CONCORD, N.C. — Joey Logano has been to victory lane four times this season, and all four trips required him to beat Sprint Cup champion Kevin Harvick.

The latest win, Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway, was a critical and confidence-building victory. He again shrugged off Harvick to earn an automatic berth into the third round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

Harvick, who has 11 second-place finishes this season, has been runner-up to Logano three times. Harvick finished third in Logano’s win at Watkins Glen, where Harvick ran out of gas while leading on the last lap.

Harvick never made it to the front at Charlotte, the opening race of the second round of NASCAR’s playoffs.