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Harvick Takes Vegas Kobalt Tools 400

Defending Sprint Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick continues to be on a roll after winning Sunday's Kobalt Tools 400 in dominating fashion at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Harvick started 18th and took the lead for the first time on lap 91 when then leader Jimmie Johnson, who won last weekend at Atlanta, had to pit unexpectedly for a loose wheel. Harvick ran in front for 142 of the 267 laps in this race, including the final 16. He crossed the finish line 1.64 seconds ahead of his closest competitor, Martin Truex Jr. It's the first time he's won at this 1.5-mile racetrack in 15 starts.

 width=Truex had his best finish in a Sprint Cup race at second. Ryan Newman finished third, while Denny Hamlin placed fifth.

A.J. Allmendinger, Brad Keselowski, who won last year's race at Las Vegas, Kyle Larson, Matt Kenseth and Logano completed the top-10.

Jeff Gordon was the last driver to finish either first or second in six consecutive races, accomplishing the feat in 1996.

With the win, Harvick is virtually guaranteed of making this year's Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. He joins Joey Logano (Daytona) and Johnson (Atlanta) as those drivers who have all but assured themselves a spot in the playoffs.

Harvick also grabbed the lead in the Sprint Cup point standings. He holds a nine-point advantage over Dale Earnhardt Jr., who finished fourth.

Las Vegas began a three-week West Coast swing for NASCAR's premier series. Next weekend, the series will be at Phoenix, where Harvick has won four of the last five races, including a season-sweep last year. Fontana, California is the following week.

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