Race 2 Win: Federated Auto Parts 300

NASCAR Busch Series

Federated Auto Parts 300 - Kevin Harvick Notes

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

Event/Date: Federated Auto Parts 300 – June 10, 2006
Venue: Nashville Superspeedway – Lebanon, Tenn.

NOTES:

This Week’s Race Car at Nashville Superspeedway … Kevin Harvick will pilot Chassis No. 052 from the Richard Childress Racing (RCR) stables. Chassis No. 052 won the April event at Nashville and also finished fourth at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Stat Facts … In two Busch Series starts at Nashville Superspeedway, Harvick has posted one win and two top-5 finishes. The Bakersfield, Calif., native has also led 71 laps and has an average starting and finishing position of fourth.

Pinch Driver … Randy LaJoie will sub for Harvick this weekend at Nashville Superspeedway during Saturday’s practice sessions. LaJoie is a two-time NASCAR Busch Series Champion (1996 and 1997). Additionally, he has tallied 15 wins, 62 top-five and 118 top-10 finishes in his career.

Stand Alone Success … This weekend marks the first of several races that the NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series will race at different venues. Harvick has seen great success when the two divisions split. He has recorded a win at five of the eight tracks that are considered “stand alone” events. These tracks include: Gateway, Memphis, Nashville, Kentucky and Indianapolis Raceway Park. The 20-time NASCAR Busch Series winner has not yet recorded wins at Mexico, Milwaukee and Martinsville.

RCR at Nashville … In 21 previous Busch Series races at Nashville Superspeedway, RCR has posted two wins (Harvick 2006 and Clint Bowyer 2005), one pole (Harvick 2001), 10 top-five and 11 top-10 finishes. RCR cars have also led 357 laps.

Roles Reversed … This weekend at Nashville Superspeedway, Harvick and Bowyer will switch the roles of veteran and rookie driver. Bowyer, who was a rookie in the NASCAR Busch Series last year, normally counts on Harvick for advice on set-up and characteristics of each track. However, this weekend Bowyer has twice the number of starts as Harvick. He has also accumulated one win and five top-five finishes in just five starts.

Testing, One, Two, Three, Testing … Harvick and Team Goodwrench tested at Virginia Internationals Raceway (VIR) June 5-6 in preparation for the June 25 race at Infineon Raceway.

Dirt Racing for a Good Cause … Harvick,along with two dozen NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers and celebrities, are scheduled to race at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, owned by defending NEXTEL Cup champion Tony Stewart, Wednesday, June 7. The money raised by this event will be donated to the Victory Junction Gang Camp, a proud charity of NASCAR and non-profit organization created to enrich the lives of children with chronic or life-threatening illnesses.

Up to Speed … The Federated Auto Parts 300 at Nashville Superspeedway will be televised live Saturday, June 10 beginning at 8:05 p.m. EDT on FX. The Motor Racing Network and XM Satellite Radio will also carry the race broadcast live. Qualifying for the 15th of 35 NASCAR Busch Series events will take the green flag at 5 p.m. EDT Saturday, June 10 and will be telecasted live on live on SPEED.

KEVIN HARVICK QUOTES:
Do you think the chase for the championship format would be worthwhile in the Busch Series?
“I think it would be great in the Busch Series. If somebody participates all the time and runs all the races, I think it would add some excitement to the end of the year.”

You are approaching a stretch where Busch races will not be companion races with the NEXTEL Cup Series. Is now a time to keep piling on your lead to make it as big as you can?
“The think I look at is that the next five guys behind me are in the same boat I am. If it’s weather, it’s going to be for everyone. It’s nice to have a big lead. You can lose it in a hurry. The guys that are immediately behind us are in the same boat we are.”

What do you think about the possibility of racing in Canada?
“It just depends on the weekend. I enjoy going to different places to race. It just depends on what weekend it would be. It just depends on where it falls and what our game plan is for next year.”

What are your thoughts about going back to Nashville after winning there in April?
“Nashville was good to us the last time we were there. We were fortunate that Clint Bowyer has had a lot of success in the past and had a good set-up to start off with. We adjusted the set-up to what we wanted it to be. Nashville is another one of those place where we put ourselves in the position to win and Clint probably had the best car, but they made a little mistake and got a little behind. We have to keep doing the same thing and keep controlling what we have control of.”

Is the guitar one of the coolest trophy’s that you have won?
“The guitar is one of the main reasons why I wanted to run full-time in the Busch Series. To have one now is really neat. Hopefully, we can win this weekend and I will have two.”