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Harvick not intimidated by Joe Gibbs Racing’s dominance as Chase begins

External News Wire | 09/15/15

Author: Associated Press

Date: Sept. 13, 2015

RICHMOND, Va. –  Every indication the last three months is that Joe Gibbs Racing is going to be a major force in NASCAR's playoffs.

But if anyone thinks JGR's four-car lineup is going to run away with the title, reigning Sprint Cup champion Kevin Harvick has other ideas.

Harvick, who finished 14th in the regular-season finale Saturday night, gave no indication he's intimidated by JGR. Matt Kenseth won at Richmond International Raceway for his third victory in six races, and JGR's eighth win in 11 Cup events.

Because those eight wins have been divided by Kenseth, Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards, Harvick doesn't see one standout team in the group capable of sustaining a 10-race playoff run.

"You can't be good once every three weeks, you've got to be good for 10 weeks," Harvick said. "I know those guys have run fast, (but) it's been a different Gibbs car that we've raced against for the last 10 weeks. As a company, they've had some good success in winning races, but it hasn't been the same car.

"Hopefully they'll be peaky like they normally are and we can capitalize on the solid momentum we've had throughout the last two years and do what we have to do."

The Chase begins Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway in the second year of its elimination-style format. Harvick prevailed last season with three Chase victories — a win in each of the first three rounds automatically advances a driver into the next segment — that included a victory in the championship-deciding finale.

But he was also consistent, with just one finish lower than 13th.

Harvick has been even steadier this year: His 22 top-10 finishes through 26 races are remarkable, but what's most impressive are his 10 runner-up finishes. Although others have been faster at times this season, he's certain his Stewart-Haas Racing team can win a second-consecutive title.

"I don't know that we're the team to beat," he said. "But I know that we can beat anybody as we go through a week-to-week basis on any style racetrack."

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