Real Heroes 400 live updates: Kevin Harvick gets the victory
NASCAR is prepared to run its first race since the sport was postponed two months ago due to the coronavirus pandemic. Activity around Darlington Raceway is already looking different for the 3:30 p.m. event since fans are not permitted at the track and all personnel on-site are required to wear masks, undergo temperature checks and abide by other COVID-19 event safety protocols.
“Well, different times at the race track,” No. 2 driver Brad Keselowski said via a Twitter video he shot inside his bus a few hours before the race.
“Usually I’ll have my wife, bus driver, somebody else here to help me because I’m kind of lost,” the Darlington pole-sitter said. “But nobody’s here, so it’s just me by myself in the bus.”
Keselowski is doing what many drivers, crew members and the limited staff at the track are doing as they remain isolated before the flag; He’s killing time on social media. But at 3:20 p.m., Keselowski and other drivers will head to their cars, and then it’s off to the races.
The Observer is covering all of this — the event build-up, the track-side safety practices and the real live race, which airs at 3:30 p.m. EST on FOX — from home. So take a pause from your Sunday laundry, video game playing or other quarantine activities, and join us in this strange, new world.
Updates will be posted regularly on this page, with the most recent up top (refresh this page for the latest). You can also follow Alex on Twitter, @AndrejevAlex.
PRE-RACE READING
Real Heroes 400 preview: Who will win, how to watch, Darlington Raceway info
NASCAR drivers will be racing for the first time since March 8: ‘It’s going to be odd’
- Ryan Newman feels like he attended his own funeral. What if he won Darlington?
- How NASCAR is planning to pull off a live race in 16 days while keeping everyone safe
- Why NASCAR’s return to racing is a proud moment for Darlington, state of SC
REAL HEROES 400 LIVE UPDATES
Stage 3
7:23 p.m., Finish: Harvick holds on for the win. It is his 50th career victory.
7:18 p.m., Lap 283: With 10 laps to go, Harvick continues to stretch his lead over Bowman with Kurt Busch in third.
7:10 p.m., Lap 268: With an apparent loose wheel, Kyle Busch had to pit and take four new tires, costing him a lap. He had been running fifth dropped out of the top 20.
7:06 p.m., Lap 260: After a long battle on the restart, Harvick keeps the lead over Bowman with Kurt Busch third.
6:55 p.m. Lap 251: Ryan Newman spins out in Turn 1 with a possible tire issue, bringing the 10th caution of the race. That allows drivers to pit to take fuel and tires, likely the last mass pitting of the day.
6:51 p.m. Lap 243: Harvick holds a 2.6 second lead over second-place Bowman.
6:39 p.m. Lap 222: Harvick takes the lead from Keselowski, while Bowman remains in contention in the top three. Drivers in the top 10 jockey for better track positions.
6:33 p.m. Lap 214: Buescher spins out and a caution is called. Meanwhile, there is a small fire burning outside the track between Turns 1 and 2. NASCAR says an official is handling it.
6:20 p.m. Lap 192: Under 100 laps to go. Keselowski powers past Bowman on the restart and reclaims the lead. Cars are running single-file on fresh tires now. The running order is Keselowski, Bowman, Truex Jr., Harvick and Hamlin.
Stage 2
6:10 p.m. Lap 183: Brad Keselowski takes the green-and-white checkered flag. Bowman, Truex Jr., Harvick, Bowyer round out the top five.
6:07 p.m. Lap 182: Kevin Harvick loses the lead after a slow pit stop. He drops to 8th, as Keselowski takes first place. “Guys, shake it off,” Harvick’s crew chief Rodney Childers says on the radio. “Been flawless all day.”
6:00 p.m. Lap 173: Cup rookie Christopher Bell gets loose off Turns 3 and 4, and spins out. The seventh caution of the day is called with 11 laps remaining in Stage 2.
5:52 p.m. Lap 160: Both Reddick and Almirola receive uncontrolled tire penalties. On the restart, the order is Harvick, Keselowski, Kurt Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Clint Bowyer, Joey Logano, Bowman, Hamlin and Ryan Newman.
5:43 p.m. Lap 154: A caution is called after a banner on the side of the track gets stuck to the front of Reddick’s car as well as other drivers’ cars. Harvick and Bowman jump off of pit road again.
