Kevin Harvick and the No. 33 Steak-EZE Chevrolet team conserved fuel through the final 160-lap green-flag run to the checkered flag and brought home a third-place finish in the 200-mile NASCAR Nationwide Series event at Dover International Speedway. Starting from the eighth position, the two-time Nationwide Series champion battled a loose-handling Chevrolet before coming to pit road under caution on lap 26 for tires, fuel and chassis adjustments. After returning to the race track, the Richard Childress Racing driver communicated to crew chief Ernie Cope that the his black and red machine was still loose and Cope made the decision for Harvick to stay out under caution on lap 37 to gain valuable track position. Restarting third, Harvick maintained a top-five running position for the remainder of the race and saved enough fuel after a green-flag pit stop by the Steak-EZE pit crew on lap 110. He was able to complete the remainder of the 200-lap event without pitting, ultimately crossing the finish line in the third position for the 158th top-five finish of his Nationwide Series career.
KEVIN HARVICK QUOTE:
"All things considered. I'm really happy with our top-five result in the Steak-EZE Chevrolet. We were just really loose throughout the race, but Ernie (Cope, crew chief) made the right call to stay out and gain track position early on and, in the end, the strategy played into our hands with the long green-flag run."