Harvick, Bowyer remain in teammate Chase battle

LONG POND, Pa. -- Richard Childress Racing teammates Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer had been playing a bit of musical cars with the highly-coveted 12th spot in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series Race to the Chase.

As of late, both Harvick and Bowyer, depending on who slips up or gains ground, have traded places multiple times as the 12th-ranked driver in the points race, the last position to qualify for the Chase.

The competition between the two teammates has remained close since the July race at Daytona International Speedway as both take turns as the one looking outside the Chase and vice versa.

Be it one teammate looking inside or the other out, the match ended Sunday during the Pennsylvania 500. Advantage: RCR as both teammates -- Harvick and Bowyer -- are in the theoretical Chase, for now at least.

Five races remain until the cut-off event at Richmond International Raceway in September.

Harvick's most recent turn to be the one looking outside the top 12 came after the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard last weekend. The driver was a victim of Kurt Busch's accident and finished 37th, dropping him to the 13th position in the points race. Bowyer capitalized and moved up one spot to 12.

Sunday at Pocono Raceway, a fourth-place, comeback-style finish after a Lap 1 spin for Harvick drove the driver up two positions to 11th (watch video).

"We don't give up, I can promise you that," Harvick said.

Harvick protected the car and continued to work towards a strong finish, despite a more than 40-minute red flag rain delay.

"We stick in there and fight, even when they tell us we're done," Harvick said. "To come to Pocono and finish in the top five is a huge accomplishment for me."

Harvick found himself outside the top 12 last season after the July Daytona race, recovered and entered the 2007 Chase with little cushion in 11th position. But, Harvick said he tries not to dwell on the mathematics of the game. He's "Happy" as long as he and his team are within striking distance. (Continued)