Catchfence

No. 33 Jimmy John's Chevrolet Impala - Photo Credit: Getty Images for NASCAR

RECORD HOLDER: As the Nationwide Series moves to their second road course of the year, Kevin Harvick enters Watkins Glen International holding the track record after qualifying on the pole last year with a new track record.

Harvick will make his seventh career Nationwide Series start at the track as he climbs behind the wheel of the No. 33 Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) Jimmy John’s Chevrolet. In six previous starts at the track, Harvick has one win, one pole, five top-five and six top-seven finishes. His worst start is 11th in 2007, the year that he won at the 2.45-mile road course, and his worst finish is seventh in 2006. Harvick has an average start of 6.0 and an average finish of 3.7. He has completed 100 percent of laps attempted (493 of 493 laps) and has led 80 laps.

In the Cup Series, Harvick has nine starts with one win, two top-five and five top-10 finishes. He has an average start of 10.8 with an average finish of 13.9, has completed 96.6 percent of laps attempted (784 of 812 laps) and led 29 laps.

MAD MAX MAKES DEBUT: Having success on many road courses and having won at both Watkins Glen and the inagural race at Circuit Gilles Villenueve in Montreal on the Nationwide Series circuit, Harvick will step aside and welcome a new face to the KHI stable for the upcoming race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve when the Nationwide Series returns to the Canadian track later this month. Max Papis, a familiar face in the garage, will make his KHI debut behind the wheel of the No. 33 Nationwide Series car.

“I think it is just an honor to be able to be in this situation and come over and see what KHI has, it proves that all the hard work that I have done so far is worth it,” said Papis of his opportunity with KHI. “The goal we have for me is to go there (Montreal) and do the best that I can. I am very confident that with the equipment that we have here at KHI, that we are going to be out there contending for success.”

Papis has seen success at Montreal in the Nationwide Series with three starts, two starts on the outside pole (2008 and 2007) and one finish of third. In 2007 when Harvick won the inaugural race, Papis earned his career best NASCAR finish of third among the top-three series (Cup, Nationwide and Truck).

Having success in many areas of racing, Papis has recorded three wins in the former CART Series and has been one of the top competitors in American sports-car racing. He posted an overall win at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2002 and 2000, as well as a Grand-American Rolex Sports Car Series championship in 2004. As a member of GM’s Corvette Racing team, Papis has recorded two wins at the 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans, as well as two runner-up finishes at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“We’re excited to have Max in the car,” said team co-owner Kevin Harvick. “He’s got a lot of road-racing experience and we look for a good run in Montreal.”

Kevin Harvick

What’s the biggest difference between ovals and road courses for you?

“There’s a lot more to do on road courses. You have to shift, stop, shift, gas it and slide. The hardest handling characteristic is to get your car to have forward bite up off the corners because you are coming off a low gear and there are a lot of off-camber corners. You have to try to hook your car up the best you can, trying to find a balance between taking care of your stuff and driving the heck out of it. It’s definitely different from our normal routine.”

Has road-course racing become more of a short track type of race?

“It seems that way. For the most part, cars have come back looking like they have been short track racing. With the braking and things the way they are, you have to take some chances and use other cars to make some things happen.”

What are your thoughts on returning to The Glen this weekend?

“It’s always nice to come back to a track where I enjoy racing. I have always enjoyed racing on the road courses and like coming to a track like Watkins Glen.”

When it comes to road-course racing, you are one of the best in the garage area. What’s the key to your success?

“I have always been good at road racing. We have been on both sides of the fence, unlucky and had bad finishes and lucky and good finishes. We have been competitive every time we have been on a road course, so hopefully that continues this weekend.”

CHASSIS HISTORY: This weekend the KHI Jimmy John’s crew will unload chassis No. 060, a brand-new chassis, for Harvick as he returns to The Glen.

PREVIOUS RACE RECAP: Pulling double duty and commuting from Pocono (Pa.) Raceway to Iowa Speedway, KHI co-owner Harvick arrived in time to secure the seventh starting spot for the U.S. Cellular 250 and ran in the top eight for the entire 250-lap event.

Fighting a loose-handling car early in the race, the team adjusted on the car throughout the event, with Harvick moving into second on lap 140 behind eventual race leader Kyle Busch. Gambling late in the race on a two-tire stop, Harvick was able to lead the race for 20 laps before Busch reassumed the lead on lap 226 to lead the final 25 laps. Harvick finished the event one position short in the second position.

Kevin Harvick Nationwide Stats at Watkins Glen

Year No. Team Start Finish

2009 33 KHI 1 4

2008 33 KHI 6 4

2007 21 RCR 11 1

2006 21 RCR 3 7

2001 2 RCR 6 3

2000 2 RCR 9 3

*KHI: Kevin Harvick Inc.

*RCR: Richard Childress Racing

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