Denny Hamlin earned a surprise automatic berth into the second round of NASCAR’s playoffs by rallying from last to victory lane Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway in the opening race of the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. Kevin Harvick’s hopes at a repeat season championship were decidedly in danger after contact with Jimmie Johnson on a restart ultimately led him to crash. Johnson went to Harvick’s motorhome to speak to Harvick, but Harvick walked out of the bus and shoved Johnson in the chest with a closed fist.