Kevin Harvick and the No. 29 Jimmy John’s team collected a 16th-place finish under the lights of Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday night. The 36-year-old driver started the race from the 11th position and quickly became a fixture in the top 10 during the early laps. Following the team’s visit to pit road on lap 37 for right-side tires, fuel and a chassis adjustment while under caution, Harvick returned to the track in the fourth spot and continued to run within the top five until lap100 when he reported to crew chief Gil Martin that the Jimmy John’s Chevrolet developed a loose-handling condition. The Martin-led pit crew made adjustments to the Richard Childress Racing machine during scheduled pit stops on laps 128 and 168 in an effort to alleviate the handling issues Harvick was battling. Back on track, the Bakersfield, Calif., native alerted Martin the changes created a tight-handling condition, which made the car difficult to maneuver around the 1.5-mile track. Harvick ultimately fell back in the field, crossing the finish line in the 16th position. Harvick remains 10th in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, 56 points out of the lead.
KEVIN HARVICK QUOTE:
“This was a tough night for the Jimmy John’s team. We started the race headed in the right direction, and lost our way toward the end. We never could find the right setup we needed to keep the car running near the front of the field.”