NASCAR at Atlanta updates: Kevin Harvick wins the race

NASCAR Cup Series racing heads to Atlanta Motor Speedway, where nearly three months ago, the sport canceled its slate of weekend races due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, NASCAR has returned at full speed and is set to hold its sixth return event of the Cup Series season Sunday with the Folds of Honor QuickTrip 500 race.

Shortly before the race, drivers circulated a video on social media of their voices collectively acknowledging nationwide protests against racial injustice and police brutality, saying it’s time to “slow down and reflect.”

“The events of recent weeks highlighted the work we still need to do as a nation to condemn racial inequality and racism,” the video said. “The deaths of George Floyd, Brionna Taylor, Aumad Abery and countless others in the Black community are heartbreaking and can no longer be ignored.”

“We are committed to listening with empathy and with an open heart to better educate ourselves,” the video continued. “We will use this education to advocate for change in our nation, our communities and most importantly, in our own homes even after the headlines go away.”

NASCAR is also expected to hold a moment of reflection before the 500-mile race, which starts at 3 p.m. on FOX. There will be stage breaks on laps 105, 210 and 325. Chase Elliott is starting on the pole.

The Observer is tracking live updates from the race. For the full starting lineup, click here.

FINAL RESULTS

Kevin Harvick took home the title in dominant fashion. Kyle Bush was second, Martin Truex Jr. third and Ryan Blaney fourth.

Here are all the results

STAGE 3

6: 45 PM, LAP 290: Home stretch

With 30 laps to go, Kevin Harvick still leads the race with Martin Truex Jr. hot on his tail. The rest of the top 10 are Kyle Bush, Blaney, Hamlin, Johnson, Bowyer, Elliott, Keselowski and Kurt Busch.

6:23 PM, LAP 267: Harvick and Truex Jr. are one-two

At this point in the race, Kevin Harvick has led 86 laps, the most of any driver. Martin Truex Jr., who won both of the first two stages, has led 65, Clint Bowyer has led 58 and Chase Elliott 26.

Harvick and Truex Jr. are also one and two on the race track at this point, followed by Kyle Busch.

6:03 PM, LAP 223: Fastest laps

Kevin Harvick has turned the fastest lap of the race so far at 171.05 miles per hour. Aric Amirola has the second fastest at 170.74 mph, followed by Chase Elliott (170.72), Martin Truex Jr. (170.25) and Joey Logano (170.21).

Harvick is also leading the race at this point, followed by Kyle Busch and Truex Jr.

STAGE 2

5:47 PM, LAP 211: TRUEX SWEEPS STAGES

The No. 19 driver wins the second stage. He is followed by Blaney, Hamlin, KyBusch, Elliott, Harvick, DiBenedetto, Keselowski, Bowyer, Johnson for points in the top-10. With four laps remaining on the restart, the order was Busch, Truex, Harvick, Blaney and Keselowski. The field ran four-wide with two laps to go and Truex was able to push in front of Busch. Erik Jones, meanwhile, had an issue running in the top-10 but was unable to pit. Jones got caught in the wall by Christopher Bell, causing a tire to go out, according to PRN.

5:41 PM, LAP 202: CAUTION

The fourth caution of the race is called for Michael McDowell, who spins into the infield off a turn. With under 10 laps to go in the second stage, the leaders pit. Just before the caution, Hamlin passed Bowyer to give Joe Gibbs Racing drivers the top three spots. Bowyer dropped down to fourth, but comes off for the restart in third.

“You feel how much you’re abusing those tires,” FOX NASCAR analyst Jeff Gordon said about the Atlanta track. “...(Bowyer) is not loving the grip level and how loose this car is.”

5:31 PM, LAP 185: TRUEX OUT FRONT AGAIN, TEAMMATES NEARBY

Truex Jr. edges back to the lead with under 30 laps left in Stage 2. His teammate Ky Busch follows for second on the same lap, passing Bowyer, while other JGR driver Hamlin is close behind running in the top-five.

5:26 PM, LAP 175: CAN BOWYER CLOSE?

