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Sonoma victory is special for Kevin Harvick

 
Published June 26, 2017

SONOMA, Calif. — Kevin Harvick led a 1-2-3 podium sweep for Ford while proving that veteran experience still counts for something in NASCAR.

Harvick returned to victory lane for the first time this season with a dominating run in Sunday's Toyota/Save Mart 350 on the road course at Sonoma Raceway. Harvick came to Sonoma winless in 20 races since Kansas last fall and has been overshadowed in this season of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup's young new stars.

But at a track where experience and ability can separate the field, Harvick and a bunch of veterans led the way.

It was the first win on the winding wine country road course in 17 tries for the Bakersfield, Calif., driver.

"To finally check this one off the list … being so close to home and having raced here so much, this was one that was on the top of the list," Harvick said.

Harvick was on cruise control and conserving fuel in the race that ended under caution after Kasey Kahne had a hard accident on the final lap. Harvick had a cozy nine-second lead over Stewart-Haas teammate Clint Bowyer before the caution.

Bowyer, the driver for the entry that Tony Stewart used for his final NASCAR victory last year at the track, was second and Brad Keselowski third as Ford cars went 1-2-3.

Martin Truex Jr. led 25 laps but suffered an engine failure and finished 37th.

FORMULA ONE: Daniel Ricciardo profited from chaos to win the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku. Ricciardo secured his fifth career win, and Valtteri Bottas overtook 18-year-old Lance Stroll on the last lap to take second place. While behind a safety car, Lewis Hamilton, who was in the lead, appeared to slow in front of Sebastian Vettel, causing Vettel to drive into him. Vettel then accelerated alongside Hamilton and appeared to deliberately swerve back into him. Vettel was given a 10-second penalty. "Ultimately, what happened today was disrespectful. It's not deserving of that reaction from someone you have respect for," Hamilton said.

INDYCAR: Scott Dixon won the Kohler Grand Prix at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis., edging Josef Newgarden by 0.57 seconds, his first victory at the course. Dixon's 41st career victory moved him within one of tying Michael Andretti for third.

NHRA: Steve Torrence raced to his fourth Top Fuel victory of the season, beating Doug Kalita in the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio. Jack Beckman won in Funny Car, Bo Butner in Pro Stock and LE Tonglet in Pro Stock Motorcycle.