DOVER, Del. — Kevin Harvick stood by his confetti-coated car and used it as a resting spot for a couple of crushed beer cans, when his crew belted out a catchy rallying cry.

“I believe that we will win! I believe that we will win! I believe that we will win!”

Believe it.

Harvick has mastered his Game 7 races, nerves steeled and never rattled from any pressure that should come in a must-win spot.

He delivered one more time and dominated a race he had to win to advance to the second round of NASCAR’s playoffs. Mired in 15th in the standings, Harvick went out and led 355 laps Sunday at Dover International Speedway and earned the third automatic berth in the 12-driver Chase for the Sprint Cup championship field.

“Never quit. That’s why right here, guys,” Harvick said over the radio as he took the checkered flag.

Harvick’s title defense lives on.

Jimmie Johnson’s bid for a record-tying seventh championship came to a shocking end when a busted part sent the No. 48 Chevrolet to the garage and sent him plummeting in the standings.

NASCAR had the drama it craved Sunday. Dale Earnhardt. Jr. earned the final transfer spot over Jamie McMurray on a tiebreaker. Earnhardt finished third and McMurray was fourth on Sunday.

Paul Menard and Clint Bowyer also were eliminated as the Chase field was sliced from 16 to 12.