Harvick pockets big paycheck

CONCORD, N.C. – Kevin Harvick earned another $1 million payday Saturday night, winning the Nextel All-Star Challenge after Matt Kenseth got caught speeding and brothers Kurt and Kyle Busch took each other out of contention.

That made Jimmie Johnson, a two-time All-Star race winner, the last driver for which Harvick had to contend.

But Johnson barely mounted a challenge, staying in line behind Harvick until the final lap at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Johnson made one attempt at a pass, Harvick blocked it, then drove off to his second win of the season.

Harvick’s other victory also was a jackpot – he earned $1.5 million for winning the season-opening Daytona 500.

“To win a Daytona 500 and the All-Star race, that’s pretty cool,” Harvick said in Victory Lane.

Harvick, who was second to Johnson last season, scored his first All-Star victory in seven tries and gave car owner Richard Childress his first win in the non-points event since Dale Earnhardt in 1993.

It capped a hugely successful weekend for Childress, who said Friday he had formed an engine alliance with Dale Earnhardt Inc. Then AT&T won an injunction to get its logos placed on RCR driver Jeff Burton’s car.

The car has been sponsored by Cingular, but AT&T has been fighting to get on the hood since the two companies merged. NASCAR denied the request, citing its exclusivity agreement with series sponsor Nextel, but a U.S. district judge allowed RCR to put the AT&T logo on the car Saturday.

Mark Martin finished third and was followed by Burton, Tony Stewart, Johnny Sauter and Kenseth.