Kevin Harvick
No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet
Event Preview Fact Sheet
Event/Date: Daytona 500 – February 18, 2007
Venue: Daytona International Speedway – Daytona Beach, Fla.
NOTES:
This Week’s Race Car at Daytona International Speedway … Kevin Harvick will pilot Chassis No. 087 from the Richard Childress Racing (RCR) stable. This is the same Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet Harvick drove to 23rd and sixth-place finishes last year at Talladega Superspeedway. Additionally, Harvick raced this chassis in all four superspeedway races in 2005, finishing 28th, 12th, 24th, and 10th, respectively. Chassis No. 087 is the oldest car in the current No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil fleet.
Stat Facts … In 11 Cup starts at Daytona International Speedway, Harvick has posted one pole, two top-five and four top-10 finishes.
The Fast Way Around … Harvick captured his only Daytona pole at the 2002 Pepsi 400. He posted a lap of 48.638 seconds (185.041 mph).
Media Opportunity … Harvick will be available outside the No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil transporter to field questions from the media Friday, Feb. 16 at 1:20 p.m.
RCR Rocks Daytona … Dating back to 1986, RCR has won seven poles and owns 22 total victories at Daytona International Speedway, including 10 straight (1990-1999) Twin 125 wins with Dale Earnhardt. All totaled, RCR has won five Bud Shootouts, 13 Twin 125 qualifying races, two Pepsi 400s and one Daytona 500. Additionally, Dale Earnhardt Jr., won the February 2002 NASCAR Busch Series (NBS) race at Daytona driving a car fielded by RCR.
Double Dippin’ … In addition to his driving duties with the No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet at Daytona, Harvick, a 26-time race winner in the NASCAR Busch Series, will driver the No. 21 AutoZone Chevy on Saturday, Feb. 17, in the Orbitz 300 NASCAR Busch race. The race will be televised live on ESPN 2 and also broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius Satellite Radio beginning at 1:15 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) p.m.
Restrictor Plate Success … Harvick has competed in 23 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series restrictor plate races (Daytona and Talladega), completing 98 percent of the laps. He has an average starting position of 16.7 and an average finishing spot of 14.9. Additionally, Harvick boasts two poles (Daytona 2002 and Talladega 2005), five top-five and 10 top-10 finishes.
On Stage … Fans can see Harvick live Friday, Feb. 16 at noon on the Chevy Stage, located in the merchandise area outside turn four at Daytona International Speedway. Harvick will be part of a question and answer session hosted by Chevrolet.
Meet the Driver … Harvick will appear at the Shell/Pennzoil Passionate Experts display Sunday, Feb. 18 from 10:30-10:45 a.m. The Shell/Pennzoil Passionate Experts display will be located in the parking lot of the Cancun Lagoon restaurant, outside turn four off speedway property. Harvick will answer questions for all his fans.
Catch the Action … The Daytona 500 will be televised live Sunday, Feb. 18 beginning at 3:15 pm. EST on FOX and broadcast live on MRN and Sirius Satellite Radio. The Gatorade Duel at Daytona, 150-mile qualifying races, will take the green flag Thursday, Feb. 14 at 2 p.m. EST and will be broadcast live on SPEED, MRN and Sirius. Qualifying for the Daytona 500 will air live on FOX, MRN and Sirius on Sunday, Feb. 11 beginning at 2 p.m. EST.
KEVIN HARVICK QUOTES:
How much of a factor does the wind play at Daytona?
“The wind blows so hard here that it’s really hard to know if you’re gaining a half-a-tenth or a hundredth. That’s really what you’re looking for is hundredths. When the wind is blowing and you have to go back and decipher all the data, it makes it a little difficult to know for sure whether something’s right or wrong.”
How has owning your own team helped you in your career?
“Owning my own team has helped me understand things. For example, you just can’t put a new crankshaft in the engine in a week. I understand that a lot more now. It has also helped me in my personal relationship with Richard. I understand where he’s coming from a lot more.”
What is your relationship with your crew chief Todd Berrier?
“Todd is one of my best friends; we’ve been together since my early Busch days. In this sport, there is no guarantee that chemistry will work, so the fact that Todd and I and most of these guys have been together for so long is a big plus.”
Is the Daytona 500 the race you have to have in your career?
“The Daytona 500 has made stock car racing what it is today. It is the premier stock car race. I don’t think my career would be tainted by not winning the 500. However, I think it would be pretty high on the resume if you could win the Daytona 500. It is something that we all shoot for every winter. It is the biggest race that you can win but if you don’t win it in your career I don’t think it is the end of the world.”
Is there a lot of pressure for the 500?
“The Daytona 500 is a different intensity just for the mere fact that the sponsors bring everyone that is involved in the racing program. Also, the 500 pole and practice mean so much. We have worked all winter to get to this point. We are there for two weeks and it just wears you down as you go through the weeks. There are so many highs and lows that you go through during the weeks, it just wears on you mentally. Sometimes you wreck your primary car during qualifying and then you have to figure out your back-up car. There are just some many emotions you go through during the weeks it just wears you down."
Talk a little bit about your Daytona 500 career?
“My Daytona 500 career has been really up and down. We have been in contention to win a couple of them and crashed in a couple of them. Last year we had a really good car and had some carburetor trouble and didn’t finish where we wanted. We have had some bad luck and a couple of decent finishes in Daytona. We haven’t been able to come away with a win yet so that is our goal. This is the closest we have been in the last four years so I am really excited about the race.”
RICHARD CHILDRESS QUOTES:
You know the feeling of winning the Daytona 500. What would it mean to you and RCR if you won this year’s event?
“All winter all I thought about was winning the Daytona 500. It’s been a while since RCR has won a restrictor plate race and it just feels like it’s time to win it this year. I feel real good about our chances of winning the race.”
What are your thoughts on the changes to this year’s Chase format?
“I think it’s going to add a lot more excitement. With 12 drivers now eligible to make the Chase and the extra points you get for winning races, it’s going to throw in some extra excitement. It’s definitely a neat deal. With only 10 drivers on stage for the season-ending banquet, you don’t want to be one of the two drivers that’s left out, that’s for sure.”
