Kevin Harvick

No. 29 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet | NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide, Truck Series

Birthdate: December 8, 1975
Hometown: Bakersfield, California
Residence: Kernersville, North Carolina
Hobbies: Golf, Go-Kart Racing, Hunting and Skeet Shooting
Marital Status: Married, Wife DeLana

In season 2012, Harvick will focus his efforts to accomplish the one achievement that has eluded him during his 11-year Sprint Cup Series career, the championship. In 2012 Harvick is scheduled to compete in a full Sprint Cup Series schedule along with appearances in the Nationwide and Truck Series through the RCR racing stable.

For kindergarten graduation in 1980, Harvick received a go-kart and began his racing career. In the 10 years that he competed on the go-kart circuit, Harvick earned seven National Championships and two Grand National Championships. During that time, he also learned the value of dedication and discovered the joy of success that would transform into fierce determination that defines Kevin Harvick.

Harvick left the go-kart circuit to begin competing in the local Late Model Series before moving on to the Featherlite Southwest Series – a regional touring division of NASCAR – in 1992. While completing high school, Harvick ran a limited schedule for two seasons and then in 1995, was back on track competing in a full season and earning Rookie of the Year honors.

Deciding to pursue a career in racing rather than study architecture in college, Harvick progressed to the Winston West Series. Two years later, Harvick won five races on his way to the 1998 Winston West Series championship.

A brief stint in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series introduced Harvick to acclaimed car owner Richard Childress. Childress, having seen potential in Harvick's hard-charging driving style, offered him a ride in the Nationwide Series. Harvick accepted the offer.

In February of 2000, the blue-and-white ACDelco Monte Carlo pulled out of the garage area at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway with rookie Kevin Harvick behind the wheel. A remarkable two-year campaign in the Nationwide Series had begun.

Harvick won three races and finished third in the points on his way to the Rookie of the Year title. On the track, he was known for his aggressive driving, but off the track his affable attitude and ever-present smile earned him the nickname "Happy."

Harvick began 2001 as the favorite for the Nationwide Series title, and completed the year a Sprint Cup Series superstar. After losing Dale Earnhardt in a wreck on the final lap of the Daytona 500, car owner Richard Childress asked Harvick to assume driving duties for the GM Goodwrench Service Plus Monte Carlo on the Sprint Cup circuit. Despite the intense schedule and difficulty of driving full-time in two series, Harvick agreed and began the most incredible year of his life

For having started on such a terrible note, the 2001 racing season was one of the most memorable of Harvick's career – both personally and professionally. On February 28, 2001, Harvick married DeLana Linville, whom he calls his "best friend," in a beautiful Las Vegas ceremony. Despite not having time for a honeymoon, Kevin and DeLana's first year of marriage was filled with incredible moments that DeLana called "wedding presents."

Those "wedding presents" included two Sprint Cup Series wins – the first coming in Harvick's third start – and a Nationwide Series championship, which Harvick earned on the strength of 20 top-five finishes and five wins. Harvick also earned Rookie of the Year honors on the Sprint Cup circuit, finishing ninth in the point standings.

Harvick became the first driver in NASCAR history to run full time on both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup circuits – a total of 70 races – in one season, and the first to be named Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year the same season that he earned the Nationwide Series championship.

In the fall of that same year, Kevin and DeLana ran their first Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) entry in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The truck, built in a friend's garage, set the stage for what is now a full-fledge racing operation. In August of 2004, Kevin and DeLana opened what is now over an 80,000 square foot facility in Kernersville, N.C., that became the home of KHI. The next year, KHI fielded its first full-time Nationwide Series team, winning the season-opener at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway with Tony Stewart behind the wheel. The 2005 season was also successful for KHI's truck team, as they finished fourth in points, winning an event at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Since his start in NASCAR's premier racing series 10 years ago, Harvick has had many memorable career moments. He is currently one of only 21 drivers who have won a race in each of the National Series (Truck, Nationwide and Sprint Cup).

Harvick went on to win his second Nationwide Series championship in 2006, competing in all 35 events. He recorded nine victories, 23 top-five and 32 top-10 finishes, holding an average finish of 4.6, all the while competing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He earned five victories, 15 top-five and 20 top-10 finishes, and finished fourth in the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

Adding to his career highlights, Harvick kicked off the 2007 season on a high note as he swept the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series events at Daytona International Speedway, claiming the elusive Daytona 500 title. Harvick went on to finish the 2007 Nationwide Series season fourth in the Owner's Point standings after visiting victory lane six times and earning 11 top-five and 20 top-10 finishes in only 26 starts. At the same time, Harvick competed full time in the Sprint Cup Series, winning not only the season opener Daytona 500, but also winning the All-Star Challenge before finishing the season 10th in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Topping off the year, Harvick and wife DeLana became Championship Owners as Ron Hornaday and KHI's No. 33 Camping World Truck Series team claimed the 2007 NASCAR Truck Series championship.

