Harvick easing through standings, extending DNF streak
By Rea White - Associate Editor
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
John Harrelson / Getty Images for NASCAR
Richard Childress Racing's Kevin Harvick has stealthily eased up to third in the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings, earning three consecutive finishes of eighth or better.
Harvick will try to build on that at a track where he has an average running position of 11.8 in the last six races, Bristol Motor Speedway, in Sunday's Food City 500. Harvick swept the races there in April of 2005, winning both the Cup and what is now the Nationwide series races there.
“Bristol is one of my favorite race tracks," he said. "I enjoy the short track stuff, and we’ve always been fortunate to run really well there. We go there with high expectations, but you never know what’s going to happen. You can get caught up in a wreck in a hurry and have your day ended. You have to go to Bristol and enjoy it but know that the outcome could be the opposite of what you want it to be.”
Harvick's consistency has shown over the past year. He's carrying a streak of 48 races without a DNF. He has run 87 consecutive point-paying races without crashing out of one, including races in other top NASCAR series.
He hopes to continue that streak this weekend, as he sees avoiding what are usually numerous incidents at Bristol as the key to running well there.
"To win you have to be there at the end, and with Bristol, like any other short track, the racing is tight, and you can easily get into
trouble," he said. "You just have to stay clean and stay focused. As long as you are there at the end, you have a shot.”
