Race 2 Win: Telcel-Motorola 200 - Kevin Harvick Notes

NASCAR Busch Series

Telcel-Motorola 200 - Kevin Harvick Notes

Kevin Harvick
No. 21 U.S. Coast Guard Chevrolet
Event Preview Fact Sheet

Event/Date: Telcel-Motorola 200 – March 5, 2006
Venue: Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez – Mexico City, Mexico

Kevin Harvick’s Busch Series Performance History at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez

NOTES:

This Week’s Race Car at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez … Kevin Harvick will pilot chassis No. 048 from the Richard Childress Racing stable. This is the same chassis that raced to a second-place finish last March at Mexico and a sixth-place finish in August at Watkins Glen. During the off-season, it received a 2006 Monte Carlo SS body.

Road Course Stat … In three Busch Series road course events, Harvick has collected three top-five finishes and has qualified ninth or better. Harvick’s Debut in Coast Guard Chevy … Kevin Harvick will take the wheel of the No. 21 Coast Guard Chevy this weekend at Mexico City for the first time this season. Harvick is scheduled to pilot the No. 21 machine for 30 races in 2006 . The Bakersfield, Calif., native steps behind the wheel with a nine-point lead over J.J. Yeley in the NASCAR Busch Series point standings. He has 133 starts, 17 wins, 13 poles, 65 top-five and 91 top-10 finishes in Busch Series competition.

Guarda Costas … The No. 21 machine will sport “Guarda Costas” (“Coast Guard” in Spanish) on the right rear quarter panel for this weekend’s race.

What a Journey … Just like 2005, the start to the 2006 Busch Series season will be grueling for the NASCAR Busch Series teams. The transport drivers will carry much of the load as they’ll travel from Daytona Beach, Fla., to Fontana, Calif., to Mexico City, Mexico, to Las Vegas, Nev., and finally to Atlanta before finally making a stop back in North Carolina. In all, the truck drivers will spend 24 days and approximately 11,500 miles on the road.

The U.S. Coast Guard … Every day, the Coast Guard saves 15 lives, assists 117 people in distress, protects $2.8 million in property, conducts 90 search and rescue cases, seizes $21 million worth of illegal drugs and responds to 11 oil and hazardous chemical spills.

RCR Road Course Stats … In seven pervious Busch Series road course events, RCR has yet to record a win but they have posted three top-five and five top-10 finishes. In 2005, RCR cars finished in the top 10 in three out of four attempts and led a total of 19 laps.

Did you Know … Harvick has an average starting spot of 8.6 in NASCAR Busch Series competition, ranking him first all-time in average starting spot with a minimum of 100 starts.

Up to Speed … The Telcel-Motorola 200 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez will be televised live Sunday, March 5 beginning at 2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on FOX. The Motor Racing Network (MRN) will also carry the race broadcast live. Qualifying for the Telcel-Motorola 200 will air live on SPEED Saturday, March 4 beginning at 1:30 p.m. EST.

KEVIN HARVICK QUOTES:

Is racing in Mexico City good for the sport?
“I think racing in Mexico will prove to be a great move for our sport in the future. The reaction we received from the fans last year was outstanding. They fans were unbelievable, and I expect the same reaction this year. I think you will see a lot of cars painted differently than they usually are to connect with the Mexican culture. There are also going to be handful of Mexican drivers competing this year. This gives them the opportunity to see how competitive the NASCAR Busch Series really is.”

Did you enjoy racing in Mexico last year?
“I got really sick last year, so I didn’t get to enjoy it like I should have. All in all, I think it is a really unique experience. It is a lot of fun, and I really enjoy road racing so I am really looking forward to the trip back.”

Is the Mexico track similar to Infineon or Watkins Glen?
“It is definitely a unique place. It is really flat and the corners are really sharp. It doesn’t have all the elevation changes that Infineon has. It never hurts to get more experience on a road course since we only get to drive them twice a year in the Cup Series.”

Why did you decide to run the full Busch Series schedule in 2006?
“We decided to run the full Busch Series schedule before NASCAR changed the impound schedule. However, with NASCAR backing off practice time, limiting our tests and limiting the amount of tires available, I think it will give us a chance to understand the tire pressures and how they are wearing. I also enjoy running in the Busch Series because it gives me a chance to do what I love without all the pressure of the Cup Series.”