Kevin Harvick Finishes 24th In Kansas

Kevin Harvick and the Shell-Pennzoil team fought hard to overcome handling problems in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway. Harvick was able to gain positions throughout the race and was posted as high as the 17th position before falling back in the field and finishing 24th one lap down to the leaders.

The Shell-Pennzoil driver struggled in Friday's qualifying session putting the No. 29 Chevrolet in the 38th starting position. Once the green-flag waved for the 400-mile race caution almost immediately came out after a car spun on the first lap. A few laps later the field was set to go green again with Harvick in the 35th position. A multi-car crash on lap seven brought out the second caution flag of the day with the Bakersfield, California sitting in the 25th position for the restart.

By lap 21, the Shell-Pennzoil driver had moved into the 21st position but began to complain of handling issues a few laps later. On lap 36 he reported to his crew that it felt like his right front tire was flat. A green-flag pit cycle began on lap 53 with Harvick coming down the pit lane on lap 56. After receiving service, the two-time Nationwide Series champion was now running in the 33rd position and continued to fight handling issues. However Harvick was able to make headway through the field and found himself back in the 25th position by lap 63.

Another caution flag waved on lap 70 allowing the RCR driver to return to pit road for service. With regular service planned, crew chief Gil Martin also called for additional adjustments to try to help his driver with the handling of his car.

As the race approached the 100-lap mark Harvick had worked his way back up a few positions and found himself in the 22nd position. It was on lap 121 that the Shell-Pennzoil driver fell a lap down to the leaders with Harvick continuing to complain of handling issues but was able to break into the top-20 running in the 19th position by the 131st lap.

When caution waved on lap 148 the Shell-Pennzoil driver returned to pit road with the No. 29 crew planning to basically start from scratch on the set-up. When the green flag waved again on lap 152, the 33-year-old was posted in the 21st position.

By lap 167 Harvick returned to the top-20 where he was running in the 17th position. The next run saw the Shell-Pennzoil Chevy begin to handle loose again with Harvick returning to pit road on lap 205 under green-flag conditions. After the pit cycle was complete the 2009 Budweiser Shootout winner ended up in the 20th position. With 40 laps to go Harvick remained in the 20th spot.

By lap 232 crew chief Gil Martin informed his driver that they would be six laps short on fuel of making it to the checkered flag. However seven laps later and caution flag waved allowing Harvick to return to the pit lane for the fuel he needed.

In the final laps of the race Harvick fell to the 24th position where he took the checkered flag one lap down to the leaders.

"We just really struggled all weekend in our Reese's Chevrolet," said Harvick. "We'd be good at the beginning of a run, then it would fall off after about 10 laps. Gil (Martin, crew chief) and the guys did what they could on pit stops with adjustments. We just couldn't get a handle on it for a better finish."
Harvick remains in the 21st position of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings with seven races remaining in the season.

Tony Stewart won his fourth race of the season and was followed by Jeff Gordon and Greg Biffle. Juan Pablo Montoya and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top-five.
Flag-to-flag coverage of the Pepsi 500 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California will take the green flag Sunday, October 11 beginning at 2:30 p.m. (EDT) on ABC.  The race will also be broadcast on the Motor Racing Network and Sirius Satellite Radio beginning at 3:15 p.m. (EDT).