Kevin Harvick facing yet another Chase must-win

If the situation feels a bit like been there, done that, it’s because, well, a Chase for the Sprint Cup round seemingly cannot pass without Kevin Harvick finding himself in a state where he either produces a victory or likely playoff elimination.

Such a scenario occurred twice in the inaugural knockout tournament in 2014 -- including the championship final that saw Harvick prevail over title eligible Ryan Newman -- another time in 2015, and one each in the first two rounds of this year’s Chase.

Yet, in all three instances Harvick came through, securing the win required to advance to the subsequent round. That he has made the difficult almost routine is an impressive feat in a sport where so many dictates can be the difference in winning or losing. Effectively calling your own shot isn’t supposed to be the norm in NASCAR.

To fully comprehend Harvick’s ability to regularly overcome supposedly precarious situations perhaps it’s best to look outside of NASCAR. The most accurate comparison may be that campy Batman television show from the 1960s starring Adam West.

Every episode the Joker, Penguin, or Riddler would place Batman in a dire predicament with no avenue of escape. Nevertheless Batman always liberated himself and toppled the villains by the end.

“There’s no doubt about it, [Harvick] steps up when the pressure’s there,” Austin Dillon said. “That team does a good job. They’re able to reach in their back pocket and get speed when they want it. It’s mind-blowing.”

It should come as no surprise then, that as the semifinal round reaches the juncture where four of the eight remaining Chase drivers are cut, Harvick is once again on the wrong side of the cut line, sitting 18 points behind Busch, the defending Sprint Cup champion, for the final transfer position. If he’s to earn a third consecutive berth in the championship bracket, Harvick absolutely needs a win in Sunday’s elimination race at Phoenix International Raceway (2:30 p.m. ET, NBC).

And what if Harvick cannot move to 6-for-6 in playoff must-wins? Then whatever is the NASCAR equivalent of the parting gift a gameshow participant receives when they lose (steak knives? magazine subscription?) is what awaits the 2014 Sprint Cup champion.

“We have done it I don’t know how many times, so we will just go there and do what we always do and race as hard as we can,” Harvick said.

Naturally, considering the frequency in which these situations ensue, neither Harvick nor crew chief Rodney Childers are unnerved by the circumstances. Although no team wants to continually toe the line between in the Chase or out, the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing team thrives when in a corner.

“Harvick kind of gets set behind, he has to go out and be flashy,” Busch said. “He has to win in order to prove himself to move on through -- that’s kind of when their back is to the wall.”

It stands to reason eventually the odds will catch up and the No. 4 team will not be able to prevail when needed. Don’t tell that to either Harvick or Childers, however. Both seek out any kind of skepticism, real or perceived, then use it as motivation.

A glimpse into Childers’ mindset was perfectly encapsulated this week on social media.

Responding to a Fox Sports tweet promoting analyst Larry McReynolds’ column stating Harvick’s streak of winning five of the past six Phoenix races was in jeopardy, Childers tweeted: “Everyone is always in jeopardy... but I love reading stuff like this, because it pisses me off. The more pissed off I get the harder I work!”

In many aspects Childers’ message was in the same vein as Harvick posting a video of a rampaging bull two weeks before the start of the Chase with the caption, “My mood for the next 11 weeks.”

Habitually finding oneself in a must-win situation is anything but ideal -- except it’s working for Harvick and Childers. They embody the attitude of never-say-die, and if Harvick can reach victory lane Sunday it will only further personify the air of familiarity that eliminating this driver, crew chief, team combination under this format is proving a very difficult task.