Harvick takes Phoenix

AVONDALE, Ariz. - Kevin Harvick won a caution-filled Checker Auto Parts 500 with one race left in NASCAR's Nextel Cup Chase for the Championship. Harvick won a three-lap sprint to the finish following a red-flag caution warning.

Series leader Jimmie Johnson ran second. Johnson has a 63-point lead over Matt Kenseth with one race left in the season. Kenseth finished 13th. If Johnson finishes 12th or better in the finale, he will win the Chase for the Championship

Denny Hamlin ran third followed by pole-sitter Jeff Gordon and Carl Edwards.

Harvick's victory boosts him two spots into third place entering next week's season-ending Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Harvick and Hamlin are 90 points behind Johnson.


Here is the list of finishers from the Checker Auto Parts 500 on the NASCAR Nextel Cup circuit: Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway,Avondale, Ariz.
Lap length: 1 mile
(Starting position in parentheses)

1. (2) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 312, 96.131 mph, $216,825.

2. (29) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 312, $183,275.

3. (22) Denny Hamlin, Chevrolet, 312, $139,800.

4. (1) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 312, $136,125.

5. (12) Carl Edwards, Ford, 312, $120,425.

6. (21) Mark Martin, Ford, 312, $104,725.

7. (11) Kasey Kahne, Dodge, 312, $99,025.

8. (8) Kurt Busch, Dodge, 312, $93,050.

9. (4) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 312, $88,050.

10. (18) Jeff Burton, Chevrolet, 312, $90,500.

11. (3) Brian Vickers, Chevrolet, 312, $83,350.

12. (26) Martin Truex Jr., Chevrolet, 312, $100,608.

13. (10) Matt Kenseth, Ford, 312, $86,700.

14. (23) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 312, $91,550.

15. (7) Ryan Newman, Dodge, 312, $83,125.

16. (13) David Gilliland, Ford, 312, $77,950.

17. (16) Elliott Sadler, Dodge, 312, $76,500.

18. (36) David Stremme, Dodge, 312, $92,233.

19. (5) Joe Nemechek, Chevrolet, 312, $75,775.

20. (35) J.J. Yeley, Chevrolet, 312, $78,350.

21. (41) Tony Raines, Chevrolet, 312, $67,325.

22. (42) Scott Riggs, Dodge, 312, $67,100.

23. (31) Dave Blaney, Dodge, 312, $81,983.

24. (32) Ken Schrader, Ford, 312, $74,625.

25. (34) Kyle Petty, Dodge, 312, $86,458.

26. (17) Casey Mears, Dodge, 312, $74,175.

27. (15) Bobby Labonte, Dodge, 311, $74,050.

28. (24) Ward Burton, Chevrolet, 311, $65,425.

29. (28) Reed Sorenson, Dodge, 310, $70,800.

30. (33) Travis Kvapil, Chevrolet, 310, $72,722.

31. (43) Bill Elliott, Dodge, 309, $62,550.

32. (40) Robby Gordon, Chevrolet, 307, $62,400.

33. (20) Clint Bowyer, Chevrolet, 306, oil iine, $71,225.

34. (6) Greg Biffle, Ford, 306, $82,350.

35. (39) Chad Chaffin, Dodge, 306, $62,025.

36. (30) Sterling Marlin, Chevrolet, 303, $61,875.

37. (25) Jeff Green, Chevrolet, 298, accident, $69,750.

38. (9) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, 291, $79,625.

39. (27) Dale Jarrett, Ford, 289, accident, $69,500.

40. (14) Jamie McMurray, Ford, 272, accident, $80,350.

41. (38) Mike Bliss, Dodge, 262, engine failure, $61,210.

42. (19) Michael Waltrip, Dodge, 234, engine failure, $61,085.

43. (37) Brandon Whitt, Chevrolet, 123, rear end, $61,286.

Time of race: 3 hours, 14 minutes, 44 seconds.

Margin of victory: 0.250 seconds.

Caution flags: 10 for 58 laps.

Lead changes: 12 among 7 drivers.

Lap leaders: J. Gordon 1-3, K. Harvick 4-71, M. Kenseth 72, K. Harvick 73-133, J. Johnson 134-151, S. Marlin 152, J. Johnson 153-161, K. Harvick 162-254, D. Gilliland 255, M. Martin 256-259, J. Johnson 260, M. Martin 261-282, K. Harvick 283-312.

Leaders summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Kevin Harvick 4 times for 252 laps, Jimmie Johnson 3 times for 28 laps, Mark Martin 2 times for 26 laps, Jeff Gordon 1 time for 3 laps, Matt Kenseth 1 time for 1 lap, Sterling Marlin 1 time for 1 lap, David Gilliland 1 time for 1 lap.

Top 10 in Points: 1, J.Johnson, 6,332. 2, M.Kenseth, 6,269. 3, K.Harvick, 6,242. 4, D.Hamlin, 6,242. 5, D.Earnhardt Jr., 6,217. 6, J.Gordon, 6,165. 7, J.Burton, 6,107. 8, M.Martin, 6,059. 9, K.Kahne, 6,013. 10, Ky.Busch, 5,973.

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)