Sunday

Kevin Harvick Wins Pole With New Track Record at Watkins Glen; Finishes Fourth

Filed under Nationwide Series, Press Releases

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (August 9, 2009) — With a fast car from the start of the race weekend, Kevin Harvick and the No. 33 Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) Copart Chevrolet team set a new track record during qualifying, claiming the teams third pole of the season and Harvick’s first on a road-course. Starting from the pole position, Harvick led 12 laps on his way to a solid fourth-place finish in the Zippo 200.

“We had a really fast car from the time the guys unloaded,” said Harvick. “Ernie (Cope, crew chief) and the team did a great job preparing the car this week. We made only a few changes during practice and had a car capable of contending for the win. We had a mishap on the last pit stop that put us back in traffic, but overall it was a solid day for the Copart team.”

Taking advantage of the inside starting position, Harvick quickly jumped out to the lead and began to pull away from the field. Leading the first 12 laps, Harvick was passed by eventual race winner Marcos Ambrose on Lap 13. Staying close to Ambrose, Harvick made his first scheduled green-flag pit stop on lap 20 from the second position for four tires and fuel. As stops continued to cycle through the field, Harvick was in the ninth position on lap 34 when the caution flag waved for a stalled car on the track. Not yet in the pit window to make it to the end on fuel, Harvick stayed on track and restarted the race eighth on lap 37.

With the caution flag waving several laps later, the team opted to pit for four fresh tires and fuel on lap 45. With a slow stop due to issues with the rear tires, Harvick restarted the race on lap 47 in the 14th position. Immediately after the restart, crew chief Ernie Cope reminded Harvick that he needed to save fuel.

Picking off one car at a time and saving fuel under every caution, Harvick was able to gain 10 positions to finish the race in the fourth position.

Defending his 2008 title, Ambrose claimed his second Nationwide Series win at Watkins Glen, followed by Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Harvick and Ron Fellows.

Next on the Nationwide Series Schedule:

Date: August 15, 2009

Track: Michigan International Speedway

Event Name: CARFAX 250

Driver: Kevin Harvick

Sponsor: Jimmy John’s

Broadcast Time: 3:00 p.m., ET on ESPN2 and 3:00 p.m., ET on MRN Radio

- Kevin Harvick Inc. Press Release