This Week’s Race Car at Lowe’s Motor Speedway Kevin Harvick will pilot Chassis No. 328 from the Richard Childress Racing stable. Built new for the 2008 season, this is the same Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet Impala SS that Harvick drove to an 11th- place finish at Texas Motor Speedway. Additionally, the Bakersfield, Calif., native drove this chassis to a seventh-place finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway and to an eight-place finish at Auto Club Speedway of Southern California.
A Hurdle to Jump
Though he won the 2007 All-Star Race, the 32-year-old driver has only scored one top-five finish in a points-paying race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The Bakersfield, Calif., native has an 18.6 starting average and an unexpected average finish of 21.1 at the famed 1.5-mile Concord, N.C., quad-oval.
Back in Yellow and Red
After showcasing the Pennzoil Platinum paint scheme last weekend during the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, the No. 29 Chevy will return to its traditional bright yellow and red Shell-Pennzoil colors this weekend during the Coca-Cola 600 at LMS.
Iron Man
Harvick has not recorded a DNF in 55 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).
Lending a Helping Hand
Harvick, driver of the No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet, spent an afternoon before the All-Star Race to show his support to a family in need. On March 7, 2008, Salisbury, N.C., firefighter Victor Isler, a longtime Harvick fan, lost his life fighting a fire at a Salisbury Millwork. In a tribute to the fallen firefighter, Harvick teamed up with “NASCAR Angels,” a reality-based TV show, to present a restored 1979 Corvette to Isler’s 15-year-old son, Vic Isler, Jr. Vic Sr. bought the car for his son, which they planed to restore over the next couple of months. During the taping of “NASCAR Angles” at a Salisbury fire station, hosts Rusty Wallace and Shannon Wiseman surprised Vic Jr. and his mother Tracy with the candy apple red Corvette, driven by Harvick. During the taping, the 11-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winner also presented Vic Jr. and his family with a $500 Shell gas card.
RCR at Charlotte
In 96 starts at LMS, RCR has earned four points-paying victories – all of them coming with Dale Earnhardt. Harvick also recorded an impressive win at the 2007 All-Star Race to go along with Earnhardt’s three victories at the annual all-star showcase, giving RCR eight total Sprint Cup Series checkered flags at LMS. Additionally, RCR boasts 18 top-five and 33 top-10 finishes at the 1.5-mile oval with seven different drivers including Earnhardt, Ricky Rudd, Mike Skinner, Harvick, Jeff Burton and Clint Bowyer. Richard Childress, a former driver on NASCAR’s senior circuit, contributed two of those top 10s from 1978-1979.
Logging Miles
Harvick will drive 900 miles this weekend at LMS. The 2007 Daytona 500 winner will participate in the CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 on Saturday and the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday. This means that Harvick could drive from Charlotte, N.C. to Madison, Wis.
Testing One, Two, Three, Testing
Harvick and the Shell-Pennzoil Racing team tested at Lowe’s Motor Speedway May 5-6 in preparation for the All-Star Race and this weekend’s Coca-Cola 600. The test was the fifth of seven allowed under NASCAR’s 2008 testing policy. The remaining tests available to teams in NASCAR’s top division will be conducted at Pocono Raceway (May 27-28) and Lowe’s Motor Speedway (Sept. 23-24).
Making it Four
Veteran NASCAR Sprint Series driver Ken Schrader will attempt to qualify RCR’s No. 33 Camping World Chevrolet for the May 25 Coca-Cola 600 at LMS. Schrader, 52, of Fenton, Mo., made his Cup Series debut in 1984 and ran his first Cup Series season in 1985. After 20 full seasons in NASCAR’s premier division, the veteran racer has tallied one win, six top-five and 13 top-10 finishes in 44 starts at LMS.
Meet the Driver
Harvick will sign autographs at the Reese’s display during the Food Lion Speed Street May 23rd beginning at 5:30 p.m. in Uptown Charlotte. The display is located on the corner of 8th Street and Brevard. A total of 170 tickets (75 on Thursday and 95 on Friday) will be distributed to fans. For more information about Food Lion Speed Street please visit  www.600festival.com.
Meet the Driver Twice
Harvick along with Cale Gale will make an appearance on behalf of Nationwide Insurance on Friday, May 23 at 2:30 at Vance High School in Charlotte, N.C. Harvick and Gale will help raise awareness among teens in North Carolina about the dangers of driving while distracted and what they can do to stay safe on the road.
Pit Crew Signing
The Shell-Pennzoil over-the-wall crew will make an appearance on behalf of Chevrolet at Food Lion Speed Street May 23rd beginning at 4 p.m. in Uptown Charlotte. The crew members will sign autographs for fans at the Chevy display located at the corner of College and 8th Street. While at the Chevy display, fans can also check out the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado as well as the line up of full efficient vehicles that go from gas friendly to gas free. Fans can also take the Chevy Challenge and receive a Team Chevy souvenir.
Meet the Press
Harvick will be available for interviews outside the No. 33 Nationwide hauler Thursday, May 22 at 12:20 p.m.
Double Down in the Queen City
In addition to his duties behind the wheel of the Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet, Harvick returns to the seat of the No. 33 Camping World Chevy for this weekend’s Nationwide Series event at LMS. Live coverage of the CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 will take the green flag Saturday, May 24 at beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The race will be televised live on ESPN2 and broadcast on the Performance Racing Network and Sirius Satellite Radio. Qualifying for the 13th race on the 2008 Nationwide Series calendar is scheduled to be televised live on SPEED the same day at 3:30 p.m. EDT.
Up to Speed
Live coverage of the Coca-Cola 600 at LMS will take the green flag Sunday, May 25 at 5 p.m. EDT and will be telecast on FOX. The event will also be broadcast live on the PRN and Sirius Satellite Radio. Qualifying for 12th of 36 points-paying NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races will air live on SPEED, PRN and Sirius Satellite Radio Thursday, May 22 at 7 p.m. EDT.
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