Race 2 Win: NEXTEL Cup Series Race Notes

Nextel Cup Series

Allstate 400 at the Brickyard - Kevin Harvick Notes

Kevin Harvick
No. 29 Reese’s Racing Chevrolet
Event Preview Fact Sheet

Event/Date: Allstate 400 at the Brickyard – July 29, 2007
Venue: Indianapolis (Ind.) Motor Speedway

NOTES:

This Week’s Race Car at Indianapolis Motor Speedway … Kevin Harvick will pilot Chassis No. 120 from the Richard Childress Racing (RCR) stable. The Bakersfield, Calif., native drove this chassis last season to Victory Lane in the November races at Phoenix International Raceway and the September race at New Hampshire International Raceway.

Stat Facts … In six NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Harvick has earned one win (2003), one pole(2003), three top-five and four top-10 finishes. Additionally, the 11-time NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series winner has earned a 12.5 starting average and a 7.8 finishing average and has completed all 961 laps of competition.

Change of Scenery … Reese’s returns to the race track this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with an Elvis-themed paint scheme. The weekend celebrates the introduction of Reese’s Peanut Butter & Banana Crème Cups featuring Elvis Presley and the Reese’s “Live Like the King” promotion offering one lucky Reese’s lover the chance to win a 1957 Reese’s Elvis Tribute Car designed by famed car designer Boyd Coddington. The Collector Edition Reese’s includes a thin layer of banana crème, a flavor combination made famous by Elvis’ love of peanut butter and banana sandwiches.

Meeting the Buffalo Bills … Harvick, driver of the No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet and 2007 Daytona 500 champion, will stop by the Buffalo Bills first preseason practice session on Thursday, July 26 in Pittsford, NY. He will be available for one-on-one interviews from 9:30-10:20 a.m. and will participate in a meet-and-greet with the Bills from 10:20-10:50 a.m. Media members that are not already credentialed through the camp can RSVP to Eiron Smith at Watkins Glen International.

Night of Stars … Harvick along with his fellow competitors will convene on the dirt at I-55 Raceway for the fifth Night of Stars charity race in Pevely, Mo., on Wednesday, July 25. Harvick will be joined by NASCAR NEXTEL Cup regulars Dave Blaney, RCR teammate Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards, David Gilliland, David Reutimann, Kenny Wallace and Kenny Schrader. This year, the celebrity drivers will compete in Dirt Modifieds in heat races as well as a feature race. The All-Star event will benefit a variety of racing charities selected by the drivers. For information, visit www.i55raceway.com.

Make it Four … Scott Wimmer will attempt to qualify for his first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race of the season this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) driving the No. 33 Holiday Inn Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS, giving RCR four entries in the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. Wimmer was behind the wheel of the No. 33 at Homestead-Miami Speedway last November, where he started 24th and finished 12th.

“Live Like the King” … To celebrate the introduction of Reese’s Peanut Butter & Banana Crème Cups, Reese’s is running the “Live Like the King” promotion. To play, look for a game piece inside specially-marked packages of Reese’s Collector’s Edition Elvis Peanut Butter and Banana Crème products. Locate the prize message on your Game Piece. If your Game Piece reads “YOU’VE WON,” you are a winner of the stated prize which is subject to verification. If you Game Piece reads “NOT AN INSTANT WINNER”, you have not won a prize. One lucky Reese’s lover has the chance to win a 1957 Reese’s Elvis Tribute Car designed by famed car designer Boyd Coddington.

Chevy Day at The Brickyard … Harvick will participate in Chevy Day at the Brickyard Friday, July 27 from 10 a.m.-noon in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway infield. The Reese’s driver will provide media and Chevrolet consumers “hot laps” around the historic 2.5-mile race track. He will also race remote controlled cars, participate in a fan question-and-answer session and sign autographs. RCR president and CEO Richard Childress, along with Harvick’s teammates Scott Wimmer, Jeff Burton and Clint Bowyer, will also be on-hand for the morning’s activities.

RCR at Indianapolis … In 13 previous NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races at IMS, RCR has posted two wins (Earnhardt 1995, Harvick 2003), eight top-five and 15 top-10 finishes. RCR cars have also completed every lap except one and have been running at the finish of every Allstate 400 at The Brickyard dating back to the inaugural race in 1994.

Up to Speed … Live television coverage of the 14th running of Allstate 400 at the Brickyard will take the green flag Sunday, July 29 beginning at 2 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on ESPN. The race will also be broadcast on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) Radio Network and Sirius Satellite Radio. Qualifying for the 20th point’s-paying race on the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series calendar will be televised live on ESPN 2 Saturday, July 28 beginning at 10 a.m. EDT and will also be broadcast live on the IMS Radio Network and Sirius Satellite Radio.

KEVIN HARVICK QUOTES:
Where does your win at Indianapolis rank in terms of your career accomplishments?
“Winning at Indy ranks right up there with winning the Daytona 500. I grew up an open wheel fan and a huge fan of Rick Mears and always wanted to race in the Indy 500. Winning at Indianapolis was pretty special and every time we go there it’s just the history and the mystique of the whole race track that I enjoy. You’ve got the old grandstand and covers, just everything about Indy is just neat for everybody.”

What will it take to get back in Victory Lane at Indianapolis?
“Track position is really important. Obviously you have to have the whole package. You need horsepower, you need your car to handle good and you have to put yourself in the right position with 25 or 30 laps to go. You also have to capitalize on the last pit stop and be able to have good track position at the end of the race to have a chance to win.”

What are your thoughts on the season so far?
“I think performance-wise it’s been very good, we’ve just had a lot of things go wrong. I think it shows the maturity and the experience of the team to keep ourselves in contention to be where we need to be and still have as many things go wrong as we’ve had go wrong. So performance-wise, I think it’s been a pretty good year so far.”

What do you think you guys need to do the second half of the season to compete for a championship?
“I don’t think we need to do one particular thing better. I think it’s just trying to get the momentum on our side and get things going our way. I think if we can get the momentum to shift our way and stay away from the other 42 cars we’ll be in pretty good shape.”