The Latest: Kevin Harvick takes 1st stage at Michigan

By Associated Press AP

PUBLISHED 1:59 PM ET May. 09, 2019

BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) — The Latest on the NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway (all times local):

5:45 p.m.

Kevin Harvick has won at Michigan International Speedway, giving him a NASCAR-high seven victories this season.

His No. 4 Ford finished 3-plus seconds ahead of Brad Keselowski's No. 2 Ford on Sunday.

Kyle Busch, who started Sunday with the points lead, finished third in his No. 18 Toyota. Austin Dillon, in the No. 3 Chevrolet, was fourth followed by Ryan Blaney's No. 12 Ford.

Martin Truex Jr., the third driver in NASCAR's Big 3 with Harvick and Busch, was 14th in the 40-car field in his No. 78 Toyota.

Busch has won six races this year and Truex has finished in first four times. The rest of the field has combined to win just six of 23 races.

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4:40 p.m.

Kevin Harvick has won his second straight stage at Michigan International Speedway, leading Kyle Busch after 120 of 200 laps at the Consumer Energy 400.

Ryan Blaney was third, followed by Kurt Busch and Austin Dillon.

Martin Truex Jr. was running with the leaders before running out of gas and going into the pits, which were closed. He was penalized for an uncontrollable tire and pushed to the back of the 40-car field.

Harvick took the lead from Truex on Lap 109.

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3:45 p.m.

Kevin Harvick has won the first stage of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway.

It was the season-high 11th stage win for Harvick.

Points leader Kyle Busch was second following 60 of the 200-lap Consumers Energy 400 on Sunday.

Ryan Blaney was third. Martin Truex Jr., the third member of the Big 3 behind Busch and Harvick, recovered from an early collision with William Byron to climb back to fifth place. Pole sitter Denny Hamlin was sixth.

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3:15 p.m.

The Consumers Energy 400 is underway with Denny Hamlin leading the field to the green flag for the second straight week.

Hamlin, driving the No. 11 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, finished 13th in last week's race at Watkins Glen.

Points leader Kyle Busch moved to the front on Sunday after two caution flags slowed the first stage of the race.

Four cars were sent to the back of the 40-car pack for the start of the 200-lap race on the 2-mile oval.

David Ragan and Blake Jones were pushed back for making transmission changes. Ross Chastain had to begin in the back because Reed Sorensen qualified the No. 15 Chevrolet. And Joey Logano was penalized at the start for an unapproved adjustment to a front shock.

Erik Jones started fourth, but his No. 20 Toyota spun out after coming out of Turn 4 to bring out a caution flag with fewer than 10 laps completed.

Soon after a restart, William Byron's No. 24 Chevrolet got loose and made side-by-side contact with Martin Truex Jr. to bring out another caution flag.

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