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