Harvick Finishes 29th at Sonoma

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series headed back west for the first of two road course races this past weekend. Kevin Harvick finished 29th after starting from the 16th position in Sunday’s running of the Toyota/SaveMart 350 at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California. The Shell-Pennzoil driver was well on his way to a top-10 finish when a late-race incident relegated him to the rear of the field in the closing laps of the 110-lap event.

In the opening stages of the race Harvick’s Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet was handling both tight and loose and needed grip. When the first caution flag waved on lap 20 Harvick reported to pit road for tires and adjustments that included removing spring rubbers.

While exiting pit road the Bakersfield, California native was clocked going too fast and had to restart the race at the tail end of the field. Taking the green flag in the 38th position Harvick returned to pit road on lap 26 for fuel only.

As green-flag racing continued the 2009 Budweiser Shootout winner reported that he was too loose but was able to work his way into the top-25. It was around lap 46 when that Harvick reported once again that the Shell-Pennzoil Chevy wouldn’t turn in the corners.

When caution waved again on lap 52, crew chief Gil Martin called his driver back to pit road for four tires, fuel and additional adjustments. Harvick returned to the track for the restart on lap 56 in the 25th position.

As green-flag racing resumed the 2007 Daytona 500 winner reported his car was better and he began to move up in the field. By lap 66, the Shell-Pennzoil driver was running in the top-10 and made his way into the fourth spot before pitting under the green on lap 75. One lap later caution waved again and Martin told Harvick to race as hard as he needed to as they had plenty of fuel to go the remainder of the race. 

Harvick worked his way back into the top-10 in the closing laps and was running in the eighth position with less than 10 laps remaining when he hooked his right tire on something that messed up his steering. The Shell-Pennzoil Chevy dropped off the pace and fell back into the field and was running in the 35th position by lap 105.

The final caution flag waved on lap 108 setting up a green-white-checker finish. Harvick returned to pit road for the final time on lap 110 and received right side tires as the Shell-Pennzoil crew worked on the damage to the fenders. Restarting the race in the 36th position, Harvick managed a 29th-place finish for the day.

"We looked like we were headed for a top-10 finish, but that's just how our luck has been this season,” said Harvick. “We'll regroup and see what we can do at Loudon."

Harvick dropped two positions in the NSCS point standings with his 29th-place finish. He now sits in the 25th spot after round 16 of the 2009 Sprint Cup Series season.

Next up for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is the running of the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire. Live television coverage begins on Sunday, June 28, 2009 at 1:30 p.m. (ET) on TNT.  The event will also be broadcast live on PRN (Performance Racing Network) and Sirius Satellite Radio with coverage beginning at 1:30 p.m. (ET).