Catchfence

FONTANA, Calif. (February 23, 2009) — Kevin Harvick and the No. 33 Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) Rheem Chevrolet team started the Stater Bros. 300 at the Auto Club Speedway from the ninth position, and after running the entire race in the top 10, crossed the finish-line in the second position.

“Our Rheem Chevrolet was good all weekend,” said two-time Nationwide Series champion Kevin Harvick. “The car was fast in practice, but way too loose during qualifying. We made adjustments throughout the night and the Rheem Chevrolet was really coming around. The team made a great stop at the end of the race and put me in position to have a shot at Kyle (Busch), but I got a little loose and he was able to hold me off. I’m really proud of everybody tonight and for coming back and making that last stop of the night count. It was a solid night for our Rheem Chevrolet.”

Starting the race from the ninth position, Harvick wasted no time moving forward, taking over the fifth position on lap 17. The car started the run loose, but by lap 34, while running fourth, Harvick radioed crew chief Ernie Cope to let him know the car was starting to tighten up. The team made their first stop of the night under green-flag conditions on lap 39 to change four tires, add fuel and make an air-pressure adjustment. Once the cycle of pit stops was complete, Harvick was scored in the second position on lap 45.

The first caution of the night came on lap 52 with Harvick in second place. The team decided to pit for four tires, fuel and an air-pressure adjustment. The car was a touch loose on the starts, but was getting better. Following the slow stop, a result of a close call between the front tire changer and carrier and the No. 60 car on pit road, the Rheem Chevrolet restarted the race on lap 61 in the fifth position.

During the second caution of the night on lap 90 while running in the sixth position, Harvick told Cope the car was too loose and needed to be better on the restarts. Once into the run, the car would get better, but needed help at the start of the run. Harvick took on four tires, fuel, and an air-pressure and track-bar adjustment. Following the stop, Harvick restarted in the seventh position on lap 95.

Moving back into the top five, Harvick was in the fourth position when the final caution flag of the race waved on lap 128. With 22 laps remaining, the team changed four tires and added fuel. With a fast stop, the Rheem team was able to get Harvick out of the pits in the third position. Quickly moving into second, Harvick was able to make a charge at race leader, Kyle Busch, but got a little loose in turn four and was unable to complete the pass. Harvick crossed the finish-line in the second position, moving the No. 33 KHI team into the fourth position in the NASCAR Nationwide Series Owner’s point standings, a gain of seven positions.  

STATS RECAP

February 21, 2009

Auto Club Speedway

Stater Bros. 300

Race: 2 of 35

Driver: Kevin Harvick

Started: 9th

Finished: 2nd

Owner’s Point Standings: 4th (+7 spots)

Race length:  150 laps/300 miles

Banking: 14-degrees in the turns

                  11-degrees on the frontstretch

                    3-degrees on the backstretch

Track layout: 2 miles
Shape: D-shaped Oval

Number of Laps Led: 0

Number of Race Cautions: 4

First Practice: 4th (40.874 seconds; 176.151 mph)

Final Practice: 6th (41.126 seconds; 175.072 mph)

Qualifying: 9th (40.768 seconds; 176.609 mph)

Next on the Nationwide Series Schedule:

Date: February 28, 2009

Track: Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Event Name: Sam’s Town 300

Driver: Kevin Harvick

Broadcast Time: 4:00 p.m., ET on ESPN2 and PRN Radio

Kevin Harvick, Inc., Press Release