Budweiser Racing Team Notes of Interest
Kevin Harvick and the No. 4 Budweiser Chevrolet SS team will return to Daytona International Speedway (DIS) this weekend for the running of the 56th annual Daytona 500.
Budweiser Clydesdales… DIS fans can get a close look at the Budweiser Clydesdales, an enduring symbol of Anheuser-Busch’s heritage, tradition and commitment to quality, as they will be stationed in the DIS midway for the duration of the week. In addition, the hitch, consisting of eight Clydesdales, the famous red, white and gold beer wagon, and two drivers seated next to the hitch’s signature mascot Dalmation will take part in pre-race parade laps prior to the Budweiser Duel races and the Daytona 500.
Budweiser Brewmaster Tour at DIS… Race fans can experience their own taste of the art, science and passion that goes into making Budweiser at the mobile Budweiser Brewmaster Tour that will be set up in the DIS midway area outside of Turn 4. As part of the display, Budweiser brewing ambassadors will lead small groups of guests through five brewing zones that focus on Budweiser's key ingredients, the brewing process, fermentation and beachwood aging, and finishing. The tour offers visitors a unique experience that conveys the history and heritage of Budweiser brewing.
Dueling for a Spot… Harvick and the No. 4 Budweiser Chevrolet team posted the 23rd-fastest lap in the Daytona 500 qualifying session on Sunday, earning the team a 12th-place starting spot in the first Budweiser Duel race on Thursday. The twin 150-mile races will help set the field for Sunday’s Daytona 500. FOX Sports 1 will provide live television coverage of the qualifying races starting at 7 p.m. EST.
Chassis Info…The No. 4 team will utilize Chassis No. 834 in Sunday’s race. This is a new car from the Stewart-Haas Racing shop.
Daytona Stats... Harvick has 25 starts at DIS and has raced his way to Victory Lane twice at the 2.5-mile superspeedway. In February 2007, Harvick hoisted the coveted Harley J. Earl trophy following his win in the Daytona 500 and three years later he won the July event at the track. He has earned six top fives and 11 top 10s, and has an average start of 15.7 and an average finish of 16.0 at DIS.
Loop Data... Harvick owns a number of impressive marks in NASCAR’s Loop Data scoring system at DIS heading into this weekend's event, including: first in fastest laps run (85); fourth in green flag speed (189.080 mph); seventh in speed in traffic (188.959 mph); and ninth in fastest drivers late in a run (188.213 mph).
Harvick on the Daytona 500:
What are your thoughts on the Budweiser Duel races being run under the lights for the first time?
“There’s always more grip with night racing and with more grip, drivers are able to push a little bit harder than during the day. It’s definitely going to be aggressive racing and it should be a lot of fun.”
Were you able to take away anything from Saturday night’s Sprint Unlimited to prepare for the Daytona 500?
“It was a crazy race in general, but for us it was a good team-building exercise. We were able to fix crash damage and communicate a lot on the radio, so we were able to work on a lot of little things as we go into next week. We had a good car and we feel this car is just as good, if not better than that car. We’re ready to race.”