Richard Childress says talks continue on new contract for Kevin Harvick; doesn’t expect Kasey Kahne to drive for RCR
Kevin Harvick is talking to team owner Richard Childress about returning to RCR next year. // Jim Fluharty, NASCAR Illustrated
FORT WORTH, Texas – Richard Childress is still in talks with Kevin Harvick in hopes of keeping him with Richard Childress Racing in 2011.
Childress doesn’t expect his 2011 driver lineup to include Kasey Kahne. Rick Hendrick has signed Kahne for 2011 but must find him a ride in a Chevrolet for one season before Kahne takes over the Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 car in 2012.
Aside from Kurt Busch, who is expected to re-sign with Penske Racing, Harvick is the most accomplished free agent driver available for next year as the 10-year veteran has 11 career victories.
“Kevin and I are working hard together to stay together,” Childress said Sunday prior to the Samsung Mobile 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. “Our plan right now is to stay together and our plan right now is to be together.
“Anything can change, but right now we’re planning on racing together. We’ve been talking. We haven’t signed nothing yet. But we’re definitely talking in the right direction for him to be a big part of RCR and [keeping Kevin Harvick Inc.] all together.”
Sponsor Shell/Pennzoil also is up for renewal.
“They’re doing their [request for proposals] and we’ll see where that comes out,” Childress said.
As far as whether he could expand his operation back to four teams, Childress said the key is managing growth and that the organization would need to make sure it is ready for a four-car team. He doesn’t anticipate signing Kahne to fill any open ride.
“Kasey is a great driver and … I’m sure [Hendrick] has enough of his affiliates and associates to tie in through JR Motorsports or Tony [Stewart],” Childress said. “Rick made a good choice and Rick will find him something.
“Yeah, sure [I’m interested], but I don’t see Rick calling me asking me to run it.”
On the Nationwide Series side, Childress said Clint Bowyer will replace John Wes Townley next week at Talladega Superspeedway. Townley, whose father is Chief Financial Officer at Zaxby’s, will miss his third consecutive Nationwide event after struggling at the start of the year.
“We’re going to be meeting again with the Zaxby’s people,” Childress said. “John Wes is still employed by RCR as a development driver. We did this knowing he was a development driver. We’ll see what our next steps are.”
