Kevin Harvick
No. 29 Shell Chevrolet
Event Preview Fact Sheet
Event/Date: Budweiser Shootout – February 10, 2007
Venue: Daytona International Speedway – Daytona Beach, Fla.
This Week’s Race Car at Daytona International Speedway … Kevin Harvick will pilot Chassis No. 185 from the Richard Childress Racing (RCR) stable. Built new for 2007, this is the same Shell Monte Carlo SS Harvick tested at Daytona International Speedway Jan. 8-11.
Stat Facts …
Harvick gained entry into this year’s Budweiser Shootout by capturing the Bud Pole at New Hampshire International Speedway in September.
This will be Harvick’s fourth appearance in the annual running of the Budweiser Shootout, with his best finish of third coming in 2003.
Five Wins for RCR … Dating back to 1986, RCR has captured five Budweiser Shootout victories – 1986, 88, 91, 93, and 95 – with driver Dale Earnhardt.
The Draw Party … Budweiser’s annual Draw Party – an event unique to the Bud Shootout where the eligible drivers draw for their starting position - will take place Thursday, Feb. 8 at the SPEED stage located outside turn four. This year’s Draw Party will be televised on SPEED beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST).
All in the Family … RCR has had an entry in 20 of 28 Budweiser Shootouts. Additionally, 2007 will mark only the fourth time RCR has had two drivers in the race. The last time was in 2001 when Mike Skinner and Dale Earnhardt competed in the event.
Young Gun … Timothy Peters, the latest addition to RCR’S stable of drivers, will make his second ARCA start behind the wheel of the No. 31 Okuma/Cometic Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS in the ARCA 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Live coverage of the event begins Saturday, February 10 at 4 p.m. EST on SPEED.
No. 29’s New Look … In October 2006 Shell Oil Company announced the brand’s return to NASCAR through a multi-year sponsorship of RCR. Through the sponsorship, both Shell and Pennzoil brands will be featured on the No. 29 Shell Chevrolet. Shell will also be the associate sponsor on other RCR cars including the No. 31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet driven by Jeff Burton and the No. 07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet driven by Clint Bowyer.
Catch the Action … Live coverage of the Budweiser Shootout begins Saturday, February 10 at 7 p.m. EST on FOX. The Motor Racing Network and Sirius Satellite Radio will also carry the broadcast live beginning at 7:15 EST.
KEVIN HARVICK QUOTES:
Do you think running the Budweiser Shootout will help determine how well you will match-up against the rest of the field in the Daytona 500?
“I don’t think so. I think most teams will bring their back-up cars for the Shootout and save their best car for the 500. I think the Shootout gives you a chance to get back in the swing of things and shake a little rust off. It is also a great opportunity to get extra exposure for the sponsors.”
Are you excited about running in your fourth Budweiser Shootout race?
“The Budweiser Shootout is a lot of fun to race because it doesn’t have any points tied to it. It gives you a chance to go out there and give it all you have and not worry about anything. It also gives us a chance to get a race under our belts before everything really gets going.”
How was the Shell Chevrolet at the pre-season test at Daytona?
“Testing went really good. I think this is one of the best Daytona tests I have had in my career. We had one car that was really strong and the other two were off by just a little. So we came back to the shop and cut the bodies off of them and started over. Hopefully, we made our Budweiser Shootout car just as competitive as our Daytona 500 car. We are really really excited about the car we have for the 500.”
You have a go-kart track in your backyard. Do you think it helps you stay sharp during the off-season?
“I think so. My little asphalt track in my backyard only takes about six seconds to get around. It is short track racing at its best. I think it is good anytime I can get a chance to get behind the wheel and keep the rust off a little. Usually in the off-season I kind of hibernate and I didn’t want to do that again this year.”
RICHARD CHILDRESS QUOTES:
RCR was classified as the comeback story of the year last year. How do you feel about your teams this year?
“I feel real good about it. We are excited about this year. Our test sessions went well this winter, although we would have liked to have been a little better in a couple of situations. I think if we have the same car, same engines and everything going into this coming year, we will definitely be a contender. We’re no different than any other team out there. There are a lot of unknowns – the new Impala SS Car of Tomorrow, the R07 Chevrolet engine – but I feel that we are prepared as any team out there.”
