The 2018 Winston Cup Series: A statement win for Harvick

Kevin Harvick celebrates his 40th career win, in the Ticket Guardian 500 at ISM Raceway

     Kevin Harvick has done it again, this time at his signature track. Harvick fought off the likes of Chase Elliott and Kyle Busch at ISM Raceway, to win his third straight race of 2018... It's the first time since 2015 a Cup series driver has won 3-in-a-row, and the first time since 1991 a driver over 40 has done it.
     It was a statement win for the #4 team in many ways. A major storyline this past week was the penalty issued to Harvick's team after his win at Las Vegas. Harvick was docked 20 points, and all playoff points from Las Vegas, due to a rear window issue. A rear window brace reportedly failed, causing the window to fold inward at full speed. Whether or not this caused an advantage, Harvick was penalized. But that didn't stop him from showing up the same way, and taking the checkered flag at Phoenix... Harvick even gave his window a symbolic slap after the race, this time keeping its intended shape...

Harvick burns it down after his win at ISM Raceway. He led 38 laps en route to his 9th win at the track.

     Rounding out the top-5 were Kyle Busch, Elliott, Denny Hamlin, and Martin Truex Jr... Aric Almirola had another impressive run, finishing 7th. Paul Menard had the race's sole accident, with a single-car crash on lap 192. Aside from a fairly dull Stage 1 and 2... the race featured a long green flag run to the finish, and a great battle for the lead between Harvick, Busch, and Elliott... Ryan Newman tried to stretch his pit cycle and wait for a caution, but finally surrendered the lead with about 20 laps to go and finished 11th. After two wide open races at Atlanta and Las Vegas, Phoenix proved much more fun to watch. Harvick practically coasted to victory the last two weeks, but this time he had to earn it.

     Here's a look at the updated classic standings after the first 4 races... Hamlin has had the most consistent start, leading Truex Jr. by three points, and Kyle Busch by seven. Harvick is tied for 6th after his 20-point penalty at Las Vegas, otherwise he would be on top. Almirola and Austin Dillon have both had nice starts to the season, and are both in the top-10... To find a Hendrick driver, you have to go back to 13th, where Alex Bowman currently sits. His teammates, William Byron, Elliott, and Jimmie Johnson sit 18th, 19th, and 25th.

The final race at Phoenix to feature the original layout, with the start-finish line on the frontstretch.

     Up next, the Cup drivers head to California, for the Auto Club 400... For me, Kyle Larson is an easy favorite. He's won the last four races at the 2-mile oval tracks, Michigan and California, which are nearly identical (including three straight at Michigan). Look for him to dominate this coming Sunday, unless Harvick makes it four in a row...