Harvick Finishes 14th at Bristol Motor Speedway

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Food City 500
March 17, 2013 – Bristol Motor Speedway

Kevin Harvick drove the No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet SS to a 14th-place finish at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday afternoon after late-race pit strategy played against the Richard Childress Racing team. The Bakersfield, Calif., native started the Food City 500 from the 18th position and began a charge toward the front of the field during the early laps. Following a two-tire pit stop under caution, Harvick was scored in the 10th position for the lap-62 restart. As the race progressed, Harvick remained a fixture in the top 10 until coming down pit road on lap 396 under caution for four fresh tires and fuel. Several teams opted to take two tires, or not pit at all, positioning the red and white Chevrolet SS 15th for the ensuing restart. Back under green-flag conditions, Harvick worked his way through the field once again, lining up 10th for the final restart on lap 461. As green-flag racing resumed, the RCR veteran driver was shuffled back in the pack and ultimately crossed the finish line 14th. The top-15 result allowed Harvick to gain two positions, moving to 17th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver championship point standings.

That was not the result we were looking for today. Our Budweiser Chevrolet was fast, but we lost track position when pit strategy late in the race didn’t work in our favor. We’ll learn from our mistakes and move on to the next race. – Kevin Harvick

Race Notes

• Started – 18th, Finished, – 14th,  Laps led – 0, Points – 17th
• Harvick and Menard posted 38 of the Fastest Laps Run, completing 29 and nine laps respectively.
• With an average speed of 120.626 mph, Harvick ranked third in Green Flag Speed.
• Harvick’s speed of 119.531 mph placed him fourth in the loop data category, Fastest Drivers Late in a Run.