Bowyer’s team tells him to make it to the end of the stage, according to FOX Sports. Truex, Ky. Busch, Hamlin, Harvick and Bowman follow. Bowyer previously had an eight second lead on Truex, but the P2 driver has closed that to under a second. Earlier, Bowyer’s team said it was a right rear tire issue that sent the car to pit road, and tire wear could again become an issue late in the stage.

5:18 PM, LAP 162: BOWYER BACK TO FRONT

Keselowski gets to the front briefly before pitting, but Bowyer cycles back as the race leader after pit stops because he pitted earlier than the rest of the field due to a tire issue. His fuel window looks good, but his tires will wear sooner than others at the stage closes. Wallace previously pitted for four tires and fuel adjustments, and was forced to return to pit road for a loose wheel, according to his Richard Petty Motorsports team.

5:11 PM, LAP 152: TIRE TROUBLE FOR BOWYER

Joe Gibbs Racing leads the top three now after Bowyer pits for tire trouble. “Felt something vibrating and all of a sudden it went,” Bowyer tells his team about the right rear tire coming apart. The No. 14 driver is now a lap down (and would be the free pass car on a caution) as Truex Jr. keeps the lead followed by Hamlin and Ky. Busch. Then its Harvick, Elliott and Johnson.

5:07 PM, LAP 145: CLINT BOWYER HOLDS THE LEAD

Bowyer continues creating distance in P1 ahead of Truex Jr. Bowyer has now led over 100 laps in the early 2020 season, while it took him 31 races to reach that same mark last year, according to Motorsports Beat. Wallace has also had a strong race mostly running between P14 and P16.

4:53 PM, LAP 113: RESTART

On the 113th lap, an American flag-folding ceremony takes place at the speedway as an annual salute to the 13 original colonies. On the track, Truex and Bowyer run side-by-side in an effort to get to the front for clean air. Bowyer pulls out front a few laps later to emerge as the new leader.

STAGE 1

4:40 PM, LAP 106: TRUEX WINS STAGE 1, TOP-10 BATTLES

With six laps to go off the restart, Truex gets to the front and runs away with a stage win. A battle behind him ensues as the field volleys for points. After Truex, the Stage 1 finishing order is Ky Busch, Bowyer, Hamlin, Harvick, Elliott, Stenhouse Jr., Jones, Johnson and Blaney in the top-10.

“Finally got a stage win this year,” Truex Jr. said on the FOX broadcast. “It’s kind of been a snake pit this year I feel like, but the guys have been bringing awesome race cars.”

4:30 PM, LAP 96: CAUTION

John Hunter Nemechek spins out rounding Turn 4, but doesn’t suffer damage. The second caution flag of the race comes out. There are 17 cars on the lead lap, and Matt DiBenedetto gets the free pass. Cars then head to pit road with 10 laps to go in the stage with Harvick and Truex ready to battle for P1 off the restart.

4:25 PM, LAP 86: TRUEX TAKES THE LEAD

With under 20 laps to go in the first stage, Truex passes Harvick for first place by driving on the top groove through the back straightaway. Harvick maintains his speed in second place, but Truex has the momentum as he passes on the inside of Harvick then gets clean air. The order is then Bowyer, Logano, Elliott, Ky. Busch, Reddick, Jones, Blaney and Johnson in the top 10.

4:14 PM, LAP 66: GREEN FLAG PIT STOPS

Truex Jr. takes fresh tires and the lead from Harvick as most of leaders pit under green. But Harvick’s crew makes its fastest pit stop of the season, changing all four tires. Keselowski also takes four new tires, but receives a penalty along with Ryan Newman, sending him to the back on the restart. Ku. Busch briefly runs in first place, going from last to first, before heading to pit road for new tires. After coming off pit road a few laps later, Harvick speeds back up to first place.

4:09 PM, LAP 45: KURT BUSCH MAKING GAINS

After getting the free pass, Ku. Busch has moved up over 17 positions since the last restart. The No. 1 driver settles into a 14th place spot. Cup rookie Tyler Reddick has also been a big mover.

3:57 PM, LAP 37: ANOTHER LEAD CHANGE

Kevin Harvick, running in the top five, moves past Ky. Busch and then passes Logano by taking the inside lane. Harvick gets the clean air and moves ahead by over a second ahead of Martin Truex Jr., who has moved into second. Meanwhile, Byron drops down to P39. Crew chief Chad Knaus tells him “it’s going to be a long day” due to a problem with the left rear tire. Byron responds with an expletive.

