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| Kevin Harvick wins for the third time in Phoenix (Getty) |
AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- A chaotic race at Phoenix blew NASCAR's championship fight wide open Sunday, moving Brad Keselowski to the brink of a first Sprint Cup title for himself and team owner Roger Penske.
Keselowski heads into next week's season finale with a 20-point lead over five-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson. His car was better than Johnson's, but he capitalized when a tire failure caused Johnson to crash hard and finish 32nd.
But that was the least of the drama.
Kevin Harvick snapped a 44-race losing streak in a crash-marred finish, and the crews for Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer brawled in the garage after Gordon intentionally wrecked Bowyer on the track.
It led to a meeting between the drivers and crew chiefs in the NASCAR hauler with police officers standing guard outside.
Kevin Harvick won the race two days after news broke that he will leave his Richard Childress Racing team for Stewart-Haas Racing following the 2013 season. Harvick held off Kyle Busch on a green-white-checkered restart and survived the last-lap melee to take the checkered flag ahead of Denny Hamlin, Busch, Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman and Keselowski.
Phoenix Results
Video: Bowyer and Gordon teams go it
Video: Johnson wrecks to finish 33rd
Keselowski heads into next week's season finale with a 20-point lead over five-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson. His car was better than Johnson's, but he capitalized when a tire failure caused Johnson to crash hard and finish 32nd.
But that was the least of the drama.
Kevin Harvick snapped a 44-race losing streak in a crash-marred finish, and the crews for Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer brawled in the garage after Gordon intentionally wrecked Bowyer on the track.
It led to a meeting between the drivers and crew chiefs in the NASCAR hauler with police officers standing guard outside.
Kevin Harvick won the race two days after news broke that he will leave his Richard Childress Racing team for Stewart-Haas Racing following the 2013 season. Harvick held off Kyle Busch on a green-white-checkered restart and survived the last-lap melee to take the checkered flag ahead of Denny Hamlin, Busch, Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman and Keselowski.
Phoenix Results
Video: Bowyer and Gordon teams go it
Video: Johnson wrecks to finish 33rd
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