The start of the Pennsylvania 400 was delayed nearly two hours by rain and once the track was dry Kevin Harvick took the green flag from the 21st position in the No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet and was credited with a 16th-place finish in Sunday’s rain-shortened NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Pocono Raceway. Harvick fought a loose-handling car on the initial run and when the caution flag waved for the first time at lap 18, crew chief Shane Wilson called Harvick in for a four-tire pit stop with major adjustments. The Chevrolet’s balance was initially much improved and the Bakersfield, Calif., native worked his way up to the 14th position by lap 39. Harvick reported a tight condition on the ensuing run and adjustments ordered by Wilson on subsequent pit stops improved the handling and kept the Richard Childress Racing driver in and around the top 15. On the final restart, a multi-car accident brought out the yellow flag and during the lengthy caution period, rain began to fall at the 2.5-mile track as a severe thunderstorm hit the area. The race was declared official at lap 98 with Harvick and the No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet team in the 16th position.
KEVIN HARVICK QUOTE:
“This was not the result we were hoping for today. Unfortunately we struggled all weekend to find the right setup for the Budweiser Chevrolet, but we fought hard and salvaged a 16th-place finish. We just ran out of laps before the storms hit.”