Catchfence

“Eighth Top-10 Finish of 2010 Season”

RICHMOND, Va. (May 1, 2010) — Ready for 250 laps under the lights at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway and looking for his fifth career Nationwide Series win at the 0.75-mile track, Kevin Harvick started the BUBBA Burger 250 from the 11th position and remained in the top 10 the entire race.

“The Rheem Tankless Water Heaters Chevrolet was good,” said Harvick following the race. “We had a good car, but struggled a little on pit road and then broke a jack bolt late in the race.”

With the race underway, Harvick began to maneuver his way through the field and after two early cautions, moved into the fifth position on lap 41. Several laps later, on lap 49, Harvick radioed crew chief Ernie Cope that the car was “plowing” and loose off the corners.

Continuing to run in the top five, Harvick was in the fourth position when the caution waved on lap 95. The team opted to pit for four tires, fuel and an air-pressure adjustment to help the car roll better through the corners. Following a solid stop by the Rheem Tankless Water Heaters team, Harvick restarted the race on lap 102 from the third spot.

Falling to fourth and eventually fifth on lap 124, Harvick was able to move back to the third position behind Penske teammates Brad Keselowski and Justin Allgaier when the caution waved on lap 186. The lap prior to the caution, lap 185, Harvick radioed the team that he had a bad vibration. Concerned about the vibration, no hesitation was made to call Harvick down pit road for four tires, fuel and another air-pressure adjustment. Harvick restarted the race on lap 193 from the fifth position.

Taking over the fourth spot, Harvick settled in and looked to be on his way to a solid top-five finish when a late caution waved on lap 244. Deciding to pit, Harvick took on four tires and fuel. Restarting the race on lap 250 from the seventh position for the first attempt at a green-white-checkered finish, Harvick was unable to gain spots and finished the BUBBA Burger 250 in the seventh position. After looking over the car post race, the team discovered that the left-front jack bolt was broken and the spring was no longer secure. This caused the handling of the car to turn for the worse and luckily, with only three laps remaining due to the green-white-checkered finish, Harvick was able to complete the race without more damage to the car.

Keselowski won his second consecutive Nationwide Series race followed by Greg Biffle, Jamie McMurray, Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards. Harvick remains second in the point’s standings, 59 markers behind Keselowski. DeLana Harvick also remains second in the Owner’s Point standings, 59 points out of first.

Next on the Nationwide Series Schedule:

Date: May 7, 2010

Track: Darlington (S.C.) Raceway

Event Name: Royal Purple 200

Driver: Kevin Harvick

Sponsor: Ruud Heating and Cooling

Broadcast Time: 7:00 p.m., ET on ESPN2 and 7:00 p.m., ET on MRN Radio

- Kevin Harvick Inc. Press Release