Kevin Harvick’s bid for a second NASCAR Cup Series championship in 2020 has come to an end. Chase Elliott clinched victory at Sunday’s Martinsville race, securing his spot in the championship race set for November 8 in Phoenix.
On the final lap, Harvick attempted a bold move to pass Kyle Busch for ninth place by spinning him out in the final corner but ended up crashing himself, finishing 17th instead. As Harvick himself admitted, he made a desperate attempt to get past Busch but it didn’t pay off. This marks the first time since 2016 that Harvick hasn’t reached the final race, and although he won the Series High 9 race, he won’t finish higher than fifth this season.
Elliott entered Sunday’s race needing a win, trailing Brad Keselowski by 25 points for the last championship spot. He secured the win after overtaking Martin Truex Jr. on lap 44 and maintaining a lead of over 6.5 seconds after Truex had to pit due to car vibrations. Truex, along with Alex Bowman, Kurt Busch, and Harvick, were all eliminated from playoff contention.
Elliott’s pit crew, led by Jackman TJ Semke, played a crucial role in saving the win despite an early pit stop infraction for too many crew members on the wall. Semke corrected his mistake by backing off the pit wall before Elliott’s car reached the stall, which by NASCAR rules nullified the penalty, allowing Elliott to stay on track. Without this, Elliott would have had to restart at the back, effectively ruining his chances to win and reach the championship.
This win gives Elliott his first shot at the NASCAR title after being eliminated in the third round for the past three seasons. It also marks the first time since 2016 that Hendrick Motorsports has a car in the Final Four championship race, breaking a three-year drought compared to dominant teams like Joe Gibbs Racing, Team Penske, and Stewart-Haas Racing. The four drivers left in the championship fight now include one Joe Gibbs Racing car (Denny Hamlin), one Hendrick Motorsports car (Elliott), and two Team Penske cars (Keselowski and Joey Logano).
With Harvick out of the competition, the championship battle is wide open. Hamlin, who won the Phoenix race last fall, Logano, who took the spring Phoenix win, and Keselowski, one of the fastest drivers on short tracks, remain strong contenders, while Elliott adds versatility with wins on road courses, intermediate, and short tracks. Had Harvick advanced, he would have been a favorite, but now one of these four drivers will take the title.
The Martinsville race results were as follows:
1. Chase Elliott
2. Ryan Blaney
3. Joey Logano
4. Brad Keselowski
5. Kurt Busch
6. Alex Bowman
7. Aric Almirola
8. Clint Bowyer
9. Kyle Busch
10. Matt DiBenedetto
… (remaining positions omitted for brevity)
Fan Take: This race was a pivotal moment for NASCAR, signaling a shift in the championship landscape as a fresh contender in Chase Elliott moves into the spotlight. With Harvick out of the mix and a diverse group of finalists, fans can expect an exciting and unpredictable finale that could redefine the sport’s competitive hierarchy.
