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Kevin Harvick Takes Two in Michigan

 Kevin Harvick won just about everything he could in a stellar weekend at Michigan International Speedway, although fittingly, Denny Hamlin was the last driver to pressure him.

 

Harvick held off Hamlin on Sunday to complete a doubleheader sweep in the NASCAR Cup Series. He’d also won Saturday’s race, and the two victories gave him six on the season — the most of any driver.

 

Hamlin, who has five victories, nearly chased Harvick down at the very end, and this weekend did nothing to dispel the notion that these two are top contenders for this year’s championship.

 

Hamlin was right behind Harvick for the final few laps and came close to passing him a couple of times, but Harvick stayed in front. Hamlin’s final desperate bid came up short at the end when Harvick crossed the finish line 0.093 seconds ahead.

 

The two Michigan races were pretty similar, with no major incidents through the first two stages.

 

Saturday’s finish was more chaotic with a number of late cautions. On Sunday, there were only three cautions, not including the yellow periods at the end of the first two stages.

 

But one of those cautions Sunday came after a wreck that knocked out two of Team Penske’s stars.

Brad Keselowski’s Ford made contact with Ryan Blaney’s No. 12 car shortly after the start of the final stage, sending the teammates slamming into the wall.

 

That wasn’t enough to ruin the day for Ford, which has now won six straight Cup races at Michigan. Harvick has taken four of the past five.

 

Harvick’s 55th career victory moved him into a 10th-place tie with Rusty Wallace, one behind Busch.

Aric Almirola, Kurt Busch and Kyle Busch remain the top drivers without a win in the points standings with four races left in the regular season.

 

Keselowski has still never won a Cup race in his home state of Michigan. He finished second Saturday in the first of the two races held without fans at MIS.

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