200 STARTS FOR KHI: Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) began their journey in the Truck Series in 2001 with Kevin Harvick behind the wheel. This weekend at Kansas Speedway KHI will record their 200th start in the Truck Series when rookie Ricky Carmichael and veteran Ron Hornaday take the green flag. In eight years, KHI has amassed 18 victories, 74 top-five and 121 top-10 finishes. KHI has held nine pole positions and won the 2007 Truck Series championship with veteran Hornaday.
TIME TO BLOSSOM: Historically, this is the time of the season that the No. 33 team begins to win. For the past two seasons, Hornaday has gone to victory lane in either the fourth or fifth race of the season.
WELCOME COPART: KHI is proud to welcome new sponsor Copart to the No. 33 team. Copart Inc. (NASDAQ:CPRT), is an online vehicle remarketing company that sells more than 1 million cars per year. Copart will serve as primary sponsor for five races in 2009 at the following venues: Kansas, Milwaukee, New Hampshire, Las Vegas, and Talladega.
Notes from the Professor: Quotes from Ron Hornaday:
COMING OFF LAST YEAR’S WIN WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT THE TRACK?
“Kansas Speedway is a pretty new track for the Truck Series. Turn three at Kansas can be slippery if the sun is out and the track temperature is hot. One of the main things you have do if you want a good run here is to get through turn three without any trouble.”
WHEN THE TRUCK SERIES TOOK A BRIEF HIATUS, YOU MADE A TRIP TO WALTER REED MEDICAL CENTER AS PART OF YOUR ASSOCIATION WITH THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS. HOW WAS THE TRIP?
“It’s an honor to be able to represent the VFW, the veterans and all the men and women who are overseas fighting for our freedom everyday. Having the opportunity to go and hear the stories those guys have was humbling. I’ll tell you the media, CNN, or anyone else; nothing can do any justice for what those soldiers are going through over there in Iraq. The attitude those guys have at Walter Reed after being injured is the kind of outlook we should all try and have.”
Notes from Atop the Pit Box: Quotes from Rick Ren:
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO HAVE A WIN AT THIS POINT IN THE SEASON?
“If you look at our history, this is the time of year when we really begin hitting our stride. However, we have put ourselves in a really good position in the point standings this year. We have focused more on consistency and less on tallying the most wins. I think it is important to continue to run up front, if we do that we are sure to get a win soon. Although, it sure would be nice to start in Kansas like we did last year.”
WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU FACE AS A CREW CHIEF AT KANSAS?
“Aerodynamics is important everywhere these days, but at Kansas it seems it has become extra important to have your bodies built just right. These trucks are very sensitive to the air and move around a lot. If your aero package is good, you can tweak with the set up and put yourself in a pretty good spot.”
CHASSIS HISTORY: The No. 33 Copart team will bring chassis No. 24 to Kansas Speedway. This chassis last competed at Auto Club Speedway, finishing sixth. The team ran No. 24 multiple times in 2008, going to victory lane three times, once at Kansas Speedway and twice at Texas Motor Speedway.
PREVIOUS RACE RECAP: Three weeks ago on a rare rain-delayed Monday race at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, the No. 33 team recorded a second-place finish behind team co-owner Kevin Harvick. The run marks the second top-five finish for the team in 2009. Hornaday currently sits third in the point standings heading into Kansas 71 behind point leader, Cup Series regular Kyle Busch, who is not expected to enter this weekend’s event.
ABOUT COPART:
Copart, founded in 1982, sells more than 1 million vehicles each year online for insurance companies, banks, finance companies, fleet operators, dealers, the general public and others. Copart’s extensive inventory allows buyers to browse more than 50,000 vehicles each day.
ABOUT KEVIN HARVICK INC.:
Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI), established in 2001, is a 70,000 sq. ft. facility located in Kernersville, N.C. KHI houses two full-time Truck Series teams, including the 2007 series champions, the No. 33 Chevrolet Silverado driven by three-time Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday and the No. 4 KHI All-Stars Chevrolet Silverado driven by Ricky Carmichael and a variety of NASCAR Sprint Cup stars. KHI is also home to the No. 33 Chevrolet Impala competing full-time in the Nationwide Series, with drivers Kevin Harvick (a two-time Nationwide Series champion), Hornaday and Cale Gale. The 2009 season marks KHI’s sixth year of full-time competition in NASCAR’s elite divisions. Visit www.kevinharvickinc.com for more information.
QUICK NOTES
April 25, 2009
Kansas Speedway
O’Reilly Auto Parts 250
Race length: 167 Laps/ 250.5 Miles
Banking/Turns: 15-degrees in turns, 10.4-degrees front stretch; 5-degrees backstretch
Track layout: 1.5-mile
Shape: D-shaped oval
Pre-Race Schedule
Friday:
Practice: 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m., EST
Final Practice: 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., EST
Saturday:
Qualifying: 1:45 p.m., EST
TV: The O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 can be seen on SPEED at 6:00 p.m., EST
Radio: The Motor Racing Network (MRN) will broadcast live at 6:00 p.m., EST
Truck Specs:
Chassis: 024
Engine: Pro Motors Engineering (PME)
Ron Hornaday Truck Series Statistics at Kansas Speedway
Starts: 4
Wins: 1
Poles: 1
Top Five’s: 1
Top 10’s: 2
Laps Led: 159
Average Start: 10.2
Average Finish: 9.0