The 2008 season proved to be another year for the record books for Harvick. He raced his way to his third consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chase for the Championship, capping the year off with five top-five and 19 top-10 finishes on his way to matching his career best fourth-place finish in the final Sprint Cup point standings. On the Nationwide front, Harvick made the decision to drive only for KHI, finishing the season seventh in the Owner's Point standings and secured one pole, eight top-five and 11 top-10 finishes in 22 starts. Harvick did visit victory lane in 2008, behind the wheel of the No. 2 KHI Silverado truck at Phoenix International Raceway.

Continuing his success in 2009, Harvick made his mark on all three of NASCAR's elite Series on his way to helping solidify KHI as a top team in the NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series. Harvick kicked off the Sprint Cup Series season by winning the 2009 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway and after a year of changes at RCR, ended the season with five top-five and nine top-10 finishes. Turning his attention to KHI, Harvick returned to the No. 33 KHI Chevrolet Impala and at one of his most successful tracks, Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, notched his first Nationwide Series win in a KHI-owned car. In a total of 22 starts during the 2009 Nationwide Series season, Harvick was able to score two victories, including his first Nationwide Series win at Atlanta Motor Speedway, two poles, 14 top-five and 16 top-10 finishes. With the help of Harvick's stellar stats, the No. 33 KHI Nationwide Series team finished the 2009 season fourth in the NASCAR Nationwide Series Owner's Point standings.

In addition to running in the Nationwide Series in 2009, Harvick also ran six races in the Camping World Truck Series claiming three wins, six top-five and six top-10 finishes. Of his three wins, he added his first set of back-to-back wins and first win on a 1.5-mile track by earning victories at the final two events of the season, Phoenix International Raceway and Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway. While Harvick was making "guest" appearances in the Truck Series and walking away with wins, his KHI teammate, Ron Hornaday and the No. 33 KHI Truck Series team were making history of their own and made Harvick and wife DeLana two-time Truck Series Championship owners.

To cap the 2009 season, Harvick was named the NASCAR Nationwide Series driver of the decade with two series titles in the decade – 2006 and '01 – and was named the series' Raybestos Rookie of the Year in 2000. During the decade, Harvick led all NASCAR Nationwide drivers with 34 wins.

The 2010 season brought Harvick continued success. In the Sprint Cup Series, the driver experienced his career-best season. With three wins, 16 top-five and 26 top-10 finishes, Harvick led the point standings throughout the majority of the 36-race season before landing third in the final standings. Harvick kept busy by staying behind the wheel of the No. 33 Chevrolet in the Nationwide Series. He took the KHI machine to the winner's circle three times and with a record of 17 top-five and 26 top-10 results, Harvick ended the season sixth in Driver Point standings and an organization-best third in the final Owner Point standings. The driver also competed in six Truck Series events throughout the season. Out of the six starts, Harvick captured three wins, five top-five and five top-10 finishes and one pole award.

In 2011, Harvick rounded out the season with eight wins between all three of NASCAR’s top series. Harvick finished third in the Sprint Cup Series point standings for the second consecutive season and captured his third NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Owner’s Championship as co-owner of Kevin Harvick Inc. with wife DeLana.

Career Stats

Kevin Harvick — Cup Series Career Highlights

 

Kevin Harvick — Nationwide Series Career Highlights

 

Kevin Harvick — Truck Series Career Highlights

The Car

Shane Wilson

Crew Chief No. 29 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Birth Date: November 3, 1968
Hometown: South Royalton, VT
Residence: Sherrills Ford, N.C.
Marital Status: Married, Wife Dana

Career Highlights

Named crew chief for Richard Childress Racing’s No. 29 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team and driver Kevin Harvick in November 2011

Captured RCR’s 100th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win at Talladega Superspeedway in October 2011 with driver Clint Bowyer

Guided Bowyer to one win, four top fives and 16 top-10 efforts in the 2011 Sprint Cup Series season, finishing 13th in the championship point standings

Qualified for his first career berth in the Chase for the Sprint Cup as a crew chief and finished 10th in the final 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings on the strength of two wins, seven top fives and 18 top-10 finishes with driver Bowyer in the No. 33 Chevrolet

Scored his first career victory as a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series crew chief on September 19, 2010 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway with driver Clint Bowyer

Named crew chief for Bowyer and the No. 33 team in 2009, leading them to four top fives and 16 top-10 finishes in his first year

Headed RCR’s testing program and worked with development drivers Austin Dillon and Stephen Leicht in 2008

Led RCR’s No. 21 team to a fourth-place finish in the 2007 NASCAR Nationwide Series owner’s championship by recording six wins, 13 top fives and 18 top-10 finishes

Led Harvick and the No. 21 team to RCR’s 10th NASCAR championship and third NASCAR Nationwide Series championship by a record margin of 824 points, on the strength of 10 wins, one pole, 24 top fives and 31 top-10 finishes in 2006

Named crew chief for RCR’s NASCAR Nationwide Series No. 21 Chevrolet in December 2005

Served as crew chief for Travis Kvapil and the No. 77 team during the 2005 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, accumulating two top-10 finishes

