NASCAR All-Star Race 2014: Slow pit stop costs Kevin Harvick

Two weeks in a row Kevin Harvick has had the fastest car and in neither instance did he win.

A week ago at Kansas Speedway, Harvick pointed the finger at himself for not executing. First, by not getting on and off pit road fast enough, then for pushing too hard trying in vain to catch eventual winner Jeff Gordon.

The onus for not winning fell on Harvick’s crew Saturday night during the Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway,

Having accumulated the best average finish, Harvick was positioned first following the fourth of five segments and led the field down pit road for a mandatory four-tire stop. But a slow stop dropped Harvick to third and he never recouped the lost track position.

Harvick would pass Carl Edwards for second, but by that time Jamie McMurray had put some distance between himself and the field. Much like he did at Kansas, Harvick tried to mount a charge but ran out of laps.

McMurray collected the $1 million prize while Harvick settled for second and a check for $240,716.

“Just a bad pit stop,” Harvick said. “The guys did a great job putting a fast race car on the track. We recovered from the first one and the second one cost us the race.”

As trouble befell many a contender, including accidents knocking out Kyle Busch, Kasey Kahne and Jeff Gordon among others, Harvick enjoyed a rather uneventful night. He was a consistent presence near the front finishing third, second, second and first in the four segments prior to the final 10-lap shootout.

But Harvick’s race turned on that fateful final pit stop.

“I’ve just got to thank all my guys,” Harvick said. “All in all, they put a car on the race track that was capable of the winning and we just didn’t get it done. They did a great job and provided a fast car.”