KEVIN HARVICK
Harvick, Sugar Ray Set to Rock Richmond
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (September 2, 2003) - It will be a night of lights and
loud noises on Saturday when automobile manufacturer Chevrolet and Warner
Music Group join forces to bring the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 to Richmond (Va.)
International Raceway. A total of six Chevrolet's will don special paint
schemes for the event, including the No. 29 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet Monte
Carlo.
Sugar Ray will team up with Harvick for the promotion, one of the hippest
rock bands in the country right now. They are scheduled to play songs from
their new album "In the Pursuit of Leisure" after Friday night's Busch
Series race. The gold and black paint scheme, which features all of the
members of the band riding along with Harvick, was designed by Action
Performance Group.
"These special paint schemes are a lot of fun," says Harvick, who ran a
special Tasmanian Devil paint scheme for this race last year. "Ideas like
this bring a lot of new fans to the sport and it gives the fans something
else to see. I think the idea of the concert is really cool because it
draws some people that might not ordinarily come to see a NASCAR Winston Cup
race. We've been good in the Cup and Busch car at Richmond, so it should be
a good weekend for us."
Harvick has had recent success at Richmond, coming from 36th to finish sixth
in the spring race, his second-best finish in five tries and third top-10.
He is riding a wave of three consecutive runner-up finishes and five
consecutive top-five finishes since his win in the Brickyard 400 in August.
No. 29 GM Goodwrench driver Kevin Harvick on Richmond...
Why does everybody like racing at Richmond?
"It's Saturday night racing at its best. Also, I think everybody loves
racing there because we know we get a Sunday off. It's the style track most
everyone grew up on - three-quarter mile, plenty of room to race. The last
couple races though, it's been a little harder because the sealer's been
coming up. It's sticking to the tires, making it harder to get grip in the
corners and pass. Hopefully it will be better this time back."
You had a chance to see the soft walls just built at Richmond. What did you
think?
"NASCAR has done a great job working with the tracks in regards to our
safety and the safety of the fans. They took some time and did their
research to figure out how to do it right the first time. I think the soft
walls are a great idea. They obviously wouldn't be putting them up if it
wouldn't help. They looked great when we were there for the Chevy
announcement last week, but I certainly don't want to be the first one to
test them out."
How have the last three months been for you?
"We've finished third three times in a row and it's actually getting a
little frustrating that we're not winning. This sport is very tough. It's
very hard to run in the top-10, let alone the top-five. To be on the run
that we've had in the last three months, we're pretty fortunate. It's a lot
of fun to be in the racecars right now. I just get in and drive them, and
do everything I can because I know this team is doing everything they can."
Where do you see the point's race right now?
"It's not over. It's a long shot to win it, but we've been a long shot
before and overcome the odds and done things they said we couldn't do. If
they think it's over, just tell them to quit showing up and we'll keep
racing. We can't control Matt's (Kenseth) fate. We can't control anything
he does. All we can do is control ours. Alan Kulwicki came back to win
from 270 points down with just six races left, so I don't think it's out of
the question."
Do you like racing under the lights?
"Well, it's neat for the fans and good for the drivers because it keeps us
cool in the cars. I think you get a bigger speed sensation at night, with
the brakes glowing and the sparks flying everywhere. Believe it or not,
it's actually easier to see from a driver's standpoint when you are racing
at night. They've done such a good job with the lights that there are no
shadows around the racetrack. It's crystal clear viewing as opposed to
racing during the day."
No. 29 GM Goodwrench crew chief Todd Berrier on Richmond...
Any changes heading back to Richmond?
"Probably not that much. We're happy with a car that rolls through the
middle of the corners good without using the brakes and that's what we had
here in the spring. Track position will be key. By running up front you
can run your own line that will help you get through the corners."
Points of Interest...
* Team GM Goodwrench will take chassis No. 111 back to Richmond. This
chassis, the same one they ran in the spring, was last used at (Loudon) New
Hampshire International Speedway where Harvick grabbed his second runner-up
finish of the season in the New England 300.
* Harvick has been on a tear up the 2003 Winston Cup Series driver
points standings in recent weeks. Five top-fives in the last five races,
including three runner-up finishes in a row, has put him third, just 27
points behind Dale Earnhardt Jr. for second.
* The silver and black racing machine has led at least one lap in 13
of the 25 Winston Cup Series races run so far in 2003, including eight of
the last 10.
* Start time for the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 is slated for 7:30 p.m.
EDT. TV coverage of the race on TNT starts at 7:00 p.m., with radio
coverage on MRN beginning at 7:00 p.m. Remember times and dates of the race
may change, so check your local listings.