3:53 PM, LAP 30: NEW LEADER

Logano and Ky. Busch come off of pit road in first and second, respectively. Ku. Busch gets too fast on pit road Shortly after the restart, William Byron hits the wall rounding Turn 3 and heads to pit road. His No. 24 car has some damage on the right side and right rear. Elliott is still in the top-10 but drops down running between P4-P8.

3:42 PM, LAP 25: COMPETITION CAUTION

Elliott continues to lead the field, and has already started lapping drivers at the back. Ku. Busch, however, kept pace and moves up to the get the free pass. Elliott has led eight of the 10 opening Cup races this season. Last year, the No. 9 driver led only four of the first 10 events.

3:38 PM, LAP 10: GREEN FLAG

The race goes green at 3:32 p.m. with Kurt Busch a lap down. Chase Elliott, the pole-sitter, leads the first 10 laps followed by Logano, Almirola, Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski. Elliott has begun lapping drivers at the back of the field, but Kurt Busch is keeping pace and is in the free pass position. Competition caution coming at Lap 25.

PRE-RACE

3:28 PM: MESSAGE FROM NASCAR PRESIDENT

NASCAR President Steve Phelps addresses the track before teams, crew members and all personnel on site pause: “Our country is in pain and people are justifiably angry demanding to be heard. The Black community and all people of color have suffered in our country and it has taken far too long to hear their demands for change. Our sport must do better. Our country must do better. The time is now to listen, to understand and to stand against racism and racial injustice. We ask our drivers, our competitors and all our fans to join us in this mission, to take a moment of reflection to acknowledge that we must do better as a sport, and join us as we now pause and take a (moment) to listen.”

3:14 PM: ENGINES FIRED

Bubba Wallace is shown on the broadcast wearing an “I Can’t Breathe” #BlackLivesMatter t-shirt and a face mask with an American flag printed on it. Seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson delivers the command to start engines from his car. Atlanta Motor Speedway recently named its grandstand after Johnson to honor his career.

3:08 PM: PRE-RACE CEREMONIES/BROADCAST INCORPORATE DIVERSE VOICES

To start its broadcast, FOX NASCAR recognizes social unrest and racial inequality by sharing a video of Bubba Wallace speaking about those subjects on its RaceHub show from earlier in the week. FOX NASCAR hosts then reflect on the moment.

“I can do better. We can do better,” NASCAR FOX analyst Jeff Gordon said. “We need to step up now, more than we ever have in the past.”

African-American pastor John Dewberry delivers the invocation and 12-year-old Keedron Bryant, whose song “I Just Wanna Live” went viral following the death of George Floyd, performs the national anthem.

3:00 PM: NASCAR PLANS TO RECOGNIZE GEORGE FLOYD AND PROTESTS

NASCAR will recognize the social unrest and the nationwide protests against racial injustice and police brutality, according to the Associated Press pool reporter at the track. Cars will stop on the front stretch before the green flag for a message from NASCAR president Steve Phelps and a 30-second moment of silence to reflect on the murder of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, at the hands of Minnesota police nearly two weeks ago.

2:45 PM: TEAMS TO THE BACK

HOW TO WATCH NASCAR’S FOLDS OF HONOR QUIKTRIP 500

• Race: Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500

• Distance: 500.5 miles, 325 laps (stage breaks on laps 105, 210 and 325)

• Where: Atlanta Motor Speedway

• When: 3:00 p.m. Sunday

• TV: FOX (broadcast starts at 2:30 p.m.)

• Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

• 2019 Race Winner: Brad Keselowski

This story was originally published June 7, 2020 at 2:49 PM.

Alexandra Andrejev

The Charlotte Observer

NASCAR and Charlotte FC beat reporter Alex Andrejev joined The Observer in January 2020 following an internship at The Washington Post. She is a two-time APSE award winner for her NASCAR beat coverage and National Motorsports Press Association award winner. She is the host of McClatchy’s podcast “Payback” about women’s soccer. Support my work with a digital subscription