This Week’s Race Car at Richmond International Raceway Kevin Harvick will pilot Chassis No. 242 from the Richard Childress Racing (RCR) stable. This is the same Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet Impala SS that Harvick drove to a 12th-place finish at Martinsville Speedway in March.
Harvick in the Loop
o Richmond Rankings
In 14 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at RIR, Harvick has earned one win, one pole, four top-five and eight top-10 finishes. Additionally, the Bakersfield, Calif., native has earned a 19.9 starting average, 12.1 finishing average and has led 646 laps of competition.
o Since We’re Talking Stats
According to NASCAR’s loop data statistics, Harvick has the highest Average Running Position (5.5) at RIR over the last six races. Additionally, the 2007 Chase contender has also led the most laps (599) in the last six races at the .75-mile Richmond oval.
o How This All Stacks Up
The Bakersfield, Calif., native currently sits atop NASCAR’s Driver Rating (121.2) category at RIR. The Driver Rating is a formula that combines the following categories: wins, finishes, top-15 finishes, average running position while on the lead lap, average speed under green, fastest lap, most laps led and lead-lap finishes. The maximum points a driver can earn in each race is 150 points. The Driver Rating number is used pre-race as a prediction tool and post-race as a performance evaluator. Points Check Harvick fell to sixth in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings after his 24th-place finish last weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. The 32-year-old driver sits 37 points out of fifth and 139 out of the lead.
RCR at RIR
Richard Childress is tied for fifth with Robert Yates for car owner victories at Richmond with six wins – five with Dale Earnhardt and the most recent coming in 2006 with Harvick. Additionally, in 101 starts at RIR, RCR boasts 28 top-five and 46 top-10 finishes at the three-quarter mile Virginia oval with nine different drivers including Earnhardt, Clint Bowyer, Jeff Burton, Jeff Green, Robby Gordon, Harvick, Ricky Rudd and Mike Skinner. Childress, a former driver on NASCAR’s senior circuit, contributed three of those top 10s from 1976-1978.
Mr. Consistency
Harvick has not recorded a DNF in 53 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).
Make if Four
Scott Wimmer will attempt to qualify for his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race of the season this weekend at Richmond driving the No. 33 Impala SS, giving RCR four entries in the Crown Royal 400. Wimmer’s most recent Cup start came last July at Indianapolis Motor Speedway where he started 21st. Unfortunately, contact with another car on pit road ultimately left the Wausau, Wis., native with a 31st-place finish.
Media Opportunity
Harvick will be available to field questions from the media Friday, May 2 immediately following qualifying at the No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet. Time subject to change depending on qualifying order.
200 and Counting
Harvick will be making his 200th NASCAR Nationwide Series start this weekend at RIR. In 199 starts and nine seasons in the series, Harvick has compiled two NASCAR Nationwide Driver championships, one NASCAR Nationwide Owners’ championship, 32 wins, 16 poles, 102 top-five and 146 top-10 finishes. With 32 Nationwide Series wins, Harvick currently sits second on the all-time win list, 16 wins behind Mark Martin.
Double Down
In addition to his driving duties the No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet, Harvick, a 32-time race winner in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, will drive the No. 33 Rheem Chevrolet in the May 2 Lipton Tea 250 at RIR. The race will be televised on ESPN2 beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The event will also be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius Satellite Radio. Qualifying for the 11th race of the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series will be televised on ESPN2 the same day beginning at 4 p.m. EDT.
Up to Speed
Live coverage of the Crown Royal 400 at RIR will take the green flag Saturday, May 3 beginning at 7 p.m. EDT and will be telecast live on FOX. The event will also be broadcast live on MRN and Sirius Satellite Radio. Qualifying for the 10th of 36 points-paying NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races will air live on SPEED, MRN and Sirius Satellite Radio Friday, May 2 at 5:30 p.m. EDT.
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