This Week’s Rheem: Chasing the Cure Chevrolet at Martinsville Speedway ... Kevin Harvick will pilot Chassis No.400 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable in the TUMS Fast Relief 500. The No. 29 team utilized this Chevrolet at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in September and brought home an 11th-place finish after starting 16th.
Martinsville Stats ... Harvick will make his 427th career Sprint Cup Series start and 23rd appearance at the concrete oval. In his first 22 showings, the Bakersfield, Calif., native has earned one win (March 2011), one pole award (March 2010), three top-five and 10 top-10 finishes. Harvick maintains an average starting position of 13.4, along with a 16th-place average finishing position, is credited with 363 laps led and has completed 97.5 percent (10,763 of 11,034) of the laps contested.
Going for a Loop on the Short Track ... Since the inception of NASCAR’s Loop Data Statistics in 2006, Harvick has made 15 starts at the Martinsville, Va.-based track and ranks fifth in the Closers category after gaining an average of 1.3 positions during the last 10 percent of the laps in each race. The 36-year-old driver has earned a Driver Rating of 119.7 and has spent 4,773 Laps in the Top 15 positioning him seventh amongst his fellow competitors. Harvick is the eighth-Fastest Driver Early in a Run (91.834 mph), sits eighth in Average Running Position (14.4), Fastest Laps Run (186), Laps Led (216) and is the ninth-Fastest on Restarts (89.618 mph).
The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup ... With six Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup events complete, Harvick remains 10th in the standings, 59 markers behind the leader.
Meet the Driver ... Fans will have two opportunities to join Harvick in Fan Question-and-Answer Sessions at Martinsville Speedway prior to the start of the TUMS Fast Relief 500 on Sunday, Oct. 28. The RCR driver will make an appearance at the Martinsville Speedway Fan Zone at 10:10 a.m. Eastern Time, followed by a visit to the Rheem Chasing the Cure event benefiting the Young Survival Coalition at 10:30 a.m. ET. Tickets start at $42, and Martinsville Speedway will donate $5 to the YSC for each Harvick YSC ticket package purchased. For more information or to purchase your tickets to both events contact the Martinsville Speedway ticket office at 877-RACE-TIX or visit, http://www.martinsvillespeedway.com/Tickets-Events/Tickets-Overview/Special-Offers.aspx.
Chasing the Cure ... For a second year, Rheem presents the “Chasing the Cure” contest for Rheem Racing fans during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The contest will encourage breast cancer survivors to share a 30-60 second digital video that gives a firsthand account of their personal “victory” over breast cancer. Rheem will reward the winner and an adult companion with a VIP race experience for two in 2013. The official contest runs until Oct. 24. To enter the contest visit, http://www.facebook.com/rheemracing/app_95936962634.
Rheem ... Gotta Have a Rheem ... Rheem will adorn the No. 29 Chevrolet for the eighth of 10 scheduled races during the 2012 season this weekend at Martinsville Speedway with a special pink and black paint scheme highlighting their “Chasing the Cure” program and partnership with the Young Survival Coalition. Rheem is privately held with headquarters in Atlanta and U.S. operations in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Indiana, Minnesota and North Carolina. In its 86th year of operation, the company manufactures a full-line of eco-friendly, technologically advanced residential and commercial heating and cooling systems; tank, tankless, solar and hybrid heat pump water heaters; whole-home standby generators, controls, swimming pool and spa heaters; indoor air-purification products; and commercial boilers throughout North America and world markets. The company’s premium brands, including Rheem, Raypak, Ruud and Richmond have been recognized with countless industry and consumer awards for reliability, innovative design and high quality. Rheem is the official heating, cooling and water heating supplier to Richard Childress Racing.
The Last Time By ... In a race mired with 18 cautions, Harvick and the No. 29 team avoided trouble and ran solidly in the top 10 for most of 2011 TUMS Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway before taking the checkered flag in the fourth position.
In the Rearview Mirror: Kansas Speedway ... Harvick and the No. 29 RCR team earned an 11th-place finish at Kansas Speedway after starting 10th and spending much of the 267-lap event running in the top 20 while battling handling issues.
KEVIN HARVICK QUOTES:
Rheem is running a special “Chasing the Cure” paint scheme; share your thoughts on being involved in this program.
“It’s great to be partnered with a company that is willing to use their influence and presence in our sport to help others. As everyone knows, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and Rheem has partnered with the Young Survival Coalition to raise funds and awareness for them. The YSC is a non-profit organization that helps breast cancer survivors that were diagnosed under the age of 45, cope with life’s challenges after surviving cancer. It’s a good feeling knowing that I can help bring attention to such a great cause just by doing my job and driving the No. 29 Rheem: Chasing the Cure Chevrolet at Martinsville (Speedway).”
It has been mentioned that Martinsville Speedway is considered a ‘wild card’ race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Do you agree with this assessment?
“I think Kansas (Speedway) was much more of a wild card than Martinsville (Speedway) will be. I think any race can be a wild card. You can have some crazy things happen at any time, so I really think every race is a wild card at this point, especially if you’re in the championship race and need every point that you can get. You never know what’s going to happen, when the caution is going to fly, when you’re going to blow a tire, whatever the case may be. Anything can happen.”
At this point in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, what mindset do you think most drivers have going into the next race?
“Well, I really think for 99 percent of the guys the approach is going to be to go out and run as fast as you can. Our approach really doesn’t change from race to race. We’re going to bring the best car we have in the shop, and we’re going to put the same effort each week to try and win the race. If you can’t win the race, you try to get the best finish you can. A lot of people talk about points and what you change or do different each. Our team doesn’t do anything different. We take the fastest car we have to the racetrack each week and try to win the race.”