Harvick happy in scoring first Sprint Cup Championship

HOMESTEAD, FL - Kevin Harvick celebrated his first career Sprint Cup title on Sunday night after winning the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway and emerging as the highest finishing driver among the four surviving Chase for the Sprint Cup contenders, ending an incredible run that saw him come from behind to win pivotal races in the second and third elimination rounds to keep in season alive.<br /> <br /> On Sunday, with the title nearly slipping away, he showed the poise and determination of a champion as fought his way back to the front of the field to finally hoist the championship trophy that had eluded him for 13 years.<br /> <br /> Finding himself in sixth place with 10 laps to go, Harvick roared up the middle and back to the lead in just two laps and held off Ryan Newman for the victory - and the championship, beating out Newman, Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano.<br /> <br /> "I'm just really excited. It's really special for everybody. I'm really happy. I've been trying to win this for 13 years. This new format has been stressful, but the racing has been phenomenal," Harvick said.<br /> <br /> Sunday night's season-ending drams was the culmination of NASCAR's latest twist in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, NASCAR's version of the playoffs on route to crowning a championship - a new elimination-style format involving 16 drivers, with four drivers cut from the championship field after each three-race "round".<br /> <br /> NASCAR had hoped the new format would add a new element into the Chase, emphasizing winning and competition, and hopefully add a little drama.<br /> <br /> And drama they got.<br /> <br /> Besides the furious battles on the track and the equally furious post-race brawls in the races leading up to the finale, Sunday's race delivered exactly what NASCAR wanted

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