JR MOTORSPORTS – No. 5 TEAM PREVIEW
DRIVER: Kevin Harvick / No. 5 Kroger / P&G Chevrolet
RACE: John R. Elliott HERO Campaign 300 (200 laps / 300 miles)
TRACK: Kentucky Speedway
DATE: Friday, June 27, 2014 (7 p.m. ET – ESPN)
TWITTER: @KevinHarvick, @kroger, @ProcterGamble, @Crest, @JRMotorsports
Quotes | Kevin Harvick
“Kentucky Speedway is a very unique track. It’s really bumpy, even on the straightaways, so that adds a lot of character and gives us an extra challenge to find the right balance on our car. There is still a lot of grip, but the track has become rough over the years. I think you’ll see guys searching around a lot to find grip and which line works for their car across the bumps.”
Notes | No. 5 Team
AT KENTUCKY: Harvick owns finishes of first, second, third and sixth in four career Nationwide Series starts at Kentucky Speedway. In 2001, the two-time series champion went to victory lane in the inaugural race at the 1.5-mile tri-oval.
TOP-10 STREAK: Harvick has earned 17 consecutive top-10 finishes in Nationwide Series competition dating back to 2013. He posted a career-best 23-race top-10 streak from 2006 to 2007.
KEVIN AND KROGER: Driving a Tide-branded Chevrolet in partnership with Kroger, Harvick won the Nationwide Series race at Richmond International Raceway on April 25. That night, Harvick led 202 of 250 laps on the way to his 41st career Nationwide Series victory.
P&G ON BOARD: The No. 5 Chevrolet will feature Cincinnati-based Procter and Gamble brands on its quarter-panels for Friday night’s 300-mile race at Kentucky Speedway. Crest, the leading toothpaste brand in the United States over the past 45 years, will be emblazoned on the car’s right side with Prilosec OTC, a trusted frequent heartburn relief and treatment for millions, displayed on the left.
SO CLOSE FOR COPE: Crew chief Ernie Cope’s cars have finished in the top five the past five Nationwide Series races at Kentucky, including four consecutive third-place finishes. Cope also earned one pole award (Elliott Sadler, 2011) and never qualified lower than eighth during that time.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: JR Motorsports owns victories in each of the Nationwide Series three Friday night races so far in 2014. Chase Elliott went to victory lane back-to-back weeks at Texas Motor Speedway and Darlington Raceway followed by Harvick’s dominant performance at Richmond International Raceway.
FIVE RACES, FOUR DRIVERS: Following Kentucky, the No. 5 team will compete with four different drivers over the next five races. Kasey Kahne will pilot the car at Daytona International Speedway (July 4) and Chicagoland Speedway (July 19) with rookie driver Austin Theriault taking over at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (July 12). Harvick returns at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (July 26) before JRM late model standout Josh Berry makes his Nationwide Series debut at Iowa Speedway (Aug. 2).
MEDIA INFORMATION
TV: ESPN (7 p.m. ET)
RADIO: PRN & Sirius XM Ch 90 (7 p.m. ET)
FIRST PRACTICE: 6/25, 9-11:30 a.m. ET
SECOND PRACTICE: 6/25, 1-4 p.m. ET
THIRD PRACTICE: 6/26, 6:30-7:25 p.m. ET (FS1)
FINAL PRACTICE: 6/27, 9-10:20 a.m. ET (FS1)
QUALIFYING: 6/27, 3:40 p.m. ET (FS1)
GREEN FLAG: 6/27, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)