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KEVIN HARVICK – 2018 The Clash Race Report

Event:               Advance Auto Parts Clash (non-points race)
Series:               Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Location:          Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway (2.5-mile oval)
Format:             75 laps, broken into two segments of 25 laps and 50 laps
Start/Finish:      9th/9th (Running, completed 75 of 75 laps) 
Race Winner:    Brad Keselowski of Team Penske (Ford)

SHR Finish:     

  • Kurt Busch (Started 14th, Finished 3rd / Running, completed 75 of 75 laps)
  • Kevin Harvick (Started 9th, Finished 9th / Running, completed 75 of 75 laps)

Notes:              

  • Harvick started ninth, but dropped to 12th in the opening laps.
  • The race ran under the green flag until the mandatory caution on lap 25.
  • The No. 4 Busch Beer Ford Fusion stayed out and finished first in the first segment.
  • Harvick pitted on lap 26 and began the final segment in 11th.
  • Harvick raced in ninth when the race’s only unplanned caution fell at lap 33 for Jamie McMurray’s accident.
  • The No. 4 Busch Beer team pitted again on lap 35 under caution.
  • Harvick fell out of the draft on lap 45 dropping from fifth to 15th.
  • Harvick never returned to the front of the field and finished ninth after avoiding a last-lap wreck.
  • Field was comprised of 2017 pole winners, former Clash winners, former Daytona 500 pole winners and 2017 playoff participants. A random draw determined starting positions.

Kevin Harvick, Driver of the No. 4 Busch Beer Ford Fusion for Stewart-Haas Racing: 

What did you learn today? “I just got myself in a couple bad spots by making moves and trying to do some things I didn’t need to be doing in a single-file race. It’s one of those things where I got myself in a bad spot, got up toward the front and then got shuffled back. I got to the back and tried to start playing around with things to try and make some progress. I went to pull up on the next to last car and I slowed down so much that I lost the draft. I just made a mistake.”

Next Up:

The Can-Am Duel – twin 150-mile races which will set the Daytona 500 field – takes place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 15 with live coverage on FS1. Speedweeks at Daytona then culminates with the Daytona 500 at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 18, with live coverage provided by FOX beginning with its pre-race show at 1 p.m.