Stater Bros. 300 - Kevin Harvick Notes

Kevin Harvick/REESE’S Racing Pre-Race Notes for California

After a rough weekend at the Daytona International Speedway, Kevin Harvick took a couple of days to rest and is now ready to return to his home state track in Fontana, Calif.

“I am not sure how much more my body could have taken at Daytona,” Harvick said. “I was really sore last week, but I am amazed at how much better I feel now. I spend a lot of time stretching and working out and I think the results from exercising paid off last week. I know that I am much stronger this year than in year’s past. I made a commitment to really focus on my diet and exercise and I think that will pay off this year. I know it did in the two hard wreaks at Daytona.”

The California native is ready to return to his hometown track for his sixth Busch Series start. Harvick has seen much success at the California Speedway, but has not been able to pull away with a victory.

Last year at the Stater Bros. 300 Harvick, qualified the REESE’S Chevrolet in the third position. Harvick would remain in the top five for much of the race, until a long green flag run at the end of the race. This left many of the cars on the lead lap, facing an empty fuel cell and the question of when to come down pit road. Harvick’s pit box computer said he had enough fuel to make it to the end, but with six laps left, Harvick ran out of fuel on the backstretch. Fortunately, Harvick was able to make it down pit road for fuel and returned to the race in the 10th spot. Harvick then captured two more positions before taking the checkered flag in eighth place.

Kevin Harvick on California Speedway

Do you get more excited to go to California to race since you are in your home state?
“It is pretty much like a regular race, there will be a lot of extra friends and people that will come down to watch the race; but usually, I am so busy and there is so much going that I don’t have time to hang out with them like I would be able to do if I just went to visit. We ran really well there last time and we are really looking forward to going back.”

Even though the REESE’S team did not test in California, do you feel that that you and the REESE’S team are ready?
“I think we are ready. Clint Bowyer went out there and tested in both California and Las Vegas, and they were very happy about their results. So, we are planning on using their notes and things that they learned. We also took our Cup car out there to test and felt pretty good, so we should be pretty good right of the bat.”

How much did you learn from your Cup test that will help you during the Busch Race?
“I think the tire knowledge is the most helpful thing that I will take into the Busch Race. Knowing that the tires feel better and more comfortable to drive this year than last. That is probably the biggest thing that I will take away from the test and use on the Busch car.”

Crew Chief Rick Viers on California Speedway

How important is practice going to be for Kevin and the rest of the REESE’S team since you did not get a chance to come to California and test?
“It’s not going to be a factor at all. We are bringing the same car that we won with in Homestead last year. We made a couple of small adjustments on the car to make it run better in California. We also looked at Clint Bowyer’s testing notes from California and made some adjustments based on that.”

Now that the impound rules have been in effect for one week, what are your thoughts?
“I have liked the new impound rule since the beginning. I think it helps the Busch teams save a lot of money and time. The only thing that frustrates me is the 3 p.m. start times, especially in California.”

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