Race 2 Win: Carfax 250 - Kevin Harvick Notes

NASCAR Busch Series

Carfax 250 - Matt Kenseth Notes

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

Event/Date: Carfax 250 – Aug. 19, 2006
Venue: Michigan International Speedway – Brooklyn, Mich.

NOTES:

This Week’s Race Car at Michigan International Speedway … Kevin Harvick will pilot Chassis No. 056 from the Richard Childress Racing (RCR) stable. Built new for 2006, this is the same car Harvick drove to a 13th-place finish in June in Dover.

Stat Facts … In five NASCAR Busch Series starts at MIS, Harvick has earned one win, two top-five and three top-10 finishes. The Bakersfield, Calif., native has also led laps in all but one race at the two-mile oval.

Welcome Back Shane Wilson … Crew chief Shane Wilson will return this weekend at MIS after a six-race suspension for unapproved aerodynamic modifications on the No. 21 during post-qualifying inspection at Daytona International Speedway. Since his absence, Harvick and the U.S. Coast Guard team has collected two wins, five top-five and six top-10 finishes. He has also led 285 laps and started every race in the top 10.

Record Season … Harvick’s best season to date occurred in 2001 when he won the NASCAR Busch Series and the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Rookie of the year, finishing ninth in the point standings. He also tallied seven wins, 26 top-five and 40 top-10 finishes. However, Harvick is in the process of producing a new highlight reel. With his win last weekend at Watkins Glen International, the Bakersfield, Calif., native has collected seven wins, 25 top-five and 34 top-10 finishes. He currently leads the NASCAR Busch Series point standings and sits third in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Chase for the Championship.

A Second Teammate … This weekend Harvick will have a second teammate during the NASCAR Busch Series race. He will have his regular teammate Clint Bowyer along with Jeff Burton who will drive the No. 29 Holiday Inn Chevy. Burton is scheduled to drive four more races in the No. 29 and one more race in the No. 21. Combined, the trio has tallied seven wins, 28 top-five and 38 top-10 finishes during behind the wheel of an RCR Busch Series entry this season.

RCR Busch Brigade … In 24 Busch Series races this season, RCR Busch teams (No. 2, No. 21 and No. 29) have claimed a top 10 in every event but one. This occurred June 30th at The Milwaukee Mile when Bowyer and Harvick were collected in a late race incident; they finished 18th and 19th, respectively. They have also claimed a top 5 in 20 of the 24 races.

Media Opportunity … Harvick will be available outside the No. 21 U.S. Coast Guard Transporter to field questions from the media Friday, August 18 at 9:45 a.m.

Up to Speed … The Carfax 250 at MIS will be televised live Saturday, August 19 beginning at 3 p.m. EDT on TNT. MRN and XM Satellite Radio will also carry the race broadcast live. Qualifying for the 24th of 35 NASCAR Busch Series events will take the green flag at 11:40 a.m. EDT Saturday, Aug. 19.

KEVIN HARVICK QUOTES:
Are you excited to have Shane Wilson back on the pit box this weekend?
“It’s going to be good to have Shane back this weekend. He is the leader of this U.S. Coast Guard team. He has put a lot of hard work into this team this season and it has really shown. With that said, I can’t tell you how proud I am of Pat Smith, my Cup crew chief Todd Berrier and all the guys for stepping up in Shane’s absence. They did a great job and I have a lot of respect for the job that everyone did during a tough situation.”

CREW CHIEF SHANE WILSON QUOTES:
How difficult was the suspension?
“It was really tough not being at the track. Racing has been my whole life. I’ve been going to a race track and working on cars forever, so to be told ‘you can’t go’ was really hard. All the guys on this U.S. Coast Guard team stepped up and I am really proud of them. I really have to thank Todd Berrier and Pat Smith for stepping up and helping this team during my absences. They did a great job and now I have some big shoes to fill.”

Did the six races seem like forever?
“On the weekends it did. During the week, I had so much going on trying to get cars ready and work on things for down the road. The hard part was watching the race and not being able to be a part of it. Friday through Sunday felt like forever. But the rest of the week went by pretty fast.”