No. 29 race Team Overcome Setbacks

After several weeks of on-track struggles, Kevin Harvick and the Shell-Pennzoil team hoped to turn things around this weekend in the running of the Autism Speaks 400 at Dover International Speedway. Harvick started off with an ill-handling car but the Shell-Pennzoil team worked to make adjustments and the car was beginning to dial in. However an untimely caution flag caught the No. 29 on pit road and put the Shell-Pennzoil driver a lap down.

Harvick continued to fight handling issues throughout most of the 400-lap event but the car came around late in the race and he was able to gain his lap back. The 2009 Budweiser Shootout winner took the checkered flag in the 17th position.

After starting from the 35th position, Harvick began to experience an extremely loose race car right away. He gained four spots in the opening laps only to lose them plus additional positions with the handling issues. By lap 16, the 2007 Daytona 500 Champion found himself in the 37th position.

NASCAR threw the first caution flag of the day at lap 30 for a competition yellow. Harvick brought his Shell-Pennzoil Chevy down the pit lane for adjustments and service. Crew chief Gil Martin gave his driver four fresh Goodyear tires along with fuel, air pressure and wedge adjustments. The Shell-Pennzoil driver took the flag for the restart in the 35th position.

When caution waved for the second time on lap 43, Harvick reported the car was better but still too loose through the center of the corners. He was also struggling with passing the cars that were racing around him. He returned to pit road for additional adjustments and with a two-tire change was able to gain track position that put him in the 23rd spot for the restart.

Over the next several laps Harvick maintained his position while remaining relatively quiet on the radio. Lap 108 brought out the beginning of green-flag pit stops with the two-time Nationwide Series champion came down the pit lane on lap 116. While on pit road the caution flag waved trapping the No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil drive a lap down. Harvick returned to pit road on lap 121 to get his two left-side tires and a track bar adjustment before taking the green flag for the restart on lap 123 in the 27th position, one lap down to the leaders.

As racing resumed Harvick continued to fight handling problems and remained around the 28th running position. The Shell-Pennzoil driver made slight contact with the wall around lap 145 but did not receive much damage. When the caution waved on lap 163, the Bakersfield, California native asked his crew chief to put the previous changes back and try something different. The Shell-Pennzoil team changed all four Goodyear tires while making adjustments on the stop at lap 166 before sending Harvick back out on the track.

By the half-way point of the race, Harvick was still running in the 27th spot continuing to fight handling issues. He returned to pit road on lap 234 and again on lap 278 for additional adjustments and service. By lap 290, the Shell-Pennzoil driver moved his way into the top-25.

The final 100 laps brought out a change for the Shell-Pennzoil team as Harvick began to run better and was turning in laps as fast as the leader. After putting himself in position to get the "Lucky Dog", caution waved on lap 363 allowing the Harvick to regain his position on the lead lap. Taking the green flag for the restart on lap 368 in the 19th position Harvick moved into the 14th spot before taking the checkered flag in the 17th position.

"The Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet was pretty good today," commented Harvick. "We got caught a lap down when a caution came out while we were pitting, and it just took us awhile to put ourselves in position for the 'lucky dog.' Gil (Martin) and the guys stayed after it, though. It's a step in the right direction."

Jimmie Johnson crossed the start-finish line first with Tony Stewart and Greg Biffle finishing second and third. Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch rounded out the top-five.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads next to Pocono Raceway on Sunday, June 7, 2009. Live television coverage of the Pocono 500 begins at 12:30 p.m. (ET) on TNT with radio coverage beginning at 1:15 p.m. on MRN (Motor Racing Network) and Sirius XM Satellite radio.