HOMESTEAD, Fla. — The winner of the race is the winner of the Chase.

Kevin Harvick held off Ryan Newman on a restart with three of 267 laps remaining to win Sunday’s Ford 400 and capture the 2014 Sprint Cup Series championship.

The championship is Harvick’s first and in his first season driving with Stewart-Haas Racing.

Brad Keselowski finished third, Paul Menard finished fourth and Jamie McMurray was fifth.

Newman ended up second in the series standings, Denny Hamlin third and Joey Logano — whose night was sidelined by a pit stop — was fourth.

Jeff Gordon led the first 12 laps before NASCAR was forced to call a caution for a cable that had gotten loose and hung from the catchfence, which surrounds the track.

After pit stops, Kurt Busch took over the lead on Lap 15 followed by Gordon and Harvick.

Harvick moved into the lead on the restart and Gordon took over the top spot two laps later.

Brett Moffitt wrecked on Lap 59 to bring out the second caution of the race. On the restart on Lap 64, Gordon was in the lead followed by Hamlin and Logano.

Hamlin moved into the lead on the restart but Gordon re-passed him on Lap 67.

Moffitt wrecked again on Lap 87. During a round of pit stops, Gordon again came off pit road first and took over the lead on Lap 91 followed by Hamlin and Harvick.

Debris from an accident involving Alex Bowman on Lap 116 brought out the fourth caution of the race. Gordon again led on the restart on Lap 121.

Harvick powered past Gordon to re-take the lead on Lap 124.

A.J. Allmendinger wrecked on Lap 156 to bring out the fifth caution of the race. During a round of pit stops, Gordon once again was first off pit road and led the way on the restart on Lap 161 followed by Hamlin and Harvick.

Greg Biffle pounded the wall on Lap 163, which brought out caution No. 6 of the race. On the restart on Lap 166, Gordon retained the lead.

Hamlin passed Gordon on the restart to move back out front.

The first bit of trouble for the four title contenders came on Lap 184 when Logano slapped the wall as Harvick got around him for second place.

Marcos Ambrose hit the wall on Lap 194 to bring out the seventh caution of the race. Again, Gordon was first off pit road and took over the lead on Lap 199 followed by Hamlin and Harvick.

Trevor Bayne wrecked on Lap 207 to bring out the eighth caution. Gordon led the restart on Lap 213 followed by Hamlin and Harvick.

Debris on the backstretch brought out a caution on Lap 221. During pit stops, instant replay was needed to determine the order off pit road and again it went to Gordon, who led on the restart on Lap 226 followed by Hamlin and Harvick.

With 30 laps remaining, Gordon led the way followed by Hamlin and Harvick.

Allmendinger again slammed the wall in Turns 1 and 2 which brought out a caution on Lap 237.

J.J. Yeley wrecked on Lap 255 to bring out the 12th caution of the race. On the restart on Lap 259, Hamlin led the way followed by Newman, Keselowski, McMurray, Menard and Harvick.

Harvick, on four new tires, powered into the lead on Lap 261.

Debris on the track brought out the 13th caution on Lap 262. On the restart, Harvick led the way followed by Newman and Hamlin.