BROOKLYN, MI - AUGUST 26: Jamie McMurray, driver of the #1 Cessna Chevrolet, talks with Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John's Chevrolet, and Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Dollar General Toyota, during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 26, 2016 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)

Former champion wins his fourth stage of the year


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Kevin Harvick hadn't had an ideal start to the 2017 postseason, but he started Sunday's race at Charlotte Motor Speedway with a Stage 1 victory.

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Jamie McMurray, who is currently 12th in the points, earned some much needed points in Stage 1.

There are three races in the Round of 12, and four drivers will be eliminated after those three races. A win automatically qualifies a playoff driver for the next round, and the rest of the field will be determined by points. So, McMurray's points from Stage 1 could be very beneficial in determining whether he can advance to another round.

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