Harvick wins; Jr. makes Chase

Associated Press

RICHMOND, Va.

Kevin Harvick snapped out of his slump in time to storm into the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.

Harvick picked up his fourth win of the season Saturday night by winning at Richmond International Raceway. The victory ties Kyle Busch for most in the Sprint Cup Series, and puts the two rivals at the top of the Chase standings.

The 10-race Chase begins next Sunday at Chicago. The field will include Dale Earnhardt Jr., who will race for the championship for the first time since 2008.

But Earnhardt making the 12-driver field was no gimmee: He struggled most of Saturday night and limped into the Chase with a 16th-place finish.

An enormous American flag rippled in the breeze as it hung from a fully extended crane on the frontstretch of Richmond International Raceway for hours before Saturday night’s race.

The flag served as a patriotic backdrop while police and military bands performed as part of a pre-race “Salute to America” concert to honor the military and first responders on the eve of the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Fans were given small American flags as they entered the track, and several drivers did away with their traditional sponsor paint schemes to race in patriotic colors.

Kyle Busch’s Toyota, which normally features images of his sponsor, m&ms, was painted to look like an American flag, and had the words “9-11. Never Forget” across the back.