If Keselowski’s fortunes took a body blow on Sunday, the Chase chances of race winner Kevin Harvick made a meteoric move in the opposite direction. In fact, it’s safe to say that Harvick punched his ticket to NASCAR’s playoff with his second victory of the season.
In fact, Harvick’s performance was so strong that, in the post-race news conference, one reporter questioned the wisdom of his announced plan to leave Richard Childress Racing for Stewart-Haas Racing next year, given that the overall performance of the Stewart-Haas cars hasn’t been up to par this season.
“You look at what we’re doing, and we’re focused on this year,” Harvick replied. “We go out and race week to week, do the things that we do to try to win races, win a championship. Whatever happens in the future, we’ll work on some other time. Right now we’re working on winning next week’s race.”
For his part, Childress believes that the team can win a championship, something his organization hasn’t done since Dale Earnhardt claimed the last of his record-tying seven titles in 1994.
“I honestly think RCR is ready to contend for a championship,” said Childress, who currently has two drivers in the top 10, with Harvick in seventh and Paul Menard in eighth.
It’s a long shot to think that Harvick might be the one to deliver a title. Lame-duck drivers simply don’t win championships, no matter how righteous the intentions of the soon-to-be-parted owner and driver might be.
On the other hand, Harvick just might be the exception that proves the rule. He has the grit and the talent to be that guy.
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