Handling Problems In All-Star Race

Kevin Harvick was among the 21 top drivers in NASCAR Sprint Cup competition to participate in Saturday night's Sprint All-Star race. The 2007 All-Star champion finished 15th after handling issues kept the Shell-Pennzoil team from being a factor in the 100-lap event.

Broken into segments, the first portion of the race consisted of a total of 50 laps with a required four-tire pit stop after lap 25. Harvick took the green flag for the start in the ninth position. The No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevy was a little loose coming off the corner causing the Bakersfield, California native to drop out of the top-10 back into the top-20.

After the 25th lap was complete, Harvick along with the entire field made a green-flag pit stop taking on four tires and fuel along with an air pressure adjustment before returning to the track. The 2007 Daytona 500 Champion resumed the race in the 17th position.

Once the first segment was complete Harvick returned to pit road for additional tires, fuel and more adjustments. He remained in the 17th position for the start of the 20-lap second segment. The Shell-Pennzoil driver worked his way back into the top-15 during the second segment and chose to make another pit stop after the 20 laps were completed.

Returning to pit road between the second and third segments the 33-year-old received additional service from the Shell-Pennzoil crew. Some of the cars stayed on track and chose not to pit, however Harvick remained right around the top-15. Just two laps into the third segment caution waved for the first time for an on-track incident. The two-time Nationwide Series champ was running in the 15th position for the restart.

Going into the final 10-lap shootout the entire field returned to pit road for a 10-minute break allowing their teams to make adjustments for the final laps. Harvick took the green flag for the final segment in the rear of the field.

Caution waved on the first lap causing the field to reset for a second start. Another caution waved on lap seven while Harvick remained toward the rear of the field. The final caution flag waved with five laps remaining setting up a five-lap shootout to the million dollars. Once the checkered flag waved, Harvick crossed the start-finish line in the 15th position.

"It was a disappointing night for the Pennzoil team," stated Harvick. "We made a lot of adjustments, but we couldn't get it dialed in. We were trying some things to get ready for the (Coke) 600. We've got a lot of work to do next week."

Tony Stewart took home the million dollar trophy with his first All-Star win followed by Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch. Denny Hamlin and Carl Edwards rounded out the top-five.

Next up for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, May 24, 2009 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Live television coverage begins at 5:00 p.m. (ET) on FOX with radio coverage beginning at 4:30 p.m. on PRN (Performance Racing Network) and Sirius XM Satellite radio.