Kevin Harvick and the No. 33 Bad Boy Buggies team drove to Victory Lane Saturday night following the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway after leading 132 of the 195-lap event. The California native started the 300-mile affair from the 20th position and quickly alerted the team that his Chevrolet was too loose during the initial run. Despite battling handling issues, Harvick drove into the top-five of the running order before crew chief Ernie Cope called his driver to pit road under caution on lap 37 for four tires, fuel and a variety of chassis adjustments. Harvick lined up in the sixth position for the ensuing restart and drove his way into the lead on lap 59. While running out front during the final laps, Harvick reported a vibration in the left-rear tire, prompting the team to make a final pit stop on lap 185 under caution for four tires and fuel. The quick work on pit road allowed the two-time Nationwide Series Champion to restart first with seven laps remaining in the event. Harvick held off the competition during the final laps and picked up his first Nationwide Series victory of 2013 season.
KEVIN HARVICK QUOTE:
"Our Bad Boy Buggies Chevrolet was really good tonight. We were a touch too tight at the end, but we were in control of the race during the final restart and were able to do what we needed to do. We had a great car on long runs. It took us five or six laps to get going, but all-in-all we were able to keep up a good pace and were able to hold off the competition. We knew we had a good car after practice, but I didn't qualify well and we were all a bit frustrated. In the end, that didn't really matter."