Bi-Lo 200 - Kevin Harvick Notes

Kevin Harvick / REESE'S Racing
Bi-Lo 200 Pre-Race Notes

EVENT INFORMATION - Event: NASCAR Busch Series Bi-Lo 200; Time and Date: 1 p.m. EST, Saturday, Nov. 13; Site: Darlington Raceway, Darlington, S.C. Live Coverage: TNT (television) at 1 p.m. EST and MRN (radio) at 12:45 p.m. EST; Qualifying: 1:30 p.m. EST, Fri. Nov. 12, Live on SPEED (television); Happy Hour: Friday, Nov. 12, 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.

HARVICK'S FINAL START OF 2004 - Kevin Harvick will be making his final start of the 2004 season in the No. 21 REESE'S Chevrolet Saturday at Darlington. The race will be Harvick's 20th race in the No. 21 and 21st Busch Series start of the season. He drove the No. 29 Busch Series car at Atlanta Motor Speedway and will drive it again next weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

FINISHING STRONG-The REESE'S Racing team is still optimistic for a win in the final two races of the season. Last week's 13th-place effort was not a good reflection of what kind of car the team had. The team has built momentum in last two months of the season. Expect the REESE'S team to work harder than ever to try and pick up another win this season.

BRANDON MILLER IN 2005-Last week, Brandon Miller was announced as the second driver of the REESE'S Chevrolet in 2005. Miller, a San Diego native, will drive the No. 21 in 20 events next season and will compete for Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors. Miller has experience in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, as well as limited experience in the Busch Series.

TOO TOUGH TO TAME?-Darlington Raceway has long been known as the track Too Tough to Tame. This year is no different. The track now sports SAFER barriers, making the already-narrow racing surface 30 inches narrower. Expect cars to slip and slide all over the gritty, worn out surface of Darlington and pickup one of the famous Darlington Stripes.

BOWYER IN THE NO. 33-Bowyer will drive the No. 33 Kevin Harvick Inc. entry this weekend at Darlington. Bowyer also drove the car to a 10th-place finish at Lowe's Motor Speedway last month.

QUICK QUOTES AND NOTES:
Crew chief Ricky Viers on racing at Darlington-"It's a tough track, but fun at the same time. There will be several grooves that guys can use. I enjoy going there to race, especially since there's so much history there. We've had some good cars there in the past, and I think we learned a lot there at the spring race. We'll bring back a good car, and a good setup to make a run at a win."