19th-Place Finish In Chicago

Kevin Harvick and the Shell-Pennzoil team fought through handling problems during Saturday night's running of the LifeLock.com at Chicagoland Speedway.

The crew worked hard to get the No. 29 Chevy handling better and Harvick was on his way to a solid finish when the power steering fluid began to leak causing him to lose several positions in the closing laps of the race. The Shell-Pennzoil driver wound up in the 19th position while gaining one position in the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship point standings where he now sits 25th.

After starting from the 28th position Harvick reported early in the race that he was having a tough time with the handling with the Shell-Pennzoil Chevy with his car was driving tight in the center and loose off the corner. 

Remaining around the 27th spot, the 2009 Budweiser Shootout winner got his first opportunity to come down pit road when the first caution flag waved on lap 38. Harvick brought his No. 29 RCR Chevy to the attention of the Shell-Pennzoil crew receiving tires, fuel and several adjustments to help with the handling.

By lap 61 the Bakersfield, California native reported to crew chief Gil Martin that the Shell-Pennzoil Chevy was running better as he broke into the top-20 for the first time of the night.

Green-flag pits stops started around lap 94 with Harvick returning to pit road on lap 95 for additional adjustments and regular service. The 2007 Daytona 500 winner was able to race his way into the top-15 by lap 102 and gained additional spots putting himself in the 14th position by lap 130.

Harvick made another pit stop on lap 132 under the caution again receiving adjustments for handling along with tires and fuel. Remaining in the top-15 running positions, a second round of green-flag stops began on lap 186 with the Shell-Pennzoil driver pitting on lap 187.

After racing his way to just outside of the top-10 and running in the 11th position, the two-time Nationwide Series champion made several more trips to pit road as the Shell-Pennzoil crew continued to work on the handling issues.

It was on lap 245 that Harvick reported that the car was getting hard to turn and he thought the power steering fluid was leaking. Several more trips to pit road confirmed the power steering problem with Harvick remaining in the top-20 taking the checkered flag in the 19th position.
Mark Martin took home the top spot with Hendrick teammate Jeff Gordon finishing second. Kasey Kahne, Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top-five.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will take a weekend off before heading to Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana for the running of the Brickyard 400. Live television coverage begins on Sunday, July 26, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. (ET) on ESPN.  The event will also be broadcast live on IMS Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio with coverage beginning at 1:00 p.m. (ET).