Handling And Brake Issues In New Hampshire

Kevin Harvick and the Shell-Pennzoil team had a tough day at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. After fighting handling issues and a brake problem, the Shell-Pennzoil driver ended up 32nd in the running of the Sylvania 300.

Starting from the 12th position it wasn't long before Harvick radioed to his crew chief, Gil Martin that the No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet was handling tight off the corners. By lap 26 the 2009 Budweiser Shootout champion began to complain that the car was bouncing on the track. As the laps continued to click off, the bouncing became worse with Harvick reporting he was "really, really, really hopping now".

It was on lap 68 that the Shell-Pennzoil driver got his first opportunity to come down pit road for service. After receiving four tires and fuel, Harvick returned to the track in the 18th spot.  Remaining in his position Harvick returned to pit road on lap 86 under the caution for four more tires and fuel. The Bakersfield, California native returned to the track in the 23rd position for the restart.

As the race got back under green-flag conditions the handling on the Shell-Pennzoil Chevy once again went away and Harvick lost several positions on the track. By the one-third mark of the race, the two-time Nationwide Series champion was running in the 26th position.

Lap 106 saw the return of the wheel hop with Harvick reporting that every time it hits the spring the tires just chatter. Right before the half way point another caution flag waved and the 33-year-old returned to pit road for a four-tire stop. The Shell-Pennzoil driver was down and away in 14.8 seconds and set to take the green flag for the restart in the 24th position.

By lap 160 Harvick broke the top twenty as he took over the 19th spot. By this point the Shell-Pennzoil Chevy was beginning to run a little better. Several more pit stops saw the crew continue to work on the No. 29 RCR Chevy and some pit strategy with two-tire stops helped the 2007 Daytona 500 champion gain some valuable track position.

Harvick made his way into the top-15 running in the 13th spot before handling issues returned dropping him back into the 20th position with 100 laps remaining. The next several laps saw the Shell-Pennzoil driver run between the 20th and 30th position.

Lap 264 saw Harvick return to pit road for what he thought would be his final stop of the day. Receiving four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment the California native returned to the track in the 28th position. It was just a lap later that Harvick reported he was out of brakes and had to return to the pit lane. The Shell-Pennzoil crew discovered that the brake pad was completely used up and began to make the necessary repairs. After several laps, the crew got their driver back on the track five laps down to the leaders in the 33rd spot.

The final laps of the race were full of cautions with Harvick able to gain one position to finish 32nd for the day.

"Not the best day for the Shell-Pennzoil team. The car was night and day from practice. It was hopping all the way through the turns today. I had to use the brakes so much to get it to turn, we wore them out. After the past few weeks, it's a very disappointing finish."

Despite his finish, Harvick was able to hang on to his points position. He remains 22nd in the standings with nine races remaining in the season.
Mark Martin took the checkered flag first earning his fifth win of the season with Denny Hamlin and Juan Pablo Montoya in second and third. Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch rounded out the top-five.

Flag-to-flag coverage of the AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway will take the green flag Sunday, Sept. 27 beginning at 1 p.m. (EDT) on ABC.  The race will also be broadcast on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius Satellite Radio beginning at 1:15 p.m. (EDT).