With packs of more than 25 cars racing three-wide running at 200
mph, the races at Talladega Superspeedway can not be denied as
NASCAR fan favorites. However, as Shell-Pennzoil driver Kevin
Harvick found out, when those tight packs start wrecking, the view
from the driver’s seat can be a lot more frightening than watching
the excitement on television or in the grandstands.
Harvick was able to escape injury as he was collected in an 11-car
pile-up on the final lap of the Aaron’s 499, relegating the No. 29
Shell-Pennzoil Chevy to a 24th-place finish in the restrictor-plate
event.
Despite the unfavorable result, the No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet
raced in the top 15 for the majority of the afternoon, led a lap and
gained five valuable bonus points. However, the 2007 Daytona 500
winner dropped one position, to sixth, in the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup
Series point standings, but still sits just 37 points out of the top
five.
The Bakersfield, Calif., native was the third of 46 drivers to make
a qualifying run Saturday morning. A fast lap of 52.134 seconds
(183.681 mph) put the Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet on the inside of row
20 in the 39th position for Sunday’s 188-lap event.
The beginning of the 500-mile event was typical restrictor-plate
racing for the Shell-Pennzoil team as Harvick navigated up to the
14th position on lap nine, fell back 23rd spot on lap 30 and was
able to move into the top five on lap 41.
The Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet was strong and it showed. Harvick
powered into the lead on lap 57 and hung around the front of the
enormous pack of cars until making a scheduled green-flag pit stop
on lap 103 for four tires and fuel. Once the field cycled through
the green-flag pit stops, Harvick was listed in the 14th spot.
The 2006 NASCAR Nationwide Series champion continued running in the
top 15 and was waiting for the closing laps before mounting a charge
on the leaders.
On lap 175, with just 13 laps remaining, the first of two multi-car
accidents broke out in turn two. Quick advice by spotter Bill O’Dea
helped Harvick navigate around the incident without a scratch.
With only 11 laps to go in the event, the 2007 NASCAR Sprint
All-Star Challenge winner knew it was time to make a charge towards
the front. Unfortunately, on the final lap, disaster struck and
Harvick was unable to miss the melee. However, the 11-time NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series winner was still able to drive his bright yellow
and red machine across the finish line to a 24th-place finish.
Kyle Busch won his second race of the 2008 season with Juan Pablo
Montoya, Denny Hamlin, David Ragan and Brian Vickers rounding out
the top-five finishers. Harvick’s Richard Childress Racing
teammates, Clint Bowyer and Jeff Burton, finished ninth and 12th,
respectively.
Next week, short track action heats back up when the NASCAR Sprint
Cup Series visits Richmond for the first of two stops at the
division’s famous three-quarter mile “Action Track.”
Live coverage of the Crown Royal 400 at Richmond International
Raceway will take the green flag Saturday, May 3 beginning at 7 p.m.
Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) and will be telecast live on FOX. The
event will also be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and
Sirius Satellite Radio. Qualifying for the 10th of 36 points-paying
Sprint Cup Series races will air live on SPEED, MRN and Sirius
Satellite Radio Friday, May 2 at 5:40 p.m. EDT.
KEVIN HARVICK - NO. 29 SHELL-PENNZOIL CHEVROLET IMPALA SS:
“We were in a good pack moving up at the end, but we got caught in
the big wreck on the last lap. Wish we had a better finish but it
could have been much worse. Todd (Berrier, crew chief) and the guys
on this Shell/Pennzoil team gave me a good car and got me in and out
of the pits with awesome stops all day. We lost a few points, but we
will be ok and just head for Richmond."
Aaron's 499 Links
Please note: scanner links may contain language not appropriate for
children.
Wrong Place, Wrong Time for Harvick, Shell-Pennzoil Chevy at
Talladega
With packs of more than 25 cars racing three-wide running at 200
mph, the races at Talladega Superspeedway can not be denied as
NASCAR fan favorites. However, as Shell-Pennzoil driver Kevin
Harvick found out, when those tight packs start wrecking, the view
from the driver’s seat can be a lot more frightening than watching
the excitement on television or in the grandstands. 
KEVIN HARVICK - NO. 29 SHELL-PENNZOIL CHEVROLET IMPALA SS: