AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Kevin Harvick dominated a race he had to win to advance to the final round of NASCAR's playoffs, while Jeff Gordon was knocked out when Ryan Newman completed a last-lap pass.
Harvick led 264 laps at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday to earn an automatic spot next week in the four-man Chase field in the finale at Homestead. He has the Phoenix fall race three years in a row, also won at the track in March and has a record six victories on the mile oval.
Now he takes Stewart-Haas Racing into the championship race next Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where the four championship contenders will all be seeking their first Sprint Cup title. Harvick came into Sunday ranked eighth in the eight-driver Chase field.
''Wow, I guess that's what it feels like to hit a walkoff in the extra innings,'' Harvick said.
Gordon finished second, but lost his bid for a fifth Sprint Cup championship when Newman knocked Kyle Larson into the wall on the final lap to finish 11th - and one point ahead of Gordon.
Denny Hamlin, the points leader after finishing fifth, and Joey Logano also advanced. The title will be decided by finishing order among the final four at Homestead.
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