Busch’s Error Opens Door for Harvick

With a lot of skill and loads of luck, Kevin Harvick stole a NASCAR Nextel Cup road race at Watkins Glen International that seemed to be Kurt Busch’s from the start.

Harvick, who moved into contention when Busch was penalized for pitting too soon midway through the 90-lap race, passed Tony Stewart with three laps to go Sunday and won the caution-plagued AMD at The Glen at Watkins Glen, N.Y.

It was Harvick’s first road win and his second victory of the year driving for resurgent Richard Childress Racing. And it was stunning because Stewart had won three of the previous four races at Watkins Glen.

“I knew my only shot to get him back was getting into [Turn] 1,” said Harvick, who moved up one spot to third in the points standings. “I knew I was only going to have a couple of chances, so I took my chance, it stuck, and I went on by.”

The pass was made coming out of 11th turn. Harvick outbraked Stewart through the turn, edged past him on the front straightaway and completed the pass entering the first turn, a 90-degree right-hander. He then pulled away over the final two laps over the 11-turn, 2.45-mile layout.

“I think I just overdrove the entries and exits, and he was good,” said Stewart, who moved up two spots to seventh in the points race.

The race changed midway on an error by Busch’s crew. Joe Nemechek spun off course and brought out a caution for debris. Busch, with instructions from crew chief Roy McCauley, entered the pits for tires and fuel in what would be his last stop. But he crossed the commitment line a split second before the pits opened and was forced to go to the rear of the field on the restart.

“Kurt, I don’t know what to say. I’m about in tears,” McCauley said over the radio. “I’m sorry, Kurt.”

“I think I’m OK,” Busch said.

He was, but not for long. Seconds after the race restarted, Busch was caught in a multi-car crash that also involved Matt Kenseth. Busch’s No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge sustained front-end damage, and his chances for a victory vanished for good.

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A.J. Allmendinger made his fourth Champ Car World Series victory of the season look easy at the Grand Prix of Denver, and his Forsythe Championship Racing teammate, Paul Tracy, ticked off another driver.

Allmendinger took the lead on Lap 47 and pulled away from the field, moving into second place in the points race behind Sebastien Bourdais. Justin Wilson, who finished eighth, is third in points.

Allmendinger’s average speed of 91.852 was a new track record.

Tracy, who was having fuel problems late, was trying to hold off Bourdais heading into the final turn of the race. Bourdais passed Tracy, but Tracy locked the brakes and slid into Bourdais and both cars failed to finish.

Bourdais got out of his car and charged after Tracy. He pointed an accusing finger at Tracy, the two exchanged words, Bourdais shoved Tracy and then Bourdais walked away.

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Sam Hornish Jr. reclaimed the Indy Racing League points lead, passing Scott Dixon with four laps to go to win the Meijer Indy 300 at Kentucky Speedway at Sparta, Ky.

The win was Hornish’s fourth of the year and the eighth by Team Penske this season. His second career victory at Kentucky helped him get back the points lead from teammate Helio Castroneves, who finished third behind Hornish and Scott Dixon.

Hornish now leads Castroneves by seven points heading into the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma in two weeks. He gave up the lead to Castroneves at Michigan on July 30, when a broken water pump sent him to a season-worst 19th-place finish.

The potential duel between Danica Patrick and Sarah Fisher never developed, despite the two becoming the first women drivers to start alongside each other in an IRL race.

Though they began the day side-by-side on Row 6, Patrick -- who collided with Vitor Meira during practice before the race -- ran in the top half of the field most of the day before finishing eighth. Fisher, making her first IRL start since the 2004 Indy 500, needed a late surge to finish 12th, a lap behind the leaders.

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Brandon Bernstein upset Tony Schumacher in the top-fuel final of the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd, Minn. In funny car, Tommy Johnson Jr. beat reigning series champion Gary Scelzi. In pro stock, Dave Connolly beat Jason Line on a four-hundredths of a second holeshot, winning with a slower 6.74 to Line’s 6.73. Antron Brown took the points lead in Pro Stock Motorcycle by winning his 16th final, this one over Steve Johnson.