Food City 250 - Kevin Harvick Notes

Kevin Harvick / Reese's Racing
Food City 250 Pre-Race Notes

EVENT INFORMATION - Event: NASCAR Busch Series Food City 250; Time and Date: 8 p.m. EDT, Friday, Aug. 27; Site: Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tenn. Live Coverage: TNT (television) at 8 p.m. EDT and PRN (radio) at 7:30 p.m. EDT; Qualifying: 3:15 p.m. EDT, Thurs., Aug. 26, Live on SPEED (television); Happy Hour: Friday, Aug. 26, following Nextel Cup qualifying.

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS - For the first time in NASCAR Busch Series history, the Owners' Championship and the Drivers' Championship were split. The No. 21 PayDay Chevrolet team won the Owners' Championship in commanding fashion, clinching the title at Rockingham with one race remaining in the season. The team finished 261 points ahead of the No. 5 team of Brian Vickers, who claimed the Drivers' Championship. In 2004, the No. 21 Chevrolet carries the Reese's Peanut Butter Cups colors as the team attempts to defend its title. Harvick will compete in 20 of the 34 Busch Series events this season, and rookie driver Clint Bowyer will drive the No. 21 Reese's Chevy in the 14 other events on the schedule.

BACK TO BRISTOL - After a disappointing weekend in Michigan, the No. 21 team is eager to rebound at Bristol. The team, car and driver are all well-prepared for Bristol. The high-banked, half-mile track with an attitude is a place that is sure to provide plenty of excitement for drivers and fans alike. Harvick has three straight top-five finishes in Busch Series competition at Bristol entering Friday night's event.

A DRIVER FAVORITE-It is no secret that Bristol Motor Speedway one of Harvick's favorite tracks. The bullring is similar to the track on which Harvick grew up racing. Harvick has had tremendous success at Bristol and is excited every time the series returns to BMS.

BRISTOL EXPERIENCE-Harvick has enjoyed substantial success at Bristol Motor Speedway. In eight Busch Series starts there, Harvick has claimed three wins, two poles and an average finish of ninth.

MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION-The No. 21 team's race results of late have not accurately represented the team's true performance. The team improves with each week and has put great race cars on the track. Several unfortunate situations have struck the team, but Bristol is a great place to turn those fortunes around.

THE CAR-This week, crew chief Ricky Viers will load chassis No. 028 onto the REESE'S transporter. The car has seen action four times this season. It has never finished lower than sixth this year, and was raced at Bristol, Richmond, Dover and New Hampshire.

QUICK QUOTES AND NOTES:

Crew chief Ricky Viers on Harvick at Bristol-"Kevin is one of the best drivers at Bristol. He definitely has a knack for that place, and it's a real pleasure to have him in the car for us there. He knows what he wants in a car there, and he'll make the most out of every run he has there. It should be a good weekend for us."

On RCR's past success at Bristol-"RCR has always had smart racecar drivers. Smart racecar drivers keep themselves out of trouble and keep their car in one piece so they have something in the end. They know to expect trouble at some point, and they know who to try and avoid as well."

Kevin Harvick on why he likes Bristol so much- "I grew up on a half-mile, high-banked racetrack. I know Bristol is a lot more banked, but it's kind of the same mindset for me driving around the racetrack. It's very fast, high-banked concrete. It's short-track beating and banging, a lot of fun. I seem to have a lot of success every time I go, so I'm always excited to go back."