Kevin Harvick Pocono preview

Happy Pulls Double Duty II
GM Goodwrench Service Plus Driver Kevin Harvick

Kevin Harvick, known on the NASCAR Busch Series as "Happy," has had a rookie season in the Winston Cup Series that can easily be described as outstanding. Taking in consideration tackling an unprecedented double-duty schedule (between the Busch and Winston Cup Series), not competing in the first race of the season, and skipping the "7-race warm-up year" Harvick was prepared to seize, his 2001 Winston Cup season has been nothing short of phenomenal.

Harvick and the No. 29 GM Goodwrench Service Plus team worked early in the season toward gelling and meshing as a single unit. Their hard work has lead them to one win, two top 5's, six top 10's, and the 10th place position in the points standings in only thirteen starts with the driver.

Moreover, the No. 29 GM Goodwrench Service Plus team has culminated these accolades with a rookie driver who had never raced the circuit's tracks in a Winston Cup car; and in some instances this season, he will race on the circuit's tracks for the first time. Presenting the latter of that challenge is this weekend's Cup race, the Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway (Long Pond, Pa.).

The 2.5-mile Pocono Raceway consists of only three turns- each at a different degree of banking- and three straightaways- each a different length. Coupled with only two days of testing and flying to and from the Busch Series event at Kentucky Speedway (Mitchell, Ky.) grants an insurmountable challenge for some Winston Cup first-timers. Harvick does not see it that way.

Driver of the No. 29 GM Goodwrench Service Plus Chevrolet Kevin Harvick:

"The triangle shape of Pocono was pretty unique. It's just an odd track with three turns as opposed to the normal four, and three links of track instead of four. You only get one really long straightaway. I imagine most of the passing will happen there since the rest of the time you're going through short stretches of track between the turns. It seems like a lot of fun. It's a place you've got to stay on your toes at all times since it's so different than the other places we run."

"As far as I know, Kenny Wallace and Bobby Hamilton, Jr. will be doing double duty- they're the same guys who did it during the weekend of the Winston (Charlotte, N.C.) and Nazareth (Pa.). All of the people at RCR (Richard Childress Racing) and GM have pulled together to make it happen for the No. 2 and 29 logistically- so much so that I don't have to worry about it. I get on a helicopter, I get on a plane, I get in a car, and I get in a racecar. They've got people on each end who will have to do all of the worrying so DeLana (Harvick, wife) and I won't have to. All we have to do is hope for some good weather. I'll just kind of go where they point me."

"It doesn't get to me too much (running two series). Even when they're in different places it's not so bad. The time I'll be spending on planes and helicopters is time I'd be on the hauler or in my motorhome. I'll cherish those Sunday mornings though, when for the most part, I'll be at a Cup race and get to sleep in. Never take sleep for granted." <pre> Travel Schedule To/From Pocono Raceway and Kentucky Speedway:

Thursday, June 14th 2:00 pm Jet from Winston-Salem, NC, to Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport, helicopter to take Harvick to Kentucky Speedway 4:00 pm Drivers Meeting at Kentucky 5:00-9:00 pm Busch Practice at Kentucky 9:30 pm Helicopter to Cincinnati Airport, jet to Pocono (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Airport), car to pick up Harvick to take him to his motorhome in Pocono infield.

Friday, June 15th 10:30 am Rookie Meeting at Pocono 11:30 am-2:00 pm Winston Cup Practice at Pocono 3:00 pm Winston Cup Qualifying at Pocono 3:30 pm approx. Helicopter to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Airport, jet to Cincinnati, helicopter to Kentucky Speedway 3:30-5:30 pm Busch Practice at Kentucky 7:00 pm Busch Qualifying at Kentucky 8:00 pm After qualifying, helicopter to Cincinnati Airport, jet to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, helicopter to Pocono infield

Saturday, June 16th 9-9:45 am Winston Cup Practice in Pocono 11:15 am-12:15 pm Winston Cup Final Practice in Pocono 12:30 pm Helicopter to Wilkes-Barre Airport, jet to Cincinnati, helicopter to Kentucky Speedway 2:45-3:40 pm Busch Final Practice at Kentucky Speedway 6:00 pm Busch Drivers Meeting 7:30 pm Drivers' Introductions 8:00 pm Start of Busch Race at Kentucky 10:30 pm Helicopter to Cincinnati Airport, jet to Wilkes-Barre Airport, helicopter to Pocono

Sunday, June 17th 11:00 am Cup Drivers Meeting 12:30 pm Drivers' Introductions 1:00 pm Start of Cup Race at Pocono

LAP COUNT Kevin Harvick will be logging more laps and miles, by far, than any other NASCAR driver this season. Here is the total to date:

                        Busch                   Cup
Daytona                 300 miles               ---
Rockingham              200.94 miles            399.84 miles
Las Vegas               298.5 miles             400.5 miles
Atlanta                 311.08 miles            500.5 miles
Darlington              201.39 miles            401.41 miles
Bristol                 132.5 miles             265miles
Texas                   300 miles               501 miles
Martinsville            ----                    240.62 miles
Nashville               299.25 miles            ----
Talladega               170.24 miles            497.42 miles
California              300 miles               500 miles
Richmond                187.5 miles             299.25 miles
Loudon                  212miles                ----
The Winston             ----                    28.5 miles
Nazareth                200 miles               ----
Charlotte               297 miles               600 miles
Dover                   200 miles               400 miles
Michigan                ----                    400 miles

SUB TOTAL 3,610.4 miles 5,434.04 miles

GRAND TOTAL Harvick has run 9,044.44 miles this season in both the Winston Cup and Busch Series. </pre> * In NASCAR Busch, Harvick has completed 2,802 out of a possible 2,855 laps for a 98.14% completed lap percentage.

* In Winston Cup, Harvick has completed 4,420 out of 4,519 possible laps for a 97.8% completed lap percentage.

-RCR-