Kevin Harvick and the No. 29 team salvaged a top-10 finish at Martinsville Speedway Sunday afternoon after starting from the 10th position and sustaining damage to the Rheem Chevrolet SS. The California native maintained a position within the top 15 for the majority of the race, until pitting for four tires and fuel on lap 328 under yellow-flag conditions. With varying pit strategies, Harvick was scored 21st for the ensuing restart. As green-flag racing resumed, the Richard Childress Racing driver worked his way back into the top 15, but alerted the team the red and black machine wouldn't turn and the water pressure was beginning to fall. Crew chief Gil Martin called his driver to pit road on lap 367 for four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment. During the pit stop, the team discovered damage to the grille of the Chevrolet from an earlier on-track racing incident. The team kept on eye on the situation during the final laps as Harvick continued to work his way toward the front of the field, ultimately crossing the finish line sixth. Following Harvick's 18th top-10 finish of the season, he now sits fourth in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, 28 markers out of the top spot.
KEVIN HARVICK QUOTE:
"This was an interesting one. We fought all day, got the nose banged up there and had a little leak in the radiator, so it was kind of nerve wracking at the end. I want to apologize to Ryan Newman; I tried to shoot in a gap there and just barely clipped the right rear of his car. Gil (Martin, crew chief) and the Rheem team did a good job of adjusting the car from the little bang-up and we came away with a solid day."