Catchfence

Kevin Harvick - Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR

No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet Impala

Race Notes and Quotes

This Week’s Budweiser Chevrolet at Phoenix International Raceway … Kevin Harvick will race chassis No. 353 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. The No. 29 team has utilized this car three times so far in the 2011 season earning one win (Charlotte Motor Speedway 5/29) and finishes of seventh and 10th at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Dover International Raceway (10/2), respectively.

Chase Update … With just two races remaining in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Harvick remains third in the NSCS driver point standings. He is currently 33 markers back from point leader Carl Edwards. Harvick has scored two top-five and five top-10 finishes in the first eight Chase races, and his average finish so far in the Chase is 10.63.

Budweiser Bowtie at Phoenix … For the second time this season the No. 29 Chevrolet will honor the Budweiser “Bowtie” can refresh with a special paint scheme. Introduced in August, the new can design is Budweiser’s 12th since Anheuser-Busch began offering its flagship brand in cans in 1936. The focal point of the design is Budweiser’s iconic bowtie, complemented by the time-honored Budweiser creed and Anheuser-Busch medallion. The same elements are prominent on the No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet for Sunday’s race. Harvick’s No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet also sported this paint scheme at Chicagoland Speedway in September.

Harvick at PIR … In 17 starts at PIR, Harvick has earned two wins (both in 2006), four top-five and eight top-10 finishes. He’s led 317 laps around the one-mile track and has completed 99.6 percent (5,353 of 5,374) of the laps run at PIR in NSCS competition since 2001. Harvick’s average starting position at PIR is 19.2 and he holds a 13.8 average finish.

Last Time Around … Last November, the No. 29 team started 29th at PIR and Harvick raced his way up to a sixth-place finish. In February, Harvick started 17th, led one lap and scored a fourth-place finish at the one-mile track.

In the Loop … Harvick holds several impressive Loop Data statistics at PIR, including: fourth in drivers fastest early in a run; fifth in laps led (317); sixth in fastest on restarts; sixth in laps run in the top 15 (2,981); seventh in average running position (11.7); eighth in green-flag speed; ninth in driver rating (95.9); 10th in fastest laps run (154); 10th in green-flag passes (506); and 10th in quality passes (281).

Happy’s Classic Golf Tournament … On Wednesday, Harvick will host the Kevin Harvick Foundation’s Second Annual Happy’s Classic golf tournament at The Links at RiverLakes Ranch Golf Club in Bakersfield, Calif. The event will help raise funds to benefit and further the foundation’s mission. Additionally, the winner of The Kevin Harvick Collegiate Scholarship will be announced at the tournament.

Happy’s Hour … Following Wednesday’s golf tournament, Harvick will participate in Happy’s Hour presented by Advanced Distribution and Blackhole Technologies at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace. The event will feature an autograph session with Harvick, a number of auction items and the comedy of stand-up comedian Craig Shoemaker. Tickets for the event are available at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace Box Office, www.Vallitix.com or by phone at (661) 328-7560.

KEVIN HARVICK QUOTES:

A lot of folks considered Martinsville a wildcard. This year do you think Phoenix would have to be considered the same with the repave? “I think there are a lot of unknowns with the repave and things that have the potential to happen. I look at Phoenix a lot like Martinsville. The Roush cars didn’t run very well there and we have to run well there. So we’re looking forward to it.”

You tested in Phoenix a couple weeks ago. What are your impressions on the track and is there any other track out there that you guys can compare it to? “I don’t think right now. It’s definitely unique. (Turns) 3 and 4 is definitely not like it was but it is similar to what it was with the new asphalt as far as the radius of the corner. The exit of Turn 2 is a lot different and the back straightaway is definitely different. They did a good job by designing the track so the fans can see the cars and I think if the second groove comes in it will be a really good race. That’s really the only concern I’ve heard from anybody and the only concern that we have is the whether the second groove comes in and if it does its going to be a good race.”

You say you hope that second groove comes in. What type of racing do you think we are going to see before that second groove comes in? “If the second groove doesn’t come in it will be a track position game with a lot of wrecks.”

- Richard Childress Racing, Press Release