5:26 p.m. Lap 135: Another caution is called. This is fifth caution of the day. This time it’s Daniel Suárez running in the back half of the field (although Suárez is still on the lead lap). Reddick in ninth place.
5:22 p.m. Lap 121: Kurt Busch gets to second place. Meanwhile, Tyler Reddick has made big moves this race. Reddick started 29th and moved into the top 10.
5:15 p.m. Lap 112: Byron heads to pit road, while Harvick continues to lead, followed by Bowman, Keselowski, Bowyer and Kurt Busch.
5:12 p.m. Lap 95: The Hendrick Chevrolets are now struggling. Byron, running behind Hamlin, wiggles and taps the outside wall rounding Turn 3. He then spins out and a caution is called.
5:05 p.m. Lap 97: Harvick is the first off pit road and runs in the lead to start Stage 2. Bowman and Bryon follow in second and third.
Stage 1
4:57 p.m. Lap 90: Johnson passes teammates Byron and Bowman for the lead. He crashes out just before taking the Stage 1 victory after making contact with Chris Buescher. Byron wins Stage 1 and seven-time Cup Champion Johnson apologizes to his team. He is done for the day.
4:48 p.m. Lap 77: Hamlin earlier made a pass of Keselowski and now both the
4:38 p.m. Lap 60: Team Hendrick is making a statement early. Bowman, Johnson and Byron run in the top three. Elliott is running in 7th place.
4:30 p.m. Lap 45: Bowman takes the lead from Keselowski, passing on the inside, and Johnson settles into second. Keselowski drops to third.
4:30 p.m. Lap 42: Johnson almost completes a pass of Keselowski for the lead on the inside, but doesn’t quite get it. He drops to third, and Bowman pulls up to second.
4:25 p.m. Lap 37: Timmy Hill and Josh Bilicki receive penalties for having too many men over the wall while pitting. Positions do not changes for this caution, so top 10 are Keselowski, Harvick, Hamlin, Johnson, Byron, Bowman, Chase Elliott, Aric Almirola, Cole Custer, Matt DiBenedetto. Back to green.
4:16 p.m. Lap 30: A competition caution is called to allow teams to make adjustments. All drivers cycle through the lap. Keselowski, Harvick, Hamlin and William Byron lead at Lap 30. The first 20 cars are allowed to pit, followed by the next 20 cars in order. There is no race off pit road for this caution.
4:08 p.m. Lap 20: Pole-sitter Brad Keselowski has led all laps so far. He’s followed by Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson and Alex Bowman. Kyle Busch has made a jump to 25th from the end of the field. A competition caution is coming around Lap 30.
3:55 p.m. Lap 1: The green flag waves, but before Lap 1 is complete, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. crashes on Turn 2 and a caution is called. Stenhouse’s No. 47 car has significant damage. Crew chief Brian Pattie tells the team they’re done for the day.
Pre-race
3:44 p.m.: Healthcare workers give the command. Engines are fired. Drivers make a single pace lap.
3:36 p.m.: Pre-race ceremonies are underway. Country music singer Darius Rucker sings the national anthem and healthcare workers selected by NASCAR and FOX Sports as part of the Real Heroes Project will give a joint, virtual command to start engines shortly. Prior to the race, team members entering the track had designated times for temperature checks and were required to fill out a virtual questionnaire. NASCAR conducted the check-ins, but teams were told that state health officials are also on site.
3:15 p.m.: Drivers were instructed to report to their cars by 3:20 p.m. Media-credentialed video is showing that some drivers are heading out to their cars by themselves and masked.
3:11 p.m.: NASCAR executive vice president Steve O’Donnell is at the track and confirms that NASCAR CEO Jim France, 75, is also at the raceway to oversee operations.
2:52 p.m.: Jimmie Johnson is live on Instagram. “People probably appreciate a little check-in and look into what’s going on here,” Johnson said.
2:45 p.m.: NASCAR announces that pre-race inspection is complete. Kyle Busch will drop to the rear of the field after failing technical inspection twice. He was originally supposed to start fourth in the lineup. Drivers will report to their cars 10 minutes before the race and will run one pace lap down pit road before the green flag.
This story was originally published May 17, 2020 at 2:45 PM with the headline "Real Heroes 400 live updates: Kevin Harvick gets the victory."
