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Well, you had one in 2011 and 2014, a break from the Jimmie Johnson championship reign.
But, Johnson had that sixth championship in 2013.
But, 2014 was the year that Team 48 was proven beatable, thanks to the new Chase format, if you think of it that way.
But, Kevin Harvick won that first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship in 2014, but could this be the new dominator of the new chase format?
Remember, the old chase format basically was owned by Johnson. He won the championship in 2006-10, and again in 2013. Now, they didn't even make the third round of the chase this year.
Harvick, dominant all season long, won the championship with only four wins. He hit a walk at Phoenix to put himself in the final round of the chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup final four at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He was the highest finisher of the four drivers (1st), and Ryan Newman was second. Newman had a great run in the final laps but just couldn't get past Harvick.
But, we always wonder, when someone other than Johnson wins the championship, that the driver who wins that year will start a new dynasty.
I thought the same when Brad Keselowski beat Johnson in 2012 for the championship. But Johnson bounced back the next year. Tony Stewart's championship in 2011 didn't really strike my mind in the same way, not because Stewart already had two championships, but I thought at that time his career was winding down. 2014 proved me wrong.
Stewart was always in contention in 2014, and he didn't make the chase, and he may not have won, but he proved that he can stay in contention.
But Harvick is at the point where he can take the pressure.
He came in to what was then the NASCAR Winston Cup Series in 2001 to replace the legendary Dale Earnhardt Sr., who died in the 2001 DAYTONA 500. Harvick ran the No. 29 Goodwrench Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing.
But Harvick started out at Stewart-HAAS Racing this season, along with Kurt Busch, Danica Patrick, and Tony Stewart.
The main question here is, can Kevin Harvick start a new dynasty?
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