The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series traveled to Dover Speedway for Sunday afternoon's AAA 400, the first elimination race of the 2015 Chase for the Sprint Cup.

Matt Kenseth led the field to the green flag, quickly pulling in front of Denny Hamlin. Just two laps in, the first caution came out as Jeb Burton cut a tire and spun in Turn 2. Kenseth led the field back to green on Lap 6.

Kenseth's lead did not last very long, as Kevin Harvick, who came into the race needing a win to advance to the next round of the Chase, overpowered him and took the lead on Lap 24. Harvick then opened up a two and a half second lead over Kenseth by Lap 34.

Harvick was leading when the competition caution came out on Lap 40. It was the second caution of the day, and the first time the drivers could come down pit road and change tires and refuel. When the field came off pit road, Denny Hamlin was the leader, thanks to a 10.4 second stop. Harvick came out in second position, with Kenseth third. The lead did not last long, though, as Hamlin was penalized for speeding on pit road. He was forced to go to the back of the field, which allowed Harvick to retake the lead. Jimmie Johnson was also issued a speeding penalty.

Harvick led the field back to green on Lap 46, while Brad Keselowski had a bad restart, dropping from eighth to 16th position within just three laps. Harvick was dominant on that green flag run, as by Lap 100, he had opened up a five-second lead over Kyle Busch.

On Lap 103, Johnson took his car to the garage after having brake issues, after restarting the race at the back of the field and working his way up to 16th position.

Harvick had opened up a five and a half second lead when Michael Annett hit the wall in Turn 2 to bring out the third caution of the day. The caution came out at a time where teams were preparing to make green flag pit stops. Harvick maintained his lead after the pit stops, which set him up to lead the field back to green on Lap 117.

The next caution came out on Lap 192 when Burton crashed into the outside wall in Turn 2. Burton had to escape his car after it caught fire, but the safety crews were quickly at the scene to put out the fire and take Burton to the infield care center. Harvick then led the field back to green on Lap 206.

The green flag did not last long, as the yellow returned on Lap 231 for debris on the front straightaway. This led to the leaders making another round of pit stops. Kyle Busch won the race off pit road, as he took just two tires. Harvick came off pit road in the fourth position, the first time all day that he was not the first off pit road. 

Busch led the field back to green on Lap 237, with Joey Logano and Harvick hot on his trail. Harvick wasted no time in moving up to second position, just one second behind Busch. Harvick finally overtook Busch for the lead on Lap 248 and proceeded to continue to obliterate the competition, opening up a five-second lead by the time Lap 278 rolled around.

The sixth cauton of the day came out on Lap 310 when AJ Allmendenger spun out in Turn 1, forcing NASCAR to throw the caution flag. The field then returned to green, but the caution returned on Lap 353 when Brett Moffitt hit the outside wall. That caution allowed the leaders to make pit stops and top off their fuel, and Harvick once again won the race off pit road, with Kyle Larson second.

Kenseth, who did not pit, led the field back to green on Lap 358, but Harvick quickly passed him to retake the lead. Landon Cassil then leaked oil onto the track on Lap 371 to bring out another caution. On that restart, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was able to pass Jamie McMurray to put himself into the next round of the Chase, bumping McMurray out of the next round. 

Despite his best efforts to get the position back, the race ended with McMurray being among the four drivers eliminated from the Chase. Harvick cruised to victory to advance to the next round in what was a must win race for him. In addition to winning, Harvick led 355 laps.

Along with McMurray, Jimmie Johnson, Clint Bowyer, and Paul Menard have been eliminated from the Chase. That leaves just 12 drivers left for the contender round of the Chase.

Entering the next round of the Chase, here is how the standings look.

1) Matt Kenseth
2) Denny Hamlin
3) Kevin Harvick
4) Joey Logano 
5) Carl Edwards
6) Martin Truex Jr.
7) Jeff Gordon
8) Kurt Busch
9) Brad Keselowski
10) Kyle Busch
11) Ryan Newman
12) Dale Earnhardt Jr.

The 2015 Chase for the Sprint Cup heads to Charlotte for next weekend's Bank Of America 500. Follow @NASCARonVAVEL on Twitter for comprehensive coverage of the weekend.