NATIONWIDE SERIES DEBUT: David Mayhew is set to make his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut in the No. 33 Rheem/Menards Chevrolet Impala this weekend at Iowa Speedway. Mayhew has competed in two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events for Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) this season behind the wheel of the No. 2 MMI Services Chevrolet Silverado. The Bakersfield, Calif., native finished a career-best third at Texas Motor Speedway in June and collected his first-career pole in only his sixth start in the series last month at Iowa. Mayhew led 21 laps en route to a third-place finish at the Newton, Iowa track.
NOT REALLY A ROOKIE: While this weekend might be Mayhew’s first Nationwide Series race at Iowa, the driver is no stranger to victory lane at the 0.875-mile tri-oval. Mayhew has made six starts in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West division with a record that includes one pole, three wins, four top-five and five top-10 finishes at the track as well as 210 laps led.
HARVICK’S PICK: Impressed with Mayhew’s knowledge and talent, KHI co-owner Kevin Harvick tapped fellow California native to practice his Nationwide Series cars in practice sessions at Iowa last season and Chicagoland Speedway in June this year when the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule and logistics kept Harvick from participating in the practices. Mayhew has also tested cars for KHI during the off season.
PREVIOUS RACE RECAP: After a collecting his career-best series finish at Nashville Superspeedway, Austin Dillon and the No. 33 Rheem/Menards team headed to Indiana looking to top the third-place finish in the Nationwide Series Saturday night showdown at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis. Dillon qualified the KHI Chevrolet Impala in the 12th position and raced among the top 10 for the majority of the 200-lap event. The young driver finished 14th after being involved in a late-race incident which included teammate Elliott Sadler in the No. 2 OneMain Financial Chevrolet.
CHASSIS HISTORY: Crew chief David Hyder and the No. 33 Rheem/Menards team have prepared chassis No. 066 for this weekend’s race at Iowa Speedway. The No. 33 team utilized this chassis five times thus far this season. Kevin Harvick finished third at Phoenix International Raceway, sixth at Bristol Motor Speedway and second at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Paul Menard competed with chassis No. 066 at Richmond International Raceway where he finished second and driver Austin Dillon drove to a 10th-place finish at Iowa Speedway in May.
THOUGHTS FROM THE DRIVER: DAVID MAYHEW
What are your thoughts on making your Nationwide Series debut this weekend at Iowa Speedway?
“I really want to thank Kevin and DeLana [Harvick], Menards and Rheem for the chance to get to drive for KHI. They have great equipment and build great cars. I am really looking forward to making my first official start in the Nationwide Series. I practiced the car for Kevin [Harvick] a couple of times last year and made it to Iowa earlier this year to practice for Austin Dillon, but rain kept us off the track. It’ll be great to get behind the wheel this weekend and not only practice, but see it through to qualifying and the race.
“It’s always good to go back to Iowa. I’ve been there and raced at the track before so it’ll be good that I am not trying to learn the car and the track all at once. I’ve won races at Iowa in the West Series. I like how the track drives. It’s like a big track even though it’s a short track. We had a great race there last month in the No. 2 truck. I’m really excited to go back.”