JR Motorsports Race Report
Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016
Race 2 of 33: Heads Up Georgia 250 at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Track Specs: 1.54-mile quad-oval/ 163 laps
Weather: Sunny; 59 degrees
Race Winner: Kyle Busch
Harvick’s finish: 12th
Kevin Harvick and the Bad Boy Off Road team fought an overheating issue during the Heads Up 250 and relegated to a 12th-place finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
After qualifying 10th Saturday morning, Harvick was ready to strap into his No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro, in hopes of capturing his third win with JR Motorsports at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
With only six laps completed, Harvick had worked his way to the third position when the caution flag waved on lap nine. Harvick reported that his Bad Boy Off Road Chevy was loose, but overall drivable. The team chose to stay out under that caution and restarted second. On lap 46, Harvick brought his No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro to pit road for four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment.
Harvick radioed to Crew Chief Dave Elenz on lap 72 that his Chevrolet Camaro was overheating. The team came straight to pit road to clean the grill and elected to take four tires and fuel. Three laps later, the No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro returned to pit road after continuing to run high temperatures. Once returning to the track, Harvick was scored one lap down and was fighting for the free pass while running 12th.
On lap 117, Harvick relayed to the team that his Bad Boy Off Road Chevrolet was better and asked for no adjustments on their next stop. When the caution flag was shown on lap 122, the team came to pit road on lap 125 for four tires and fuel. After not receiving the free pass after the caution was shown on lap 129, the team was unable to make up their lap before the checkered flag.
Kevin Harvick and the No. 88 Bad Boy Off Road Chevrolet Camaro brought home a 12th-place finish on Saturday afternoon at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Kyle Busch claimed the victory and was followed to the checkered flag by Kyle Larson, Erik Jones, Paul Menard, and fifth-place Ty Dillon.
Dave Elenz, crew chief No. 88 Bad Boy Off Road Chevrolet team
“We had a pretty tough day today. This was not the result that we were looking for. Unfortunately, we got the car a little too hot and then we had to pit to wipe the grill. Then we had to pit again for tape and had to fight for the free pass. We didn’t receive the free pass when the caution came out, which unfortunately is what it is. We had a fast Bad Boy Off Road Chevy this weekend and we will move on to Vegas and do better.”