Emerson Radio 250 - Kevin Harvick Notes

Kevin Harvick / Reese's Racing
Emerson Radio 250 Pre-Race Notes

EVENT INFORMATION - Event: NASCAR Busch Series Emerson Radio 250; Time and Date: 8 p.m. EDT, Friday, Sept. 10; Site: Richmond International Raceway, Richmond, Va. Live Coverage: TNT (television) at 7:30 p.m. EDT and MRN (radio) at 7:15 p.m. EDT; Qualifying: 3:35 p.m. EDT, Thurs. Sept. 9, Live on SPEED (television); Happy Hour: Thurs., May 9, following Busch Series 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 MARCHES ON - Of the 15 Busch Series events that Harvick has competed in this season, he has nine top-five finishes and 12 top-10 finishes. Harvick is also coming off of two straight top-four finishes, and he finished first and second in the two Richmond events in 2003.

TRIPLE DUTY UNDER THE LIGHTS - Harvick will start another busy race weekend in Richmond on Thursday night with the IROC event. Friday night he'll pilot the No. 21 REESE'S Chevrolet in the Busch event, and on Saturday night he will drive the No. 29 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet in the Nextel Cup event. This weekend marks the first-ever time the IROC Series will compete at the .75-mile Richmond International Raceway.

SHORT TRACK ACE - Take a look at Kevin Harvick's short track record in the Busch Series. In 40 events since 2000, Harvick has an average start of sixth and an average finish of ninth. Harvick also has eight wins in the 40 race span.

ROCK N' ROLL WEEKEND - This weekend the Richmond International Raceway will take on a new look as the Chevy Rock n' Roll race weekend comes through. Harvick's No. 6 Craftsman Truck entry driven by Matt Crafton will carry a special KISS paint scheme, as will Ron Hornaday's No. 2 Busch car and Harvick's No. 29 Nextel Cup car.

THE CAR - This week, crew chief Ricky Viers will load chassis No. 040 onto the REESE'S transporter. Harvick drove that car to victory at Las Vegas in the spring. Viers considers No. 040 to be one of the best cars in the REESE'S fleet.

THE SURFACE - Raceway officials installed a new drainage system under the track prior to the start of the racing season at Richmond. All the unique characteristics that make Richmond a fan and driver favorite remained intact. The .75-mile D-shaped track has 14 degrees of banking in the turns, eight degrees of banking on the frontstretch and two degrees of banking on the backstretch. Those are just the ingredients for an exciting Friday night showdown.

QUICK QUOTES AND NOTES:
Crew chief Ricky Viers on Richmond - "Kevin had two great runs there last season: a win and a second-place finish. In the spring race we had a pretty good run as well. If the weather holds off, we'll have a great weekend."

On the upcoming schedule - "We've still got a lot to prove in this season. I'm bringing the best equipment I can each and every week, as well as the best drivers. As a team we are still very optimistic that we can have great success throughout the remainder of the season."

Kevin Harvick on Richmond - "It's what some call the "perfect short track." It's a flat, three-quarter mile race track that's a lot of fun to race, and plenty of banging around with the other drivers."