HARVICK HEADED TO THE WORLD’S FASTEST HALF-MILE: The NASCAR Nationwide Series returns to action this week, heading to the 0.533-mile concrete oval of Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. Armed with an impressive series record at the Tennessee short-track, Kevin Harvick will look to place his No. 33 Rheem Chevrolet Impala back in victory lane.
BRISTOL RECORD HOLDER: In 20 Nationwide Series starts, the Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) co-owner has built a stout Bristol resume, one that includes several track records:
- Harvick holds the series’ track record for the most wins with five. His most recent victory at Bristol in March of 2009 was a personal milestone as it was the driver’s first win in his own equipment.
- By leading 241 laps en route to his first Nationwide Series victory at the track in August of 2000, the driver holds the record for the most laps led by a race winner.
- Harvick has the most top-five finishes (13) in the series at Bristol.
- He is one of only seven drivers in 57 Nationwide Series races to win the event from the pole position.
In total, the two-time series champion has five wins, 13 top-five and 16 top-10 finishes, has led 1,075 laps and collected three poles.
SUPPORT THE KEVIN HARVICK FOUNDATION: The Kevin Harvick Foundation (KHF) has teamed up this season with the NASCAR Foundation to auction off some great items for kids in need. One of the featured items up for grabs is a pair of race-used Rheem driving gloves autographed by Kevin Harvick. All proceeds from the items benefit the KHF. For more information on the gloves and other items, be sure to check out: http://www.kevinharvickfoundation.org/news/season-kick-off-online-auction/.
PREVIOUS RACE RECAP: After a late-race incident, Kevin Harvick and the No. 33 Rheem team left Las Vegas Motor Speedway two weeks ago with a 28th-place finish. Harvick started the 200-lap event from the fourth position, shooting to the lead in the opening laps of the race. The No. 33 Chevrolet Impala held track-position among the top-10 for the majority of the day until front-end damage sustained on lap 143 sent the team to the garage for repairs.
CHASSIS HISTORY: This weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway the No. 33 Rheem team will utilize chassis No. 066. This is the same chassis which the team competed with in the February 26 event at Phoenix International Raceway. With Kevin Harvick behind the wheel, the No. 33 Chevrolet finished third.
HARVICK’S THOUGHTS ON BRISTOL:
What are your thoughts heading into Bristol this weekend?
“Bristol is one of my favorite tracks we go to. It’s such a unique track, with the steep banking and a fast concrete surface. I always look forward to racing at Bristol. We’ve been very fortunate to have a lot of success there. I won my first Nationwide race in my own equipment in 2009, which was special in itself, but pretty cool that it came at a place where I’ve had so much success in the Nationwide Series.”