Budweiser Shootout 2010 : Winner Kevin Harvick

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida - Kevin Harvick overcame flu and even a wrecked race car to earn his second consecutive victory in the exhibition Budweiser Shootout 2010 on Saturday night.

Kevin Harvick was too ill to travel to Daytona International Speedway for the opening of Speedweeks, so he turned his Chevrolet over to Richard Childress Racing teammate Clint Bowyer for the first practice of the season. Unfortunately Clint Bowyer was caught in an accident that destroyed the No. 29 and forced the team to field Kevin.

Although he led late, a caution for Michael Waltrip’s wreck with five laps remaining muddled what was shaping up to be a sure win. Greg Biffle and Kasey Kahne stayed on the track during the caution, and Harvick led most of the 24-car field onto pit road.

He was in fourth when the race restarted with two laps to go, but quickly pulled out of line to dive underneath Biffle and claim the lead. He was pulling away when Jeff Gordon rammed into the back of Biffle, triggering an eight-car accident behind the leader.

NASCAR waited several moments before calling caution, presumably to see if the wreckage cleared and the race could end under green. Instead, Harvick passed under the yellow flag and won under caution.

“I’ve got to thank my team,” Harvick said. “They did a great job”

It was Kevin Harvick’s first victory since his Shootout win last year.

Kasey Kahne was second and followed by Jamie McMurray, Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin. Overall it was an uneventful but enjoyable race.

Source: AP News: Harvick wins Budweiser Shootout under caution for 2nd consecutive exhibition victory