NASCAR
Kevin Harvick Eyes 10th Win at Phoenix, is he Still the Cactus King?
At ISM Raceway in Phoenix, the conversation is usually Kevin Harvick versus the field. Harvick has 9 wins at the desert mile, and looks for win number 10 this weekend. With such a successful history in Phoenix, can the cactus king be kept out of victory lane? The stats favor Harvick, but there’s no guarantees in racing.
In 32 starts at ISM Raceway, Kevin Harvick has 9 wins, which is an all-time record at this track. Harvick also leads all drivers at Phoenix in laps led, as well as in top 5s. The Catcus King has reigned supreme at ISM despite switching teams in 2014, and also switching manufacturers in 2017. Harvick has won the spring Phoenix race 4 previous times, including last year. If Harvick has to go anywhere needing a victory, Phoenix would be at the top of his list.
If Harvick can secure the victory this weekend in Phoenix, he would join an exclusive club. Harvick’s 10 wins at Phoenix would be just the 10th time a single driver has double-digit wins at a single track. Jimmie Johnson’s 10th Dover win in 2015 is the most recent addition to this list.
However great Harvick’s Phoenix stats are, he has not been as dominant recently. In the past 5 ISM races, Harvick only has a lone win, along with just 111 laps led. In spite of this, none of those races saw the cactus king finish worse than 6th. While Harvick may not dominate on Sunday, he still has to be thought of as a favorite for the win.
Can Anyone Topple the Cactus King?
With this amazing history going for him, who exactly can challenge the cactus king in his domain? Vegas oddsmakers have Kyle Busch listed as an equal bet along with Harvick. In the past 13 Phoenix races, Busch has 11 top 10s, including a win last November. In that same span however, Harvick has 7 wins at ISM Raceway. Harvick and Busch are the 2 favorites for Sunday by a wide margin, so expect both of them to be up front on Sunday.
On Sunday, Kevin Harvick will eye his 10th win at ISM Raceway, rolling off from the 8th position. The cactus king has been undefeated at Phoenix previously, but he looks as human now as ever before. Look out for Busch, Logano, Keselowski, and the rest of the Cup Series to take the battle to him for the victory.
