KEVIN HARVICK
Harvick Not Counting Chase Chickens Before They Hatch
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (Aug. 29, 2006) – GM Goodwrench driver Kevin Harvick heads to California Speedway for Sunday’s running of the Sony HD 500 in much better shape for making the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL than he has in the last two years.
The 2001 Cup Series Rookie of the Year ranked 16th in the standings at this point in 2005. However, Harvick knows a lot can happen in the final two Race to the Chase events and is reluctant to think he has secured a spot until it finally happens. Only 129 points separate drivers third (Harvick) through 10th place (Mark Martin) in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series standings leading into this weekend’s event. To put that in perspective and to highlight this tight points battle, a total of 383 points separated drivers third through 10th place heading into the same event in 2005. In 2004, that margin was 308 points.
“It is really stressful because you don’t want to have a hiccup and lose a bunch of points in one race,” said Harvick. “We escaped Bristol and now head to California, which I feel is our worst track. I felt Michigan was our second-worst track. With the year that we have had, it would be a shame not to be in the Chase, but there is still that possibility that it could happen. But until it happens, we aren’t going to count our chickens before they hatch. It is just a lot of pressure on everybody to make it happen.”
This weekend at California Speedway comes down to numbers for the drivers in the top 10. The good news for Harvick as he takes to a track this weekend that has not been kind to him in the past, is that he cannot be mathematically eliminated from the Chase contention even if he finishes last. On the flip side, if Harvick finishes third or better this Sunday, he clinches a spot in the Chase. In eight starts at California Speedway, Harvick has two top-10 finishes and one DNF.
“We have run really badly there and we have run really well there,” said Harvick about at California Speedway. “It is just that our finishes haven’t been that good. We have been kind of hit or miss. It has been the same way at Michigan for us, but we were decent at Michigan both races this year, so we are pretty comfortable with where we are for California. I feel like if we get into the Chase, we will have a chance to do what we need. Once you get in, you can pretty much let it all hang out and go for it. It is a 10-race shootout, and that is the way we are going to treat it.”
No. 29 GM Goodwrench driver and Bakersfield, Calif. native Kevin Harvick about California Speedway…
How do you treat racing in Fontana near family and friends?
“It is nice to go out there, but I don’t treat it as time to get to see my family and friends. I treat it as a job and go out like everybody else. We get there the day before everything starts on the track, so I don’t spend a lot of time with them. It is cool to have them all there and obviously we are supported well there, but we still have to go out there and make it happen.”
About his strong season to date:
“Our cars have been really good and everything has been going our way. If we can keep the momentum on our side and get through these next two races and put ourselves in position for the Chase we will be in good shape. The performance of our cars has been really good. It has kept us in the game, so hopefully that will continue.”
Points of Interest…
Track Stat…In eight starts at California Speedway, Harvick has compiled two top-10 finishes and one DNF. He finished 14th in this race a year ago and 29th in February. Harvick has led in three of his eight California races for a total of 28 laps.
Avg. Start/Avg. Finish...Kevin Harvick’s average starting position at California Speedway is 23.2, with his best start of 13th coming in 2002 (he went on to finish 25th). Harvick’s average finishing position is 21.9, with his best finish of sixth coming in 2005 (he started 31st).
Harvick a Closer...According to NASCAR’s season-to-date Loop Data statistics, Harvick ranks second on the list of closers on the Cup Series circuit. A closer ranking is determined by the number of positions gained during the last 10 percent of each race. Harvick’s average spots gained are 1.542, with a total of 37 positions gained.
Fastest Driver on Restarts…According to NASCAR’s season-to-date Loop Data statistics, Harvick is the fastest driver on restarts. This stat ranks each driver on the speed of their first two laps under green conditions following a restart. If this weekend’s race comes down to a green-white-checkered flag finish and he is running in the top five, this stat positions Harvick as a strong contender for the win.
Chase for the NEXTEL Cup…Harvick finished 11th at Bristol Motor Speedway to remain third in the NNCS standings. He has ranked in the top 10 in the last 18 races. Harvick ranked 16th in the standings at this point in 2005. He has 10 top-five and 13 top-10 finishes in 2006 and has been running at the finish in the last 36 races.
Runnin’ It...Harvick will be behind the wheel of chassis No. 174 this weekend at California Speedway. This chassis is brand new and has not been used yet.
#29 Goodwrench Expertise Challenge…Twenty-nine lucky fans will receive an all-new 2007 Chevy Avalanche if GM Goodwrench driver Kevin Harvick wins 2 of 12 selected NASCAR Nextel Cup races. GM Godwrench will also set up a $200,000 scholarship fund to encourage young men and women to pursue careers as automotive technicians after the two wins occur. Fans can join the challenge by visiting a Chevrolet dealership or a Chevy display at select NASCAR events to get a ticket with an official promotion code. They then visit goodwrench.com/expert, enter the promotion code and submit the registration form to receive a sweepstakes entry. They can also visit goodwrench.com/expert to get a promotion code and complete the registration process. The next Expertise Challenge race will be at Richmond International Raceway on September 9th.
Victory Lane Savings Promotion…GM Goodwrench driver Kevin Harvick gave all GM customers and NASCAR fans their second chance to cash in on a $10 rebate when he won the AMD at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on Sunday, August 13, 2006. Throughout the remainder of the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season, any time the No. 29 GM Goodwrench/Reese’s Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS is first past the checkers, the first 5,000 people who visit goodwrench.com starting at 3 a.m. EDT the Monday after the win can celebrate with a $10 mail-in rebate.
Start time…The Sony HD 500 will begin at 7:00 p.m. EDT Sept. 3 on NBC. If you can’t catch the race on TV, it can be heard on your local MRN Radio affiliate and XM Satellite Radio (Channel 144) starting at the same time. Remember to check your local listings as dates and times of the race may change.
