The Bakersfield, Calif., driver started the event 16th, by virtue of his seventh-place run in Thursday’s Gatorade Duel 150 qualifying race and appeared to be in position for a hardy top-10 until a sluggish running race car kept him from battling with the leaders.

At the drop of the green flag, Harvick quickly realized something wasn’t up to par on his bright yellow and red machine and he dropped back to 30thby lap 14. Hoping the No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet could be fixed on the first pit stop, Harvick stayed with the back of the draft and waited for the chance to hit pit road.

On lap 35, green-flag pit stops began and Harvick worked his way up to the 13th position before crew chief Todd Berrier summoned him to pit road two laps later. Deciding to add tape to the grill of the No. 29 Chevy to increase water and oil temperature to get optimal horsepower, the Berrier-led crew changed four tires and added fuel before sending Harvick on his way. The 2007 Daytona 500 winner was back on the race track in the 24th spot.

Another round of green-flag stops began on lap 71 and Harvick made the hard left turn down pit road on lap 75 for fuel and four fresh Goodyear tires. As the field concluded green-flag stops on lap 77, Harvick held the 21st spot.

The first caution flag finally flew on lap 79 and it gave the No. 29 team a chance to fix the sluggish running machine. Berrier summoned his driver back to pit road for four fresh tires, fuel and put tape on a hole in the right-rear wheel well. The green flag waved again on lap 84 with Harvick running in the 33rd position.

The Shell-Pennzoil machine came to life and Harvick began slicing and dicing his way through the field. He was 28th by lap 89, 22nd on lap 93 and 2oth when the field crossed the start/finish line on lap 100.

Another long green-flag run resulted in green-flag pit stops beginning on lap 118 of the 200-lap event. With Harvick still struggling, Berrier called his veteran driver to pit road on lap 121 for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment. Once the field cycled through the green-flag stops, Harvick was listed in the 15th spot.

Debris on lap 150 brought out the day’s second caution period. Berrier summoned Harvick to pit road two laps later for four fresh tires and fuel. Harvick went back to racing in the 14th spot on lap 154.

Continuing to suffer from a race car that seemed to be down on horsepower, Harvick continued to race in the top 15. The third caution flag flew on lap 161 for a two-car incident exiting turn four. Harvick hit pit road for right-side tires and fuel. With some of the field taking four tires, the 2006 NASCAR Nationwide Series Champion restarted the race in the 10th spot on lap 165.

Four more caution flags plagued the final 35 laps of the golden anniversary of the “Great American Race.” Fortunately, Harvick was able to stay out of trouble and crossed the finish line 14th.

Ryan Newman won the prestigious event followed by Kurt Busch, Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch and Reed Sorenson.

Harvick’s Richard Childress Racing teammates Jeff Burton and Clint Bowyer finished 13th and 24th, respectively.

Next week the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series travels to the Golden State for the first of two trips on the 2008 schedule at California Speedway. The Auto Club 500 will be televised live on FOX next Sunday beginning at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) and can be heard live on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius Satellite Radio. Qualifying for the second race of the year will be televised on SPEED Friday, February 22 beginning at 6:40 p.m. EST.