Kevin Harvick clinched his first regular-season title during Sunday’s Cup race at Dover International Speedway. He added to his day by sweeping both stages and winning the race for his series-high seventh victory of the year.
Harvick clinched the title — and the 15 playoff points — with one race left in the regular season.
“With Denny (Hamlin) winning yesterday we needed to win today and we need all the points we can get,” Harvick told NBCSN. “I think as you look at these playoffs you never know what to expect but I know that as we go week to week we will give it all we have and I am just really proud.”
Harvick’s regular-season crown ends the run by Toyota drivers. NASCAR began awarding a regular-season championship in 2017. Martin Truex Jr. won the regular-season crown that year. Kyle Busch has won it past two years.
The regular-season champion has gone on to win the Cup title in the same year in two of the three previous years. Truex won the 2017 Cup title. Busch won the 2019 championship.
The regular-season champion has made it to the championship race each of the previous three years.