This Week’s Race Car at Talladega Superspeedway Kevin Harvick will pilot Chassis No. 219 from the Richard Childress Racing (RCR) stable. This is the same Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet Impala SS that Harvick drove to a 14th-place finish in the 50th running of the Daytona 500. Back in Yellow After featuring a Reese’s paint scheme two weeks ago in Phoenix, Harvick’s No. 29 Chevy will return to its traditional bright yellow and red Shell-Pennzoil colors this weekend at Talladega. Talladega Totals In 14 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Talladega Superspeedway, Harvick has one pole, three top-five and seven top-10 finishes. Additionally, the Bakersfield, Calif., native has earned a 21.4 starting average, a 13.6 finishing average and has completed 2,633 of the 2,644 laps contested at the famed Alabama race track.
Restrictor Plate Success
Harvick has competed in 28 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races on restrictor plate tracks (Daytona and Talladega), completing 98 percent of the laps. He has also collected one win (2007 Daytona 500), two poles, six top-five and 12 top-10 finishes. Additionally, “Happy” has led 142 laps and has recorded only one DNF (did not finish).
Points Check
Harvick fell to fifth in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings after his 19th-place finish two weeks ago at Phoenix International Raceway. The 32-year-old driver only sits four points out of fourth and 103 points out of the lead.
After the First Eight
In the season’s first eight NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, RCR-prepared cars have earned one win, seven top-five and 15 top-10 finishes. At the same time, RCR cars have led 230 of the 2,699 laps contested this season (8.5 percent). Meanwhile, Harvick’s teammate Jeff Burton leads the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points standings by 80 markers over Kyle Busch.
Did you Know
Chevrolet holds the record as the manufacturer with the most success at the storied Alabama track with 34 victories. RCR contributed nine of Chevy’s wins, all of them coming from Dale Earnhardt.
Mr. Consistency
Harvick has not recorded a DNF in 52 consecutive races, which is the longest active streak. Additionally, the 2007 Daytona 500 winner holds the modern era record with 58 consecutive races without a DNF (10/3/2002-8/1/2004).
RCR at Talladega
Richard Childress competed as a driver in Talladega’s inaugural race in 1969 and used his winnings from that race weekend to help start RCR. Childress boasts nine victories at the Talladega oval - all of them coming with Dale Earnhardt. Additionally, in 105 starts, RCR boasts four poles, 27 top-five, 44 top-10 finishes and just shy of $7 million in earnings.
Help Chevy Help Autism
During April – Autism Awareness Month – people who go to the Autism Speaks website ( www.autismspeaks.org ), can click on the “Help Chevy Help Autism” icon and take a free virtual test drive of the 2008 North American Car of the Year – the all-new Chevy Malibu. Chevrolet has committed to a minimum contribution of $500,000, but every virtual test drive taken gets Chevrolet closer to its goal of donating up to $1 million to Autism Speaks to support its mission of increasing awareness of autism and raising money to fund autism research. Those who participate in the virtual test drive will be offered a free 30-day online trial of XM Satellite Radio.
Meet the Press
Harvick will be available outside the No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil transporter to field questions from the gathered media Friday, April 25 at 1 p.m.
Up to Speed
Live coverage of the Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway will take the green flag Sunday, April 27 at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) and will be telecast on FOX. The event will also be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius Satellite Radio. Qualifying for ninth of 36 points-paying NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races will air live on SPEED, MRN and Sirius Satellite Radio Saturday, April 26 at 11 a.m. EDT.
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