Kevin Harvick, Richard Childress Racing contract extension likely completed
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points leader Kevin Harvick and Richard Childress Racing are expected to announce a contract extension for the 34-year-old driver on Saturday.
// LaDon George, NASCAR Illustrated
CONCORD, N.C. - Richard Childress Racing officials and driver Kevin Harvick appear to have reached an agreement that will keep the 34-year-old driver behind the wheel of the team’s No. 29 Chevrolet for beyond the 2010 season.
An official announcement is expected to be made Saturday at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series organization has been completing details of the contract this week and has scheduled a news conference for 3:15 p.m. EDT Saturday.
Asked about contract talks with his veteran driver on Friday, team owner Richard Childress said he hoped to have something to announce this week.
Harvick said he didn't "have anything new to report today," when asked about the status of the talks during his press availability Friday.
"As soon as we get … something to report we’ll go ahead and do that," he said. "But nothing new to report today."
Harvick, a 12-time winner in NASCAR’s Cup series, was in the final year of his contract with the team and there had been speculation that he might exit RCR to drive elsewhere.
Harvick has finished fourth on two occasions in the point standings (2006 and 2008).
In addition to Harvick’s signing, Childress has also been in talks with several sponsors in an attempt to find a replacement for Shell/Pennzoil, which announced earlier this season that it had agreed to a multiyear deal with Penske Racing and driver Kurt Busch beginning in 2011.
The 2010 season has been a turnaround for not only Harvick, but for all three RCR Cup teams. After 12 races, Harvick sits atop the point standings while teammate Jeff Burton is eighth. After a strong start to the season, Clint Bowyer is 15th but only 42 points out of the No. 12 spot and Chase contention. A year ago, all three teams failed to qualify for the Chase.
