Harvick OnLine: Post-Race Report: Coca-Cola 600

Harvick Hangs on for 21st-Place Finish at Lowe’s

Race/Date: Coca-Cola 600 /May 27, 2007
Location: Lowe’s Motor Speedway – Concord, N.C.
Start Position: 42nd (engine change)
Finish Position: 21st
Points Position: Seventh (up one position)

Despite being collected in a lap 53 incident of another car’s making, Kevin Harvick and the Shell-Pennzoil racing team rebounded to post a 21st-place finish in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

Although the accident damaged the majority of the No. 29 machine, the team responded throughout the race to keep Harvick on the race track. At the same time, Harvick picked up one spot, to seventh, in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series championship point standings.

In time trials Thursday, the Bakersfield, Calif., native toured the 1.5-mile quad-oval in 29.627 seconds (182.266 mph), posting the 27th-fastest time of the 49 cars attempting to qualify for 43 starting spots. However, following final practice Saturday night the No. 29 team found a miss in the engine, forcing a change. The penalty for changing an engine after opening inspection forced the No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevy to start at the rear of the field, in the 42nd position, for the start of the 600-mile event.

At the drop of the green flag, the 2007 Daytona 500 winner made the most of it and moved his bright yellow and red Chevy into the 35th position by lap seven. He moved up to 29th on lap 15, then took over the 25th spot just before the first caution flag flew on lap 45.

The 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge winner alerted crew chief Todd Berrier his red and yellow No. 29 had developed a very tight-handling condition. Berrier responded immediately, calling for four tires and fuel along with tire pressure adjustments. The over-the-call gang also inserted a spring rubber in the right rear. Harvick was in the 26th position for the restart on lap 51.

On lap 53, a 13-car melee began when Jimmie Johnson’s tire flew off his Chevrolet and went sailing through traffic. “Happy” Harvick tried to avoid the incident but was spun from behind and then hit several times, leaving the No. 29 Chevy with significant damage.

The Shell-Pennzoil crew jumped into action with lightning-fast precision to begin repair work, successfully preventing the 2006 NASCAR Busch Series champion from losing a lap before the field took the green flag on lap 60. Unfortunately, despite the team’s best effort, Harvick was unable to stay on the lead lap for long.

The No. 29 team continued to make repairs to the mangled Shell-Pennzoil machine throughout the event. Their efforts paid off when Harvick crossed the finish line 21st, only six laps off the pace.

Casey Mears earned his first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series victory with J.J. Yeley, Kyle Petty, Reed Sorenson and Brian Vickers rounding out the top five. Fellow Richard Childress Racing teammates Jeff Burton and Clint Bowyer finished 25th and 29th, respectively.

Next up for Harvick and the Shell-Pennzoil team is the Autism Speaks 400 at Dover International Speedway. Live coverage of the event will be televised on FOX Sunday, June 3 beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The race will also be covered live on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius Satellite Radio. Qualifying for the 12th of 36 NASCAR Cup Series races will be televised live on SPEED Friday, June 1 beginning at 3 p.m. EDT.

KEVIN HARVICK - NO. 29 SHELL CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO SS –

“Today could have been a whole lot worse. I owe this finish to my team for all their hard work during the race. They showed today why we could win a championship this year.”