Kevin Harvick found victory in the Real Heroes 400 at Darlington Raceway earning his 50th win in the series.
Brad Keselowski would start on the pole based upon a random draw. Kyle Busch would have to drop to the back due to failing inspection twice.
As the field took the green flag, trouble would strike early as Ricky Stenhouse Jr. crashed off Turn 2, knocking the No. 47 out of the race early on.
Keselowski would remain unchallenged before a competition caution on Lap 30 would bunch the field back up. Alex Bowman would surge to the front, passing the No. 2. Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jimmie Johnson and William Byron followed right behind the No. 88.
As tire wear kicked in, some drivers would march their way forward. Denny Hamlin would catch Byron, while Johnson would inherit the race lead over Bowman. Johnson’s lead would be short-lived.
On the final lap of the first stage, Johnson would try to lap Chris Buescher but the two collided off Turn 2, putting Johnson into the inside wall. After Johnson’s wreck, Byron would win Stage One. Hamlin, Bowman and Harvick would round out the rest of the top five while Keselowski, Aric Almirola, Clint Bowyer, Tyler Reddick, Ryan Newman, and Chase Elliott would round the rest of the top 10.
Harvick would beat the leaders off pit lane, launching the No. 4 to the front. Elliott and Ryan Newman were penalized for speeding on pit road.
On the restart to begin Stage Two Harvick would hold off Bowman to keep the race lead. Byron would smack the Turn 3 wall, and with an injured car would later spin into Turn 1 to bring out the yellow.
Harvick would once again lead the field to the green with Kurt Busch and Bowman rounding out the Top 3. Daniel Suarez spun out on Lap 124 due to a right rear tire going down, creating the fifth caution of the day.
Kyle Busch hit the wall, giving the No. 18 substantial damage to the right side.
Parts of the Turn 3 banner would fly onto Hamlin’s car but he shortly got it off the front of his grille by drafting Bowyer. However, Reddick would have the remnants of the banner fly onto his Chevy. A yellow would fly due to the loose Blue-Emu wrapping on the Turn 3 wall.
Harvick led on the restart with a push from Martin Truex Jr.
On Lap 172 Christopher Bell would spin off Turn 4 to bring out another yellow. Keselowski inherited the race lead after pit stops while Harvick would lose seven positions on pit lane.
Keselowski would win Stage Two with Bowman, Truex, Harvick, and Bowyer rounding the top five. Kurt Busch, Ryan Preece, Joey Logano, Hamlin, and Erik Jones would round out the top 10.
The No. 2 would bring the field together to begin the final stage with Bowman and Truex in hot pursuit. Matt Kenseth’s car would come to life as the No. 42 would move upward into the top 10. Buescher would spin out on the front stretch to bring out the caution.
Harvick would win the race off pit road with Keselowski and Truex behind him.
During the green flag stint, Kyle Busch had issues with his M&M’s Toyota, bringing the car down pit lane, knocking him out of a top 10 spot.
With 41 laps to go Newman would spin out in Turn 1 to bring out another yellow.
The No. 4 would continue to hold his ground on the rest of the field and there would be no challenges from the opposition as Harvick would cruise on to win at Darlington.
Results:
- Kevin Harvick
- Alex Bowman
- Kurt Busch
- Chase Elliott
- Denny Hamlin
- Martin Truex Jr.
- Tyler Reddick
- Erik Jones
- John Hunter Nemechek
- Matt Kenseth
- Austin Dillon
- Aric Almirola
- Brad Keselowski
- Matt DiBenedetto
- Ryan Newman
- Ryan Blaney
- Clint Bowyer
- Joey Logano
- Ty Dillon
- Ryan Preece
- Bubba Wallace
- Cole Custer
- Michael McDowell
- Christopher Bell
- Daniel Suarez – one lap down
- Kyle Busch – one lap down
- Brennan Poole – one lap down
- JJ Yeley – two laps down
- Reed Sorenson – two laps down
- Joey Gase – four laps down
- Corey LaJoie – four laps down
- Chris Buescher – six laps down
- Timmy Hill – seven laps down
- Josh Bilicki – seven laps down
- William Byron – 14 laps down
- Quin Houff – OUT
- Garrett Smithley – OUT
- Jimmie Johnson – OUT
- BJ McLeod – OUT
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – OUT
