DRIVER: Kevin Harvick / No. 5 Armour Vienna Sausages Chevrolet RACE: Drive To Stop Diabetes (300 laps / 159.9 miles)
TRACK: Bristol Motor Speedway
DATE: Saturday, March 15, 2014
Quotes | Kevin Harvick
“This team is off to a great start. These next five races are going to be a lot of fun with Ernie (Cope) and the guys. I think, after our first race together, we have the potential to win races this year and Bristol provides us a great opportunity to do that this weekend.”
Notes | No. 5 Team
BRISTOL BRILLIANCE: Harvick leads all drivers in NNS competition at the “World’s Fastest Half Mile” with 14 top-five and 19 top-10 finishes. His five wins and 1,216 laps led rank second to Kyle Busch in both categories. The two-time series champion’s 7.7 average finish ranks third among drivers with 10 or more NNS starts at Bristol (Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Clint Bowyer).
NUMBER CHANGE: After carrying the No. 88 with Earnhardt Jr. and Harvick for the season’s first three races, the Ernie Cope-led team swaps to No. 5 for the balance of the season. With back-to-back top-five finishes, the team ranks fourth in the NNS Owner Standings. Harvick is scheduled to be behind the wheel for the next five NNS events. The team is working to fill out inventory for the remainder of the season with additional drivers.
LAST 11 YEARS: In 18 NNS starts at Bristol over the past 11 seasons, Harvick posted 16 top-10 finishes while completing all 4,789 laps of competition during that time. His average finish is 5.3 over that span.
LAST TIME OUT: Harvick made his JR Motorsports debut two weeks ago at Phoenix International Raceway, finishing runner-up to Kyle Busch in a race that was shortened by rain. Driving the No. 88 Great Clips Chevrolet, Harvick led four laps before rain concluded the race 32 laps shy of the scheduled 200-lap distance.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. drove the No. 88/5 team’s Chevrolet in the other races this season – Daytona (11th) and Las Vegas (fourth).
500th START FOR JRM: It is a historic weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway for JR Motorsports, as the company makes its 500th NASCAR Nationwide Series start. In its 10th year of NNS competition, JRM has accumulated 13 wins with five different drivers, including Ron Fellows, Brad Keselowski, Jamie McMurray, Mark Martin and Regan Smith. Keselowski tops the company’s win list with six, while current driver Smith holds four victories. Additionally, the organization has notched 97 top-five and 210 top-10 finishes with seven poles and 1,776 laps led.
ARMOUR SWEEPSTAKES: Fans can enter to win a customized Bad Boy Buggies Ambush iS UTV by Armour and a bevy of other prizes, including autographed die- cast cars, crew shirts, hats and gift cards. Five finalists will win a private meet and greet with Kevin Harvick. For more information, visit www.ArmourPitStop.com.