Kevin Harvick, center, and his team celebrate in the winner's circle after taking the Tropicana 400. ASSOCIATED PRESS

Eight days after the son of the seven-time series champion won at the track where his father died five months earlier, the man hired to replace one of the most-accomplished racers of all time enjoyed a dominating victory at the Tropicana 400.

While it was hard not to make a connection to Earnhardt - Harvick was driving the very same car Earnhardt drove two races before he died - there was a subtle difference in the celebration.

For the first time, winning didn't seem to prolong the sport's grief over Earnhardt's death. Car owner Richard Childress said it was more like a testament to Harvick - and a big step toward finding closure to an accident that has overwhelmed the sport since February.

''He's going to plant his place in (racing) history,'' Childress said after the 25-year-old won $162,500. ''I'm aware and he's aware that we're all here because Dale Earnhardt carried the sport to a new level. But today proved Kevin Harvick is the real deal. Today backed it up. We've had some really strong runs this year.

''He's got what it takes to be on the stage in New York some day (as the NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion).''

Harvick was hired to replace Earnhardt four days after the fatal accident. In his first 17 starts, he's won twice, including an emotional photo-finish victory at Atlanta just three races after Earnhardt's death, and is seventh in the point standings.

''This whole year is in memory of Dale Earnhardt,'' Harvick said. ''This is the reason we're doing it. This is what he would want us to do. He's be pretty proud of the way we're paying attention and running real hard.''

And the way the sport is finally moving on.

''We're doing things now that Kevin likes,'' said crew chief Kevin Hamlin. ''He's our driver.''

Harvick led 113 of 267 laps, including the final 26 that featured two re-starts following caution periods.

With six laps remaining, Harvick led a train of 17 cars lead-lap cars on a re-start. Robert Pressley, who bumped him during the caution, got as close as his back bumper, but the rookie won the drag race to the first corner, then pulled away for a 50-yard victory.

''I wanted to shake him up a bit,'' Pressley said. ''I knew if I could get inside him in (turn) 1, I had a shot. I was hoping to rattle his cage a bit and maybe get him to miss a shift or spin his tires.''

After leading 25 consecutive laps late in the race, a caution for Todd Bodine's spin shuffled Harvick back to sixth place. Four cars gained track position by skipping their pit stops during the caution period and Jimmy Spencer's Ford was the quickest off pit road. Despite the setback, it took Harvick only four laps to get out front. Included in that frenzied charge was a daring three-wide pass on the track apron that shot him into the lead.

''I've seen him make moves that catch people by surprise,'' Childress said. ''And he makes it look so easy. It's so natural for him.''

Harvick said every race is a learning experience.

'' This year has been a whirlwind, but I've been fortunate to be at the right place at the right time,'' Harvick said. ''I've learned not to destroy my car in the first 100 laps. Anything is better than crashing your car and not finishing the race. I take what the weekend will give you.

''On the one re-start when I was sixth, I knew the best time to pass all of them is when they're jumbled up. I knew I had the car. I had the opportunity to make it three-wide and I took it.''

Pressley fended off a challenge by Ricky Rudd to finish second. It was his best finish in his eight-year career.

Rudd wound up third and closed to within 18 points of series leaders Jeff Gordon and Dale Jarrett, while Jarrett was fourth, Spencer was fifth, Mark Martin was sixth, Matt Kenseth was eighth, Sterling Marlin was ninth and Bill Elliott was 10th.

Gordon suffered his second consecutive engine failure and finished 18th.

Childress said after watching Dale Earnhardt Jr. win last week's Pepsi 400 during the sport's first return to the Daytona International Speedway provided a lot of closure to his former driver's death. Harvick's win on Sunday afford him the opportunity to finally celebrate.

''Watching Dale Jr. win last week did something to me personally that I can't describe,'' Childress said. ''It was a very emotional time for all of us. But now we're winning races with Kevin, and this is special, too.''

For very different reasons.

Reach Don Coble at doncoble@bellsouth.net