Harvick OnLine: Top Story: Harvick Aiming to Set Record at RIR

Harvick Aiming To Set Record At Richmond International Raceway

Richmond, VA (April 17, 2007) - It has been nearly two years since a NASCAR Busch Series race at Richmond International Raceway ended without Kevin Harvick pumping his fists in a cloud of confetti and Gatorade in Victory Lane. The last time anyone not named Harvick won a Busch Series race at America’s Premier Short Track was May 13, 2005, when Carl Edwards took the checkered flag.

Fast forward nearly two years. Kevin Harvick will attempt to make Richmond International Raceway history on Friday, May 4 at the Circuit City 250 Presented by FUNAI NASCAR Busch Series race. If Harvick pulls off another win, he will become the first driver to win four consecutive Busch Series races at Richmond International Raceway in the 25-plus years that the series has been in existence.

“Man, I can’t wait to get back to Richmond,” Harvick said. “We’ve always run well there and we almost swept all four NASCAR races there last year. I love setting records and to set one at a track like Richmond would be cool. We always put on a great show there under the lights, and Richmond is quickly becoming my favorite track.”

It all started on September 9, 2005, when Harvick won the Emerson Radio 250. The following year, Harvick finished where he left off by winning the Circuit City 250 Presented by FUNAI in May 2006. He completed the season sweep with another win at the Emerson Radio 250 in September 2006, tying him with Harry Gant as the only drivers to win three consecutive NASCAR Busch Series races at Richmond International Raceway.

Last year was very special for Harvick at America’s Premier Short Track. He dominated the Crown Royal 400 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race, but relinquished the lead after deciding not to pit with the other contenders late in the race. Dale Earnhardt Jr. went on to win the race. But three out of four isn’t bad.

“That one still stings,” Harvick said of the Crown Royal 400. “We could have swept all of the races at Richmond last season and that would have been awesome,” said Harvick, who would go on to win the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway in September.

Harvick can also make some other history with a win in the Circuit City 250 Presented by FUNAI. A win would tie him with Mark Martin for the most NASCAR Busch series victories at Richmond International Raceway with five. (Harvick’s first Richmond NASCAR Busch Series win was in 2003).

A win would also put him on the brink of another milestone. The NASCAR Busch Series record for the most consecutive wins at any track is five, held by Dale Earnhardt (Daytona) and Jack Ingram (South Boston). Currently, Harvick is not slated to run September’s Emerson Radio 250 NASCAR Busch Series race at Richmond International Raceway. But would another win change his mind?

“If I can win again at Richmond in May, it would be tough to keep me out of the seat in September at Richmond,” said Harvick. “To be able to tie two legends like Dale Earnhardt and Jack Ingram would be something I’d remember forever.”

» Read the full story at rcrracing.com