Kevin Harvick suffered a tire failure early at Dover. Fortunately for he and his Stewart-Haas Racing team, he was one of two Chase for the Sprint Cup drivers that could actually afford a mistake.
That’s not to say that Harvick and company were thrilled with the setback.
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On Lap 33 on Sunday, Harvick’s Chevrolet was smoking on the track at Dover International Speedway.
That's a lot of smoke coming from @KevinHarvick 's car! #TheChase pic.twitter.com/flgm0EQNJ1
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 2, 2016
He headed to the garage shortly thereafter.
All hands are on deck to fix the track bar mount on the No. 4 @jimmyjohns Chevy @MonsterMile . #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/7kb8xOAn5K
— Stewart-Haas Racing (@StewartHaasRcng) October 2, 2016
Still, after a dismal opening race at Chicagoland, Harvick was in the lower quadrant of the Chase entering last weekend’s race. He rallied with the win at New Hampshire last Sunday — something that made his run at Dover have no impact on his ability to advance to the Chase’s next round.
Martin Truex Jr., winner of the first Chase race, is also already safely into the second round. The rest are fighting for one of the 12 spots in the next round; four will be eliminated at the end of the Dover race.
A year ago, Harvick’s fortunes were significantly different at Dover. He entered the race in a must-win situation — and did just that to advance to the second round of the Chase.
Harvick won the 2014 title and finished as runner-up to Kyle Busch last season.
Kyle Larson, who entered the race 12th in the Chase, also had early problems, falling a lap down and then suffering a pit-road penalty that put him further behind.
Harvick returned to the track on Lap 79, in 40th place and 43 laps off the pace.