Captured his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series top-five finish as a crew chief with Penske Racing and driver Brendan Gaughan in October 2004 at Talladega Superspeedway

Moved to North Carolina in 2004 to join Penske Racing as crew chief for the No. 77 team

Finished fourth in the 2003 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship standings with Gaughan, accumulating six wins, three pole awards, 14 top fives and 18 top-10 finishes

Collected two West Series championships while working with Gaughan and Orleans Racing in 2000 and 2001

Moved to Las Vegas in 2000 and became crew chief and general manager of Orleans Racing

Won the 1997 and 1999 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championships as car chief with Hendrick Motorsports

Moved to North Carolina in 1993 with Alsup Racing to focus on the NASCAR All-Pro Series

Mechanic for Alsup Racing and driver Mike Bachelor in the American-Canadian Tour in 1989

Became the owner of a Street Stock Car at the age of 17 and won a local touring division championship with driver Brian Kenyon in 1988

Began his career building race cars before obtaining a driver’s license

Richard Childress

Richard Childress Racing President and CEO

Birthdate: September 21, 1945
Hometown: Winston-Salem, N.C.
Residence: Clemmons, N.C.
Marital Status: Married, Wife Judy

Career Highlights

Collected one of NASCAR’s most prestigious and longest-running awards in 2011 – Buddy Shuman Award – which recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to NASCAR racing

Captured the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship with driver Austin Dillon

Won the 2011 ARCA Racing Series championship with driver Ty Dillon

Finished third in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car owner point standings in two consecutive seasons (2011 and 2010) with driver Kevin Harvick

Richard Childress Racing won back-to-back NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year honors in 2011 and 2010 with Joey Coulter and Austin Dillon, respectively

Named 2010 NASCAR Owner of the Year by The Sporting News … earned the award in 2006 and 2001

All three RCR NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams (Clint Bowyer, Jeff Burton and Harvick) captured Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup berths in 2010, 2008 and 2007

Childress was the recipient of the 2008 Home Depot Humanitarian of the Year Award for his role in establishing the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center

RCR clinched its first berth in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in 2006 with the teams of Burton and Harvick

RCR was a one-team shop (No. 3 team) from 1969-1994. A NASCAR Camping World Truck Series program (No. 3) was added in 1995 and a second Sprint Cup Series team (No. 31) was added for the 1997 season. A two-team NASCAR Nationwide Series program (Nos. 2 and 21) was started for the 2000 season and the Truck Series team ceased operation. A third Sprint Cup Series team (former No. 30, most recently No. 07) was started in 2001 to run a part-time schedule and became a full-time program in 2002. A third Nationwide Series team (No. 29) was added in 2006 to run a partial schedule with Burton and became a full-time program in 2007. Two years later, the No. 33 Sprint Cup Series team was formed, giving RCR four entries for the 2009 season. The Welcome, N.C.-based organization returned to three Sprint Cup Series teams in 2010 and rejuvenated its Camping World Truck Series program (No.3) with Austin Dillon and added an ARCA Racing Series team (No. 31) before expanding to four Sprint Cup Series entries, two Truck Series and two ARCA teams for the 2011 season. For 2012, RCR’s competition program will feature three teams in each of NASCAR’s top-three national series.

Childress was the first NASCAR team owner to win championships in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (Dale Earnhardt - 1986, ’87, ’90, ’91, ’93 and ’94), NASCAR Nationwide Series (Harvick – 2001, Harvick and Johnny Sauter – 2003, Harvick – 2006, Burton and Scott Wimmer – 2007, Bowyer – 2008) and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (Mike Skinner – 1995, A. Dillon – 2011).

An RCR team has finished in the top 10 of the Sprint Cup Series point standings in 25 of the last 30 seasons … 1992, 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2009 were the years RCR did not have a car finish in the top 10 in points

An RCR team has earned a Sprint Cup Series win in 26 of the last 29 seasons … 1997, 2004 and 2009 were the seasons RCR did not win a Sprint Cup Series race

RCR has 205 victories in NASCAR competition, including the 1998 and 2007 Daytona 500 and the 1995, 2003 and 2011 Brickyard 400 • RCR has a Sprint Cup Series victory at 19 of 23 current tracks (winless at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Kansas Speedway, Kentucky Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway) and 21 overall (defunct tracks North Wilkesboro Speedway and North Carolina Speedway)

RCR won the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year Award in 1997 with Skinner and in 2001 with Harvick

RCR won the Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year Award in 2000 with Harvick RCR’s first Sprint Cup Series victory came in 1983 with Ricky Rudd at Riverside (Calif.) International Speedway

Childress was a Sprint Cup Series driver from 1969 to 1981, recording six top-five and 76 top-10 finishes in 285 starts. He finished fifth in the point standings in 1975 and earned top-10 points finishes in five of the eight full seasons he competed as a driver. He retired as a driver in mid-1981, naming Earnhardt to finish the season in his car.

Childress purchased his first race car, a 1947 Plymouth, for $20 at age 17