BRISTOL, Tenn. — Kevin Harvick wasn’t worried about his poor qualifying at Bristol Motor Speedway. In fact, starting 24th gave Harvick exactly what he wanted to win at Bristol Motor Speedway.

“It kind of motivates me,” Harvick said Sunday. “I think it’s exciting. I like to pass cars.”

Harvick made the biggest pass with 70 laps to go, sweeping by Denny Hamlin and holding on to take the rain-delayed race at the half-mile concrete track.

The victory was Harvick’s second of the season and his first at Bristol in 11 years. It also moved him atop the points standings and gave his team a jolt with only three races left until the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship starts.

Harvick had 13 top-10 finishes in the 18 races since winning at Phoenix in March.

“It’s been one of those deals where things have just not gone exactly right,” said Harvick, who led 128 laps. “But to have the win now and just try to get that momentum before we get into the Chase and get things rolling is really what we needed.”

Fittingly for a race halted because of Saturday night storms, the drivers had to sit through one last rain delay before Harvick easily pulled away on the restart and cruised to victory.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” Harvick said over the radio as he crossed the line.

Harvick enticed his car owner – retiring driver Tony Stewart – to do burnouts with him to celebrate the three-time Sprint Cup champion’s last race at Bristol.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was second, followed by Hamlin, Austin Dillon and Chris Buescher.

Kyle Busch had the strongest car, leading 256 laps. But he spun on Lap 358 when a part broke, and Justin Allgaier, driving in relief of Michael Arnett, hit the No. 18 car flush to end the defending series champ’s race.

“That is the worst possibly scenario when the leader spins out and you hit them,” said Allgaier, who apologized to Busch.