Harvick led five times for a total of 21 laps en route to his second consecutive Shootout victory, becoming the fourth driver to earn back-to-back wins in the non-points event’s 32-year history. Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing’s Jamie McMurray (No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) and Juan Pablo Montoya (No. 42 Target Chevrolet) finished third and 10th, respectively. McMurray led twice for two laps.
“All the hard work during the off season is paying off already,” said Richie Gilmore, chief operating officer of ECR Engines. “It was obviously a great start for Harvick and the Shell-Pennzoil team and the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet also had a strong night. The Caterpillar team and the Target team were strong in practice and looked good during the Shootout. Everything we had in the engines for the Shootout is the same things we have in the engines for the Duels and the Daytona 500. We’re really excited about what we brought to Daytona and we’re looking for more good things next week.”
Other teams in the Budweiser Shootout powered by ECR Engines were Richard Childress Racing’s Jeff Burton/No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet (finished 12th) and The Racer’s Group’s Bobby Labonte/No. 71 TRG Chevrolet (finished 18th).
The No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil team’s victory was the seventh Budweiser Shootout title for RCR, the most of any team. In addition to Harvick’s back-to-back titles, Dale Earnhardt won the event five times (1986, ’88, ’91, ’93, ’95).
- Richard Childress Racing, Press Release