Top 35 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers: No. 19 - Kevin Harvick

By Lee Montgomery - Associate Editor

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Richard Childress Racing's Kevin Harvick finished 19th in the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings.

Jim Fluharty
NASCAR Scene

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Top 35 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers: No. 21 - Casey Mears

Top 35 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers: No. 22 - Jamie McMurray

Top 35 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers: No. 23 - Martin Truex Jr.

Top 35 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers: No. 24 - AJ Allmendinger

Richard Childress Racing driver Kevin Harvick had one of the worst years, statistically, in his NASCAR Sprint Cup career. Yet, by the time the 2009 season was over, Harvick had optimism heading into 2010.

Neither Harvick nor the other three RCR drivers won a race or made the Chase For The Sprint Cup. For Harvick, it marked the first time in his career he failed to win in back-to-back seasons. And his five top-five finishes matched the second-lowest in his career, and his nine top-10s were the lowest since he had eight in 2002, his sophomore season.

Still, RCR improved in the latter stages of the year, and the organization has reason to believe it has turned the corner. Will that be enough to keep Harvick around after his contract ends after the 2010 season? Stay tuned.

During the offseason, SceneDaily is taking a look at the top 35 in 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup driver points. Here’s how Kevin Harvick’s season unfolded:

By the numbers: Harvick finished second in the Daytona 500 and was fourth in the season’s fourth race at Atlanta. But he didn’t have another top-five until the season’s 25th race, tumbling out of Chase contention. But over the final 12 races, Harvick had six top-10s.

Season highlights: Harvick started the season second at Daytona and ended the season third at Homestead. But his best run may have come at Atlanta in September, when he led 66 laps and finished second. And in the last seven races of the year, Harvick was 10th or better four times, including two top-fives in the final three races.

Key setbacks: Harvick’s No. 29 team took a nose-dive after the first four races of the season. He was 10th in points after the Atlanta race but failed to finish higher than 11th in the next 15 races. That stretch included 10 finishes of 24th or worse. By the time the Cup series hit Indianapolis, Harvick was buried in 25th in the points standings.

Newsworthy moment: Harvick made news on two fronts: First, for a crew chief move in April, when Gil Martin joined the No. 29 team from RCR’s No. 07 team. Second, Harvick consistently brushed aside questions about his future with RCR, leaving many to wonder if he’ll still be with the team in 2011.

In his words: “We've had the speed in the cars over the last few weeks [of the season], few months really. We just have to get that consistency back that we've always had.”

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Comments

11 responses to "Top 35 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers: No. 19 - Kevin Harvick". Post a Comment.

1

jbbigrod said:
Dec 13, 2009 at 3:23 PM
Hopefully it will be another similar year for Hardick.
2

SheilaLovesNASCAR said:
Dec 13, 2009 at 5:17 PM
I hope all of RCR does better this next year.
3

sharon-goodwin said:
Dec 14, 2009 at 8:29 AM
I hope Harvick has a great year. He is my favorite driver. I do think it is time for him to move on from Childress in 2011. Good Luck to Kevin!!!!
4

SheilaLovesNASCAR said:
Dec 14, 2009 at 10:19 AM
#1, if you don't like the guy, why read the article and leave a lousy comment? Find an article on someone you like and leave a good comment. Please.
5

bridgetteshealy said:
Dec 14, 2009 at 11:53 AM
Harvick's saving grace if Crew chief Gil Martin. If he sticks with him he'll be up front again.
6

jbbigrod said:
Dec 14, 2009 at 1:55 PM
I don't know Sheila, guess I am like you, eh??? . LOL.
7

jbbigrod said:
Dec 14, 2009 at 1:56 PM
PS: Sheila, YOU stay off the "GOOD" drivers threads and I will stay off Hardicks.
8

timotheous12001 said:
Dec 14, 2009 at 5:09 PM
hopefully will be racing for shr in 2011
9

bhstoneman said:
Dec 14, 2009 at 9:13 PM
I like Kevin Harvick and I like Richard Childress (I was around when Richard was racing his car himself). I wish him and all of his drivers a good 2010 season.
10

lilmofishin said:
Dec 14, 2009 at 11:05 PM
Harvick is a has been who fell into a ride and couldn't deliver.1 win a year doesn't make him deserving of a ride anywheres. SHR will never pick him over Kahne. Kahne comes with a sponsor. Harvick comes with a attitude.
11

LUV88AND99 said:
Dec 27, 2009 at 2:23 PM
SHELIALOVESNASCAR--I don't like to read mean posts calling folks "stupid, morons, idiots, and other names unsavory to describe fans posts but I don't mind reading honest differences of opinion. I don't care for Kevin Harvick for a variety of reasons: 1. Couldn't get along with Earnhard's crew to the point two crews were traded to make him happy. 2. Acting like a school yard bully with Ricky Rudd, jumping on top of his car on pit road. 3. Talking trash about RCR instead of being a team player and acting more like Jeff Burton. 4. Calling Carl Edwards a "pansy" for riding in the back in a restrictor plate race-but not Johnson or Gordon for doing the same. 5. Getting so mad at his driver Ron Hornaday for not "pulling over" and let him by in one of the last truck races--acting very disrespectful in public towards his driver. The 3 other drivers at RCR have great attitudes. Maybe Kurt, Kyle and Kevin should start their own team because they are so much alike!