Daytona Beach, Fla. – Defending and two-time Busch Series champion Kevin Harvick captured his first career restrictor-plate checkered flag in Saturday’s season-opening Orbitz 300.
Harvick, who started 31st in the second warm-up race for today’s Daytona 500, won for the 10th time in his past 36 Busch races. He won nine races last year, and clinched the title with four races to go, earliest in series history.
One of the few things Harvick had not previously done in Busch was win at Daytona International Speedway or Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, the two venues that slow speeds and even competition with less air in-take allowances.
“The car was great today and I told (the crew), ‘If we get all the way to the front, we’re going to be in really good shape,”‘ said Harvick, who led the final 42 laps for his 27th victory in 167 career Busch starts. “I never had to let off the floor. Just a lot of fun to drive.”
The top 10 finishers will compete in today’s Nextel Cup season opener. Dave Blaney was second, followed by Carl Edwards, Clint Bowyer and Mark Martin. Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished seventh after leading eight laps. Harvick’s winning and only pass came over Earnhardt on lap 78 of the 120-lap event.
Blaney produced the top finish for Toyota, which is making its debut in Nextel Cup and Busch this year.
Toyota has finished first and second in Daytona’s tripleheader weekend. Jack Sprauge won the Craftsman Truck race in a Toyota on Friday night. Four Toyotas made the lineup for today’s big race.
NASCAR rookie Juan Pablo Montoya of Colombia was the race’s top qualifying rookie, starting 16th. But the former Formula One driver retired with engine failure early, shortly after three Cup regulars, veterans Kasey Kahne and Jamie McMurray and rookie David Ragan, crashed out.
