FORT WORTH, Texas (Nov. 6, 2011) — Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) co-owner Kevin Harvick climbed behind the wheel of the No. 2 Hunt Brothers Pizza Chevrolet Silverado as the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series made its way to Texas Motor Speedway for the WinStar World Casino 350K. Harvick started the 147-lap event from the 10th position, before going on to lead the most laps (61) and capture the win. With the victory, KHI secures the 2011 Truck Series Owner’s Championship and clinched the Manufacture’s Championship for Chevrolet.
Under the lights at Texas Motor Speedway, Harvick immediately began working his way toward the front of the field, moving into the fifth position within the first 10 laps of the event. As the veteran driver settled into position, he informed his team that the No. 2 machine was too loose in the corners and needed a big change. Crew chief Chris Carrier called his driver to pit road during the first caution, which fell on lap 15 for a two-truck accident in turn two. The crew jumped over the wall to fill the truck with fuel and make a chassis adjustment to combat the loose-handling condition the truck had developed. Harvick left pit road in the second position ready to restart the race on lap 20.
Just as quickly as the field regained full speed, it was slowed for a second time on lap 22 for fluid on the track. After visiting pit road only laps prior to the caution the No. 2 team opted to stay on track, allowing them to restart the race from the second position on lap 26.
Harvick capitalized on the restart moving into the lead on lap 27. While running out front, the Bakersfield, Calif., native relayed to the team that his truck was too loose. On lap 34 the yellow flag was displayed for a third time for a single-truck spin in turn four. Carrier took the opportunity to bring his driver down pit road for right-side tires, fuel and a chassis adjustment. Three trucks elected not to pit during the caution, leaving Harvick to restart from the fourth position on lap 37.
During the restart, Harvick was shuffled back to seventh. The driver patiently worked his way back toward the front settling into the third spot by lap 42, when he alerted the No. 2 team that the Hunt Brothers Pizza Chevrolet was again incredibly loose.
The team chose to visit pit road after the caution fell for a fourth time on lap 57 for a multi-truck accident in turn two. On the stop, the crew changed four tires, filled the truck with fuel and made a chassis adjustment. The visit to pit road positioned Harvick ninth for the lap 63 restart.
Back on track, Harvick methodically worked his way back out front regaining the lead by lap 93. On lap 99 NASCAR officials displayed the yellow flag for the fifth time for another multi-truck accident in turn two. During the caution, the No. 2 machine visited pit road for a final stop, taking four tires and fuel. Harvick headed back on track to restart the race on lap 103 in the second position.
Just as the field resumed full speed, Harvick pulled back into the lead and created a two-second lead over the field by lap 127. As he continued to increase his lead over the field, the caution was brought out for a sixth and final time on lap 142 for fluid on the track. Only two laps remained in the race when the green flag waved for the final time. Harvick held on to the lead to capture the win and the team’s seventh victory of the season. The victory also secured the Truck Series Owner’s Championship for KHI and the Manufacturer’s Championship for Chevrolet.
The Truck Series heads to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the final race of the season on Friday, November 18. Harvick will close out the season piloting the No. 2 Hunt Brothers Pizza Chevrolet Silverado. Catch the action live on SPEED at 8:00 p.m. ET and MRN at 7:45 p.m. ET.
Thoughts from the driver – Kevin Harvick:
“We’ve had a lot of momentum in the No. 2 truck all season and I really wanted to be driving the truck when it clinched the [Truck Series] Owner’s Championship, being this is our last season owning the team. It’s great to win this race and the Owner’s Championship for KHI, as well as clinch the Manufacture’s Championship for Chevrolet. This is a brand new truck and it hadn’t even been to the wind tunnel, it was a little looser than I would have liked to drive though. I just want to thank everyone from Hunt Brothers Pizza, Rheem, OneMain Financial, Budweiser, Chevrolet, Champion and all of the guys for all of their hard work this weekend.”
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