BROOKLYN, Mich. — For Kevin Harvick, a trip to Michigan was just what the doctor ordered.
Harvick won the 2022 FireKeepers Casino 400 on Sunday, his sixth career win at Michigan International Speedway (two wins in 2010, 2018, 2019 and 2020).
The win was his first since September 2020, breaking his winless streak of 65 starts and earning his ticket to the 2022 NASCAR Cup playoffs. Going into the season on Sunday, he only led 13 laps.
But he took the lead on lap 163 on Sunday and didn’t give up.
“Definitely a good time,” Harvick said after the game of his victory over US Network. “Everyone who doubts us doesn’t know us. They know we thrive in this situation.
“A lot has happened today, and we haven’t had a lot this year…today it was clear to me that the baby was hunting.”
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Bubba Wallace, who took pole position for the first time in his career, finished second, finishing in the top 10 for the fourth time in a row. Danny Hamlin, who won Stage 2, finished third, followed by Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney.
Sunday marked Ford’s eighth straight win at MIS (43rd in history), with Ford occupying three spots in the top five.
Toyota (Wallace, Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr.) took the other three spots in the top six, while Chevrolet (Kyle Larson, Eric Jones and Alex Bowser) Mann) ranked seventh to ninth.
Byron’s Erik Jones (eighth) and Rochester Hills’ Brad Keselowski finished 15th, extending the Michigan-born driver’s streak of winning top NASCAR races in MIS.
The game was delayed more than 1.5 hours after a fast but intense rainstorm swept the area around 2.30pm. Harvick is the 15th different winner in the first 23 races of the season — tying a NASCAR record — with three races remaining before the playoffs.
“Coming to Michigan was a great place for us,” Harvick said. “You have to thank the fans who stuck with us during this drought and hopefully we can get back to winning ways soon.”
