KEVIN HARVICK
Leveling the Playing Field
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (November 11, 2003) - There's really only one way to
level the playing field when it comes to NASCAR Winston Cup racing. When so
many teams have opportunities to test different venues, it always seems like
someone can get a leg up on the competition heading into a race weekend.
But that's not the case for NASCAR's final events at the recently renovated
Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway.
Since the racetrack was reconfigured to add banking in the corners earlier
this year, the sanctioning body decided to give all the teams one day before
the races this weekend to test their cars and feel out the track's new
surface. Not only has the 1.5-mile oval been totally resurfaced, but the
banking in the corners has gone from a measly 6-degrees to an enormous
20-degrees.
One way Kevin Harvick and the No. 29 GM Goodwrench racing team plan to get
ahead of the game is by having Harvick run the NASCAR Busch Series race on
Saturday. That guarantees him an extra test day this week and extra
practice time throughout the weekend. A valuable commodity when it comes to
getting a grip on the racetrack.
The 2001 Winston Cup Rookie-of-the-Year's first two attempts at Homestead in
a Winston Cup car were promising. He led 47 laps and finished seventh his
first time out in 2001. Last year, he would have bettered that effort if
the motor wouldn't have lost a cylinder with less than 70 laps to go. With
a chance to break into the top-five in points still within reach, look for
Harvick and Team GM Goodwrench to do everything they can to make that
happen.
No. 29 GM Goodwrench driver Kevin Harvick on Miami...
What do you remember about the racetrack?
"Homestead hasn't been one of my favorite tracks. I've always run well
there, and last year we blew up a motor when we were running in the top-10.
I didn't really like the racetrack layout, but always did well there. It
was flat and hard to make the car work through the corners. Now, from what
I've heard, there's 20-degrees of banking in the corners which will make it
totally different."
What have you heard about its reconfigured layout?
"Just that it is going to be super-fast with the progressive banking in the
corners. I think it's really going to be a crapshoot for everybody. We're
running both the Busch and Winston Cup Series cars down there so that will
help to learn the racetrack. We get to have a day to go down there and
practice before we go race so we have somewhat of an idea. Other than that,
it's going to be a roll-the-dice type of race."
Do you think it was a good idea?
"I don't know if it needed to be changed. I like the flatter type
racetracks, but they're kind of hard to pass on. We'll just have to see how
the progressive banking and all that stuff work's itself out during the
race. It's probably going to be a lot like Loudon (N.H.) with the layout,
just with more banking in the corners and longer straight-aways to pick up
speed."
How important is it to run the NASCAR Busch Series race on Saturday?
"Probably more important this weekend than it has been all year. First of
all, since we are running the Busch race, we get to come in early and test
the car ahead of everybody else. That will give me a leg up on most of the
Winston Cup guys because I'll get to spend about twice as much time on the
racetrack. I'll get to make a bunch of laps around it and really feel it
out. Plus, I'll get to see what it's like in race condition on Saturday to
get me ready for Sunday."
What do you think about this teams chances next year?
"The No. 29 GM Goodwrench racing team is going to be one to reckon with. We
showed throughout the middle part of the season what we could do. It's only
a matter of consistency, and I think we are getting closer and closer every
year. I'm proud of what we were able to accomplish this season. We've
come a long way and I think that will give us an edge next year."
No. 29 GM Goodwrench crew chief Todd Berrier on Miami...
What have you heard about the track's new layout?
"Not much. A few teams have gotten the chance to do some Goodyear tire
tests, and all they've really said is that the racetrack will be a lot
faster. You could figure that out from just the way everybody says it will
look. High banking in the corners, new pavement around the whole place.
They've got a lot of money invested in it. Let's hope it works out for
them."
Points of Interest...
Team GM Goodwrench will take chassis No.88 to Homestead for this
weekend's 267-lap event. This chassis, last run at (Kansas City) Kansas
Speedway in October, is the same one that Harvick took the pole and won with
at Indianapolis (Ind.) Motor Speedway this year.
On Friday morning, Kevin Harvick and GM Goodwrench will take part in
a press conference at the Media Center with Chevrolet and GM Racing on
sponsorship for the 2004 NASCAR season.
If Harvick is able to finish Sunday's NASCAR 400 Winston Cup Series
race, he will be the only driver in the NASCAR Top-10 to not post a DNF this
season.
Currently sixth in the Winston Cup Series driver points standings,
Harvick needs only to pick up 31 points on Jeff Gordon to finish in the
top-five in points for the first time in his three-year stint on the circuit
Start time for Sunday's NASCAR 400 is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET.
TV coverage of the race on NBC starts at 12:30 p.m., with radio coverage on
MRN beginning at 12:30 p.m. Remember times and dates of the race may
change, so check your local listings.
