Catchfence

MADISON, Ill. (July 19, 2010) - Fresh off his dominating performance in the Truck Series CampingWorld.com 200, earlier in the afternoon, that resulted in his third victory this season in just four Truck Series starts, Kevin Harvick and the No. 33 Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) Jimmy John’s team entered the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250 looking to ‘sweep’ the weekend’s NASCAR events.

“We had a good car and were tweaking it throughout the race to be there at the end,” said Harvick after the race. Unfortunately, after the last round of stops, the car was a little too loose and it was time to go as the laps ticked off. I tried to get too much out of it and just lost it. It’s disappointing, but we had a car that was going to finish in the top five before that.”

Starting the race 10th, Harvick quickly began moving to the front, taking over the fifth spot on lap nine. Radioing the team on lap 13 that the car was too tight in the middle of turns one and two, Harvick asked for a slight air-pressure adjustment and continued to move forward. On lap 16 Harvick was scored in the third position, running lap times as fast as leader Brad Keselowski.

Continuing to run in the third position, Harvick radioed the team again on lap 42 that he needed rear grip in the car. A few laps later, on lap 44, the caution waved and the team took advantage of the yellow, bringing Harvick down pit road on lap 45 for four scuffed tires with an air-pressure adjustment and fuel. Harvick restarted fourth on lap 51.

Again aiming for the leaders, Harvick took over second on lap 55 and maintained his position until the handling of the car became difficult. Harvick radioed the team on lap 100 that the car was tight in the middle and loose off the corners, saying the car was so loose he could not drive it in turn three. Several laps later, Harvick fell into the clutches of eventual race winner Carl Edwards as he slid back to third. As the race continued under green, teams began to make green-flag pit stops with Harvick hitting pit road on lap 114 from the third position for four tires, an air-pressure adjustment and fuel. With stops cycling through the field, Harvick was scored as the leader on lap 122.

Holding on to the lead for several laps, Harvick was passed on lap 128 for second and again on lap 133, putting Harvick third on the leader board. Radioing the team that the last round of changes did not help, Harvick asked for more rear grip.

Maintaining his position in third, Harvick was able to pit on lap 144 under caution for four tires and another round of adjustments. Good on fuel until the end of the race, Harvick restarted in the third spot on lap 147. With 25 laps remaining in the 200-lap event, Harvick moved into second on lap 175, and on lap 179 under caution pitted for two right side tires and fuel. With varying strategies in play, Harvick restarted the race ninth on lap 183. Determined to get back to the front, Harvick moved back into the top five on lap 184 and took over fourth on lap 185.

Running lap times the same as the leaders, Harvick was looking to advance his position when he got too loose in turn two and hit the wall. The team pitted for four tires and to repair the damage. Going one lap down to the leaders, Harvick was 18th on the lap 192 restart. With another late-race caution, Harvick received the ‘lucky dog’ on lap 194 to return to the lead lap. Nursing the No. 33 car and avoiding a last-lap multi-car accident, Harvick finished the race 16th.

Edwards won the race followed by Reed Sorenson, Trevor Bayne, Paul Menard and Steve Wallace.

About Jimmy John’s:

Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches was founded in 1983 by 19-year-old Jimmy John Liautaud in a converted garage in Charleston, IL. Since its inception, the company has grown to over 1,000 corporate and franchised locations in more than 37 states throughout the U.S. The company is known for its obsession with fresh, quality products and high-speed execution. For more information, visit www.jimmyjohns.com.

About Kevin Harvick Inc.:

Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI), established in 2001 by Kevin and DeLana Harvick, is an 80,000 sq. ft. facility located in Kernersville, N.C. Home of the 2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship team, KHI enters 2010 in its seventh full year of competition with two full-time Truck Series teams and one full-time Nationwide Series team. Four-time Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday returns to the helm of the No. 33 Truck team looking for his fifth title and third championship for KHI (2009 and 2007), while Sprint Cup series stars Kevin Harvick and Elliott Sadler guide the No. 2 Truck team. Two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Harvick will again shine as the lead driver of the No. 33 Nationwide Series team as he continues to make his mark in motorsports and establish KHI as one of the top teams in NASCAR competition. For more information about KHI and its teams, please visit www.KevinHarvickInc.com.

- Kevin Harvick Inc. Press Release