Kevin Harvick wins the Kroger 250 adding to his clock collection

Credit: Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images for NASCAR
The NASCAR Camping World Truck series was back on the track for the first time since Daytona, and today’s Kroger 250 was off to a rainy start. Qualifying was pushed back after the drivers meeting and pre-race was rushed after Cup qualifying completed. But after all that, finally the Trucks were back racing. 

Kevin Harvick set numerous records today in his No. 2 Tide Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing; he won the pole, led 248 laps, and to top it off, he won the race. It’s the highest all time lap led in the CWTS; Mike Skinner held the previous record of 246 laps at Martinsville from March 31, 2007.

Of note, this was the fourth race Harvick won from the pole and it marks his 14th victory in 118 career races in the truck series. It’s also his first truck win with his boss Richard Childress.

Harvick's teammate, Ty Dillon, started in second and finished second in his No. 3 Bass Pro Chevrolet. This is his first top-10 finish at Martinsville, and second of 2012. Dillon also was the highest finishing rookie.

Teamwork played a role in the two sweeping the top row for starts and finishes. Harvick asked his spotter to relay a message to Dillon’s spotter, passing on the message that he was running at about 80 percent of his truck's potential. "Tell him not to burn his stuff up [trying to catch us]," Harvick said.

"I knew we had a little bit better truck than what they had but I didn’t want him to get hung on the outside," Harvick said after the race. "They’re racing for a championship, and it’s our job as the No. 2 team to go out there and help them and try to make sure they win the championship and we win races."

James Buescher finished third; his second top-10 finish in six races at Martinsville Speedway. Justin Lofton, Timothy Peters, Nelson Piquet Jr., Ross Chastain, Jason Leffler, John King, and Jason White followed suit. 


With his ninth-place finish, rookie John King maintains his points lead heading into Rockingham in two weeks.


Race results:
  1. Kevin Harvick
  2. Ty Dillon
  3. James Buescher
  4. Justin Lofton
  5. Timothy Peters
  6. Nelson Piquet Jr.
  7. Ross Chastain
  8. Jason Leffler
  9. John King
  10. Jason White
  11. Parker Kligerman
  12. JR Fitzpatrick
  13. Jeb Burton
  14. David Starr
  15. Cale Gale
  16. Ron Hornaday Jr.
  17. Miguel Paludo
  18. Jake Crum
  19. Max Gresham
  20. David Reutimann
  21. Dakoda Armstrong
  22. Paulie Harraka
  23. John Wes Townley
  24. Matt Crafton
  25. Todd Bodine
  26. Bryan Silas
  27. Chris Cockrum
  28. Brennan Newberry
  29. Johnny Sauter
  30. Joey Coulter
  31. Clay Greenfield
  32. Ryan Sieg
  33. Dusty Davis
  34. Jennifer Jo Cobb
  35. Jeff Agnew
  36. Rick Crawford
Kevin Harvick wins the Kroger 250 adding to his clock collection Kevin Harvick wins the Kroger 250 adding to his clock collection Reviewed by Unknown on Saturday, March 31, 2012 Rating: 5