MARTINSVILLE, Va. (Oct. 30, 2011) — Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) co-owner Kevin Harvick climbed behind the wheel of the No. 2 Kroger/Tide Chevrolet as the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series made their way to Martinsville Speedway for the Kroger 200. Harvick started the 200-lap event from the sixth position and went on to lead two laps before crossing the finish line sixth after his Chevrolet Silverado developed a loose-handling condition during the latter portion of the event.
As the field roared to life for the Saturday afternoon showdown, Harvick patiently worked his way toward to the front the field moving into the second position by lap 29, and alerted his crew that the No. 2 Chevrolet had become loose. As Harvick settled into the second position, behind KHI teammate Ron Hornaday, the first caution of the day fell for an accident in turn four on lap 39. During the caution, crew chief Chris Carrier brought his driver onto to pit road for a stop that included four tires, fuel and a chassis adjustment. After the visit to pit road, Harvick was scored in the fifth position for the lap 42 restart.
Back on track, the NASCAR veteran wasted no time moving toward the front of the field regaining the second position by lap 46 while informing the team that the changes made during the pit stop helped alleviate the truck’s handling issues. Harvick slid back to the third position when the caution flag was displayed for a second time on lap 50 for a two-truck accident in turn two. After visiting pit road just a few laps earlier, the team opted to stay on track during the caution allowing their driver to restart the race from the third position on lap 57.
Under green-flag conditions, Harvick quickly moved back into second position before falling to third when the field was slowed for a third time on lap 87 for a single-truck incident in turn four. The No. 2 team again elected to stay on track during the caution positioning their driver third as the field returned to green-flag racing on lap 92.
Harvick remained in the third position when the caution flag waved for a fourth time on lap 105 for a two-truck wreck in turn two. During the caution, Carrier called his driver down pit road for the No. 2 crew to bolt on four tires and fill the truck with fuel. Due to varying pit strategies, the No. 2 Kroger/Tide Chevrolet restarted in the 17th position on lap 109.
It didn’t take long for the fifth caution to be displayed, as NASCAR officials waved the yellow flag on lap 115 for debris. Harvick remained on track during the caution restarting the race from the 15th position on lap 119.
As the field resumed full speed, the Bakersfield, Calf., native continued to patiently work his way forward, settling into the 11th spot when the caution flag was displayed for the sixth time on lap 132 for a two-truck accident on the backstretch. The No. 2 team again elected to stay on track during the caution while several other teams visited pit road, positioning No. 2 machine third for the lap 137 restart.
Back under green-flag conditions, Harvick quickly moved to the front of the field on lap 139 holding on to the lead for two laps before sliding back into second. While running in the second position, Harvick informed his crew that the No. 2 Chevrolet had become incredibly loose as the seventh caution of the day waved on lap 147 for a single-truck spin in turn three. Despite the loose-handling condition, the team remained on track during the caution with Harvick restarting second on lap 151.
Harvick was able to maintain his second-place position until lap 173 when he fell back to third, just before the yellow was displayed for the eighth time on lap 174 for an accident in turn two. The No. 2 team remained on track to restart the race on lap 178 in the third position.
Just as quickly as the field resumed full speed, it was slowed for the ninth and final time for an accident in turn four on lap 181. Remaining on track during the caution, Harvick and the No. 2 KHI team restarted in the fourth position with only 14 laps remaining in the race. Harvick continued to battle the loose-handling truck during the final laps, crossing the finish line in the sixth position.
The Truck Series will head to Texas Motor Speedway next Friday, November 4 for the Winstar World Casino 350K with Harvick back in the driver’s seat of the No. 2 Hunt Brothers Pizza Chevrolet Silverado. Catch the action live on SPEED at 8:00 p.m. ET and MRN at 7:45 p.m. ET.
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