This Week’s Budweiser Chevrolet at Dover International Speedway ... Kevin Harvick will pilot Chassis No.383 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable in this weekend’s AAA 400. Harvick raced this chassis at Phoenix International Raceway in March and Dover International Speedway in June, collecting second-place finishes in both events. Most recently, the Bakersfield, Calif., native drove this Chevrolet to a 15th-place finish at Bristol Motor Speedway in August.
Just the Stats ... This weekend’s event at Dover International Speedway marks Harvick’s 423rd career start in the Sprint Cup Series and 24th at the one-mile track. Since 2001, the 36-year-old driver has collected three top-five and 10 top-10 finishes, with his best finish of second coming during the event in June 2012. Harvick maintains a 20.6 average starting position, coupled with a16th-place average finishing position, has completed 98.5 percent (9,064 of 9,204) of laps contested and is credited with 144 laps led.
Getting Loopy at the “Monster Mile” ... Harvick has made 15 Sprint Cup Series starts at the Dover, Del.,-based facility since the inception of NASCAR’s Loop Data Statistics in 2006. Harvick has spent 3,372 Laps in the Top 15 and is credited with 11 Laps Led. The RCR driver holds an Average Starting Position of 19.5 and a 15.7 Average Finishing Position. He has completed 646 Green Flag Passes, ranking him third in the Loop Data category.
The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup ... Following the second event of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Harvick moved up two positions, to eighth, in the “Chase” standings, 31 markers behind leader Jimmie Johnson.
Good Tickets Cheap! ... Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, Dover International Speedway and the Kevin Harvick Foundation (KHF) have partnered together once again for a special promotion. Ollie’s customers can purchase “bargain” priced race tickets at select Ollie’s Bargain Outlet store locations for the AAA 400 on Sunday, Sept. 30. Tickets start at $39.99, with a portion of each ticket sale benefiting the KHF. For more information, please visit www.olliesbargainoutlet.com.
You’re Invited to Happy’s Birthday Bash ... Harvick will celebrate his 37th birthday when Budweiser presents Happy’s Birthday Bash at The Fox Theater in his hometown of Bakersfield, Calif., on Saturday, Dec. 1. Country music star Craig Morgan will headline the charity event benefiting the Kevin Harvick Foundation with a special guest appearance by Bridgette Tatum. Tickets to the event are on sale now and can be purchased at www.vallitix.com, by phone at 1-888-825-5484, The Bakersfield Fox Theater Box office or any Vallitix outlet.
Win Happy’s Chevy ... One lucky winner will help children in need and take home Harvick’s 2012 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS Coupe. The vehicle includes gray leather interior, 21-inch black painted wheels, six-speed manual transmission, V8 engine, rear parking assist and much more. Proceeds will be used to further the mission of the Kevin Harvick Foundation through programs such as Kevin’s Krew, Chase Your Dreams Scholarships and the Kevin Harvick Athletic Scholarship Fund. For more information or to purchase a ticket for only $29, visit http://www.winhappyschevy.com/.
The Last Time By ... Harvick and the No. 29 Chevrolet team picked up a 10th-place finish in the 2011 AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway and inherited the lead in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings.
In the Rearview Mirror: New Hampshire Motor Speedway ... Harvick and the No. 29 Budweiser team captured an 11th-place finish after battling handling issues in the SYLVANIA 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday afternoon.
KEVIN HARVICK QUOTES:
What does it take to be successful at Dover International Speedway?
“Dover (International Speedway) is one of those places as a driver that feels really fast. With these kinds of cars, it seems like the forward drive off the corner is the most important thing, but you still have to make your car turn in the center of the corner. As a driver, the car has to be comfortable to be really aggressive. It’s just a fine balance for everything.”
What are some of the challenges for your team in going to Dover International Speedway this weekend?
“We’ve had a good car at Dover International Speedway the last several times and haven’t necessarily got the finishes that we probably have deserved with where we ran all day, but it’s been a decent race track for us. It’s a fast race track. You’ve got to keep up with the track as the groove moves around and the rubber builds up on the track. The biggest challenge is being able to get the car up off of the corner under power, wide open throughout the whole run.”