34th Place Finish In Rain-Shortened Race

Kevin Harvick and the Shell-Pennzoil team had a solid run going in Sunday's running of the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 working their way into the top-15 and gaining positions with each lap before a restart on lap174 brought out a multi-car crash that included the No. 29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet. Harvick received major damage and pulled into the garage area where the Shell-Pennzoil crew went to work to try to get him back out on the race track. The California native returned to the track on lap 212 to complete the race finishing 34th several laps down to the leaders.

Weather played a major role during the race weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway with rain cancelling Friday's qualifying session and the field having to be set according to owner points. Additional rain on Saturday washed the track of any rubber and overcast skies along with cool temperatures on Sunday changed track conditions dramatically.

After starting from the 25th position, Harvick and his Shell-Pennzoil team spent the opening laps of the 301-lap race trying to figure out the handling under the changed racing conditions. When the first caution flag waved on lap 16, Harvick reported that he didn't need much as far as adjustments, but crew chief Gil Martin kept his driver on track knowing a competition yellow was scheduled for lap 35.

Two caution flags later, Martin brought his driver in for adjustments along with regular service. Harvick came in on lap 29 and received a track bar adjustment along with tires and fuel and returned to the track for the restart on lap 31 in the 37th position.

With all the cautions, NASCAR pushed the competition yellow back to lap 45 and that's when Harvick returned to the pit lane for service. Returning to the track in the 25th position, Kevin was set for the restart on lap 48. It was only a few laps later that caution waved again. The Bakersfield, California native brought his car back down pit road the Shell-Pennzoil team went to work giving him four fresh tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment before sending him back to the track.

As racing resumed a green-flag pit cycle started around lap 118 with Harvick returning to pit road on lap 122. After the green-flag pit stops were complete, the Shell-Pennzoil driver found himself running in the 23rd position.

The adjustments the Shell-Pennzoil crew made finally started working with Harvick racing his way into the 15th position and working his way toward the top-10. Another caution flag waved on lap 169 with the restart on lap 174. It was during this restart that a multi-car wreck was triggered ahead of Harvick, however the 2007 Daytona 500 winner was unable to slow down to avoid plowing into the melee.

The Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet received significant damage and had to take his ride to the garage for repairs. The Shell-Pennzoil crew went to work to repair the No. 29 Chevrolet and get Harvick back on track. It was on lap 212 that the two-time Nationwide Series Champion returned to the track where he was able to make laps to finish in the 34th position in the rain-shortened race.

"There were cars spinning and I tried to slow down and minimize the damage as much as you can at that point," said Harvick. "I don't know, I hit two or three cars as they were coming up the race track the wrong way. They just wrecked in front of us and I couldn't get slowed down. I've got to thank the Shell-Pennzoil guys, they've worked hard today. Tough day and end to the Day for our Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet. The car was running really good and we made up a ton of position there on the last run. We had a good car. I hate for it to end that way. This is typical for the year. It's been a rough year but we'll try to get back out there."

With his 34th-place finish, Harvick lost two positions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings and now sits 27th. Joey Logano earned his first Sprint Cup victory with Jeff Gordon finishing second. Kurt Busch, David Reutimann and Tony Stewart rounded out the top-five.

Next up for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is the running of the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Live television coverage begins on Saturday, July 4, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. (ET) on TNT.  The event will also be broadcast live on MRN (Motor Racing Network) and Sirius Satellite Radio with coverage beginning at 7:15 p.m. (ET).