped on the front stretch during pace laps and silenced the engines command from NASCAR president Steve Phelps.  Phelps comments addressed the race field and the nation pledging that NASCAR is sensitive to this country’s current social unrest and committed to improving race relations.

As Qualifying and Practice were dismissed, teams had a random draw for Folds of Honor QuickTrip 500 grid position.  Chase Elliott, who checked off his first win of the season at the Alsco Uniforms 500, received the pole

Folds of Honor Quick Trip 400 Stage 1 Recap:

The No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing driver- Martin Truex Jr. displayed early presence, wrestling the lead away from No. 4 Stuaart-Haas Driver  – Kevin Harvick on Lap 87.

 John Hunter Nemechek‘s misfortune brought out a caution which crushed his day for a competitive showing.

Truex Jr.  set his sights to the front after the restart.  Truex Jr. would keep his challengers at bay after final Stage 1 restart to collect his first stage win of the season.

No. 18 Gibbs racing Driver – Kyle Busch finished behind his JGR teammate for second, followed by No. 14 – Clint Bowyer,  No. 11 – Denny Hamlin and Kevin  Harvick to round out the top five.

Folds of Honor Quick Trip 400 Stage 1 Results

1. Martin Truex Jr.
2. Kyle Busch
3. Clint Bowyer
4. Denny Hamlin
5. Kevin Harvick
6. Chase Elliott
7. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
8. Erik Jones
9. Jimmie Johnson
10. Ryan Blaney

Folds of Honor Quick Trip 400   Stage 2 Recap:

Clint Bowyer Driver of the No. 14 Stuart-Haas Ford paced the field early in Stage 2 only to be interrupted by an unscheduled pit attention.   Bowyer’s pit circulation with the leaders would be off sequence and have his work cut out holding off cars with fresher tires.

With 26 laps remaining in Stage 2 Martin Truex Jr. drove past fading Clint Bowyer to regain the point.  JFG teammate Kyle Busch battled and swapped the lead spot with his Truex Jr. in the closing ciruits.

Finally, Truex Jr. would accelerate past Busch after a Lap 207 restart, holding off an approaching Ryan Blaney in the No. 12 Penske Ford for the runner-up points.

Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin continued the run of JGR cars at the front of the field in third and fourth, respectively, followed by Chase Elliott to round out the top five.

Folds of Honor Quick Trip 400 Stage 2 Results:

1. Martin Truex Jr
2. Ryan Blaney
3. Kyle Busch
4. Denny Hamlin
5. Chase Elliott
6. Kevin Harvick
7. Matt DiBenedetto
8. Brad Keselowski
9. Clint Bowyer
10. Jimmie Johnson

Folds of Honor Quick Trip 400 Final Stage recap:

Continuing to adjust Kevin Harvick’s No. 4 Ford, Birthday Boy Rodney Childers dialed in a perfect set up allowing Kevin Harvick to secure lead on Lap 105.  JGR DriversMartin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch covered Harvick’s rear view mirror.

A final round of Pit Stops with 56 Laps remaining, tightened the field for the final segment.

Harvick would led 151 of 325 laps, including the final 56 Laps.  The No. 4 Ford crossed the checkers nearly four seconds in front of second place winner Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. whom finished in the sandbox.

Showing patronage to his mentor, Kevin Harvick saluted Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s legacy in his victory lap parade.

Folds of Honor Quick Trip 400 Final Stage Results

The NASCAR CUP SERIES next race is the Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500, scheduled Wednesday (7 p.m. ET,  FSI,  MRN SirisXM) at Martinsville Speedway.