Kevin Harvick “Bumps and Runs” to a Win at NASCAR’s “Magic Mile”

Posted on July 23, 2018

The Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway as Kevin Harvick won what could be called a NASCAR thriller Sunday (7/22).

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race was delayed by rain by around three and a half hours due to rain at the track nicknamed the “Magic Mile.” When the race was able to be started drivers and teams had to figure out how their cars would react to the freshly cleaned track due to the rain.

It appeared early that the race would be a contest between Kurt Busch who led the most laps in the race with 94 circuits as the leader and Martin Truex Jr. who was out front for 83 laps including scoring the win in stage 1 of the race. Chase Elliot also looked strong and was able to win stage 2 of the race, his first stage win of the 2018 season.

However, as the race rolled, rubber got put down on the track and strategies played out there were other cars that found themselves in position to win. Kyle Busch was one of those cars. He grabbed the lead following a great pit stop by his crew that put him at the front of the field.

When the race went back to green flag conditions Kevin Harvick started tracking down Kyle. He got to his bumper a few times and tapped Kyle to let him know he was there. Finally, he put the bumper to Kyle again to move him up out of the grove through a turn and took the lead. A move that has long been called the “bump and run” in racing.

Kevin was then able to hold that top position on the track to claim the win. The checkered flag is his second of his career at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and his sixth of the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Kyle Busch held on for a runner-up finish with Aric Almirola scoring a third place finish. Martin Truex Jr. come across the finish line fourth and Chase Elliot rounded out the top five. See the complete race results for the Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 here.

Following the race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway the top four in the point standings remain the same: Kyle Busch (#1), Kevin Harvick (#2), Martin Truex Jr. (#3) and Joey Logano (#4). However, Kurt Busch moved up to take over fifth place in the standings. See the complete Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series point standings here.

Things do not get easier for the teams and drivers this week. NASCAR leaves the “Magic Mile” and heads to the “Tricky Triangle” of Pocono Raceway for the Gander Outdoors 400 Sunday, July 29th.

By: Buck Stevens

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2018 Foxwoods Resort Casino 301

LOUDON, NH - JULY 22: Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Monster Energy/Haas Automation Ford, and Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 5-hour ENERGY/Bass Pro Shops Toyota, lead the field to the green flag to start the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 22, 2018 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
LOUDON, NH - JULY 22: Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Monster Energy/Haas Automation Ford, and Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 5-hour ENERGY/Bass Pro Shops Toyota, lead the field to the green flag to start the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 22, 2018 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com/by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)

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