Kevin Harvick at ease headed into tense Talladega

Kevin Harvick is already guaranteed a spot in the third round of NASCAR’s playoffs, so he has no reason to race hard Sunday at Alabama’s Talladega Superspeedway. If it were up to him, he wouldn’t race at all. Four of NASCAR’s top drivers will see their title hopes come to an end at Talladega, where the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship field will be cut from 12 to eight. Among those in danger of becoming a title-race spectator are defending champion Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth – Johnson’s closest competition last season – Daytona 500 winner Dale Earnhardt Jr., and 2012 champion Brad Keselowski. – Associated Press