Catchfence

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

RETURNING TO THE IRISH HILLS: This weekend the Nationwide Series moves from the mountains of New York to the Irish Hills of Michigan, running the second new car race of the season at Michigan International Speedway where Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) co-owner Kevin Harvick will make his ninth-career Nationwide Series start at the 2-mile track. In eight previous Nationwide Series starts at Michigan, Harvick has four top-five and six top-10 finishes. He has an average start of 6.1 with an average finish of 8.9 and has completed 100 percent of laps attempted (988 of 988 laps) in the series at the track and led 34 laps.

In addition to his Nationwide Series starts, Harvick has also competed at Michigan in the Cup Series and the Truck Series. In the Cup Series, Harvick has 19 starts with two top-five and six top-10 finishes, 88 laps led and 98.9 percent of laps complete (3656 of 3687 laps). On the Truck Series side, Harvick has three starts with one top-five and two top-10 finishes, 11 laps led and 100 percent of laps complete (300 of 300 laps).

This weekend’s Nationwide Series race will mark the second of four scheduled new car races in the 2010 season.

Kevin Harvick

This marks the second new car race of the season. Can you talk about how well you thought the first new car race went and what you are expecting at Michigan?

“I thought the first race went really well. Everybody was getting used to what they needed in the car and by the time we got to the race I think it was a lot better than everybody expected as far as the handling goes, but you still can’t beat the safety aspects of it. I think it’s going to be great for the series as we go forward to have a car that is a little more consistent to build and you don’t have to worry about trying to move this fender or that fender to make it better. The new car is going to be great and I think the cars will probably go through the same thing that we went through at Daytona in trying to get the handle because nobody has any experience with them.”

What do you think will be the biggest challenge with the new car at Michigan?

“I think the biggest challenge is going to be the handling, just for the fact that nobody really knows what to do or how to do it with the set-up. We have an open day on Thursday that we should be able to run through a lot of stuff and figure some things out.”

How will the new car change the racing at Michigan?

“I think the new car is going to produce definitely a different style of racing. I think the experience of the Cup guys will be a pretty big factor in this race.”

CHASSIS HISTORY: For the second week in a row, the No. 33 KHI team will unload a brand-new chassis for team co-owner Harvick. Harvick will pilot chassis No. 063 at Michigan International Speedway for the second Nationwide Series new car race of the 2010 season.

PREVIOUS RACE RECAP: The Nationwide Series most recently ran at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International. Harvick piloted the No. 33 Jimmy John’s Chevrolet from the third position. On the first lap of the 82-lap event, Harvick sustained left-front fender damage after hitting the curb and making contact with a competitor’s car.

Pitting for left-side tires and to repair the damage, Harvick was caught speeding exiting pit road and received a penalty that resulted in Harvick being mired in traffic. Managing to avoid a multi-car accident on lap 23, Harvick was able to use the remaining laps to work his way through the field, and finished the race third.

Kevin Harvick Nationwide Stats at Michigan

Year No. Team Start Finish

2009 33 KHI 9 5

2007 21 RCR 8 3

2006 21 RCR 9 8

2005 21 RCR 5 13

2004 21 RCR 3 30

2003 21 RCR 5 1

2001 2 RCR 7 2

2000 2 RCR 3 9

*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