MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Kevin Harvick was on cruise control all season long, the most dominant driver in NASCAR, coasting into the championship round with a comfortable cushion that left plenty of room for error.
That’s how it was supposed to play out, at least, after Harvick won a Cup series-high nine races and the regular-season title.
Then his nearly perfect season came to a spinning and sudden halt Sunday when a mediocre run bounced Harvick from the playoffs in a stunning upset at Martinsville Speedway.
Chase Elliott won the high-stakes race to earn his first career berth in the championship four.