Race 2 Win: Kroger 200 - Kevin Harvick Notes

NASCAR Busch Series

Kroger 200 - Kevin Harvick Notes

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

Event/Date: Kroger 200 – Aug. 5, 2006
Venue: O’Reilly Raceway Park – Claremont, Ind.

NOTES:

This Week’s Race Car at O’Reilly Raceway Park … Kevin Harvick will pilot Chassis No. 058 from the Richard Childress Racing (RCR) stable. Built new for 2006, this is the same car Harvick drove to victory lane two weeks ago at Martinsville.

Former Winner, Stat Facts … In two NASCAR Busch Series starts at Indianapolis Raceway Park, Harvick has earned one win (2001) and another top-10 finish (eighth). The Bakersfield, Calif., has also led 29 laps at the 0.6-mile track.

Short-Track King … Harvick’s NASCAR Busch Series short track stats include 10 wins, 22 top-five and 23 top-10 finishes in 32 starts. That’s a victory in 32 percent of the Busch Series short track races he has entered, a top-five in 68 percent of races and a top-10 in 72 percent of the races. He has also lead 1,584 of 8,010 laps attempted on tracks that are less than one-mile.

Pinch Driver … Randy LaJoie will sub for Harvick this weekend at O’Reilly Raceway Park for 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.

Interim Crew Chief … Todd Berrier, crew chief of Harvick’s No. 29 GM Goodwrench Chevy in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, will serve as crew chief for this weekend’s Kroger 200 at O’Reilly Raceway Park. Berrier has led Harvick to one win, eight top-five and 11 top-10 finishes in NASCAR’s senior circuit this season.

Night Owls … In 22 NASCAR Busch Series races this year, nine of them have occurred under the lights. Of those nine races, Team Coast Guard has two wins (Phoenix; Richmond), five top-five and eight top-10 finishes.

Chevy Day at The Brickyard … Harvick will participate in Chevy Day at the Brickyard on Friday, August 4 from 10-noon in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway infield. The U.S. Coast Guard driver will provide media and Chevrolet consumers “hot laps” around the historic 2.5-mile race course. He will also race remote controlled cars, participate in a fan question-and-answer session and sign autographs. RCR president and CEO Richard Childress, along with Harvick’s teammates Jeff Burton and Clint Bowyer, will also be on-hand for the morning’s activities.

Double Time … Once again, Harvick will return to the seat of RCR’s No. 29 Reese’s Cookies Chevrolet this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Harvick and teammates Clint Bowyer and Jeff Burton will make the commute from Indianapolis Motor Speedway to O’Reilly Raceway Park via helicopter. Live television coverage of The Allstate 400 at the Brickyard will take the green flag Sunday, August 6 at 2:40 p.m. Eastern Daylight time (EDT) on NBC. The Motor Racing Network (MRN) and XM Satellite Radio will also broadcast the race live from coast to coast. Harvick is currently fifth in the NASCAR Nextel Cup championship chase.

Up to Speed … The Kroger 200 at O’Reilly Raceway Park will be televised live Saturday, August 5 beginning at 9 p.m. EDT on TNT. MRN and XM Satellite Radio will also carry the race broadcast live. Qualifying for the 23rd of 35 NASCAR Busch Series events will take the green flag at 6:05 p.m. EDT Saturday, Aug. 5.

KEVIN HARVICK QUOTES:
You haven’t raced at ORP since 2001, so what do you remember about the track?
“I don’t remember much. I haven’t been there in a while. I do know they have installed safer barriers so that will probably change how you drive the track. In the past, we would drive right up against the wall in the middle of the corners until they repaved the track. When they repaved it the racing grooved moved down a little bit. Now, with the safer barriers, I anticipate the groove will move back up against the wall.”

How important will practice be for you and your team?
“Practice for me at ORP is going to be sporadic because of the Cup schedule. I should make it to at least one practice session depending on where we go out in Cup qualifying. Making qualifying and the race won’t be a problem. Randy LaJoie will be on hand to practice the car if I can’t make it over there in time. I think everything will be just fine.”

Do you enjoy racing at ORP?
“ORP is really cool because of the history. It’s always a great race to watch. It a good ol’ Saturday night race under the lights. You are going to see a lot of beating and banging. I just love racing at short tracks. “