When does letting off the gas mean going to the front in NASCAR? When you’re name is Dale Earnhardt, Jr. While Kevin Harvick let 272 of the 400 laps at Richmond International Speedway last night, the Budweiser Number 8 was able to pull out the victory after consistently pressuring the leader with clean, yet aggressive driving.
Everyone at the Nextel Cup’s Crown Royal 400 knew that Harvick was the driver to beat. With 100 laps to go, Harvick pretty much had the win in the bag. His lead was steadily increasing as he repeatedly caught up to the back of the pack following numerous cautions. At lap 325, though, his lead had diminished enough for Dale Earnhardt, Jr., rookie Denny Hamlin, and Kyle Busch to surround him and, eventually, overtake him. But it wasn’t Earnhardt, who made the pass. After countless attempts to past the leader, he had conceded the win to him and dropped back to give the other guys a chance.
As Kyle Busch took the lead and Harvick dropped back to 4th, Earnhardt saw that his gamble had paid off: he was in perfect position to pass both Hamlin and Busch. He was able to hold off both of the drivers to collect his 17th win – the 1st since last year at Chicago.
Sometimes braking can make you the fastest car on the track. Who knew?
