Checker Auto Parts 500 - Kevin Harvick Notes

KEVIN HARVICK
Harvick in a “chase” of his own with two races to go

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (November 8, 2005) – While the NASCAR nation’s focus is squarely on the four way battle for the NEXTEL Cup championship, another battle is shaping up to be just as intense over the final two events. The “race to the banquet” has become a four driver dogfight for 11th place in the final standings, a seat at the NASCAR banquet in New York City and the hefty $1,000,000 bonus that comes with it. A mere 81 points separates positions 11th through 14th heading into this weekend’s race at Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway (PIR).

GM Goodwrench driver Kevin Harvick is currently 14th in points and the furthest driver within shot of Jamie McMurray and 11th place in the standings. However the Bakersfield, Calif., native likes his chances of picking up ground in Phoenix. Harvick is no stranger to victory lane in the Valley of the Sun. He has two victories at the one-mile PIR track in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (2002, ’03). Last year, he scored a fourth place finish at PIR and was on his way to a top-five in this year’s spring race before running out of gas on the final lap.

“Phoenix is one of the tracks that I really look forward to,” said Harvick. “We have always run really well there in all of NASCAR’s series. We had a good top-five car back in the spring race, before running out of gas on the last lap. Our program is much better now than we were when we raced out there in April, so I am really excited about this weekend.”

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