NASCAR: Look out for Kevin Harvick this weekend at Richmond

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series travels to Richmond for race number two of the 2018 playoffs. The best thing to do: stay out of Kevin Harvick’s way.

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick has held the nickname “Happy Harvick” for several years. However, last weekend, Harvick was definitely not happy when his day was ended shortly after an early crash to open up the first race of the 2018 playoffs at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Fortunately, he was able to pad a nice cushion from stage and race wins throughout the season to stay well above the round of 12 cut line, but he doesn’t care about that.

Even a happy Harvick is intimidating on the race track. This weekend at Richmond Raceway, the best thing for opponents to prepare for is a little road rage from the driver of the #4 Stewart-Haas Ford. He’s fired up at playoff time, which is a great time to be fired up. He already owns seven trophies from wins in 2018 and he is my pick as the man to beat on Saturday night in the Federated Auto Parts 400.

I would best describe Harvick as that one friend who you are always cautious to invite to a night out, that one friend who you never really know what type of mood he is going to be in and what type of ruckus he may cause. It could be a quiet night out with laughs or a night in jail after he goes a little too far with the things he says after getting bumped at the bar.

Still the man to beat

More from NASCAR Cup Series

Either way you look at it, as a member of the “big three”, Harvick is still one of the favorites to win the championship in at Homestead-Miami Speedway in mid-November. When the playoffs began and even to this day I picture the championship coming down to a last-lap battle between Harvick and Kyle Busch.

Harvick was fortunate enough to take seven wins and 12 stage wins into the playoffs. His cushion after his Las Vegas crash still has him 38 points above the round of 12 line with two races to go in the round 16. The likelihood of him missing out on the round of 12 is not very high, but a couple more early exits could change that.

I am not sure if there is any way to scientifically back up the thought that an angry race car driver tends to be a better race car driver. However, there are very few drivers I would choose over Harvick when he’s in a bad mood. He’s in a comfortable spot to still have trouble and make it into the round of 12. Once he gets to the round if 12, he will go to Dover International Speedway, where he won earlier this year, Talladega Superspeedway, where he finished in fourth place earlier this year, and then Kansas Speedway, where he also won earlier this year.

dark. Next. Top 10 NASCAR drivers of all-time

Kevin Harvick has had quite the season so far by winning seven races. With his poor start and obvious frustration to begin the playoffs, look out for him to be on a mission this weekend at Richmond Raceway in the Federated Auto Parts 400.

Home/NASCAR Cup Series