Have a FaceBook, Twitter, or other social networking account?

Link them to your fanatic account!

Add An Account

TAKE ME TO...
NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
CUP: Another Big Day For RCR
Richard Childress Racing placed all three of its cars in the top eight at Auto Club Speedway...
Tom Jensen  |  Posted February 21, 2010   Fontana, CA
Kevin Harvick, driver of the #29 Shell Pennzoil Chevrolet, takes a turn alongside Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Auto Club 500 at Auto Club Speedway. (Photo: Getty Images)

With just two of 36 races down in the NASCAR Sprint Cup season, there are few hard and fast truths established yet. But this much already has become clear: Richard Childress Racing is back in a big way.

RESULTS: Auto Club 500

After suffering through an embarrassing 2009 season — no race victories, no cars in the Chase for the Sprint Cup — RCR has opened the 2010 season on fire. Kevin Harvick opened Daytona Speedweeks two weeks ago with his second consecutive Budweiser Shootout victory.

In last week's season-opening Daytona 500, RCR drivers Clint Bowyer (fourth), Harvick (seventh) and Jeff Burton (11th) all had good days.

Sunday at Auto Club Speedway, the three RCR Chevrolet drivers were even better, as Harvick finished second behind race-winner Jimmie Johnson, barely edging Burton by 0.058 seconds for the runner-up spot. And despite some overheating issues midway through the race, Bowyer finished eighth, another solid result.

After two races, Harvick and Bowyer are 1-2 in the NASCAR Sprint Cup points standings, with Burton in fifth. No doubt about it, RCR is back. Told he was the points leader, Harvick laughed. “Oh, great,” he deadpanned. “Only 34 more (races) to go.”

And as big a day as the team had in the Auto Club 500, it was almost a lot more. With 13 laps to go, Harvick was a full second behind Johnson and apparently out of contention for the victory. But Harvick quickly started to cut the gap on Johnson. With four laps to go, he was right on the tail of the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, seemingly in good position to win.

Coming into Turn 4, Johnson moved his racing line higher on the wide, flat ACS oval. As Harvick closed in, he got out of shape in Turn 4 and slapped the wall. It wasn't a hard hit and didn't cause major damage, but it compromised the aerodynamics just enough to cost Harvick a shot at victory.

“The 48 (Johnson) saw me coming and he moved up,” said Harvick. “ … I just lost the nose of the car and got into the wall there, just knocked the right-front fender in. But what a day for this Shell-Pennzoil Chevy. Everybody did a great job.”

Still, Harvick likes what he sees so far.


Page 1 of 2
Prev
12
Next
tom_jensen's avatar

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tom Jensen

MORE BY THIS AUTHOR
Advertising | Jobs | Feedback | FAQ | Terms of Use | NEW Privacy Policy | Ad Choices | Site Map
Fox Sports | FUEL TV | FX Network | National Geographic | IGN | AskMen
The Motor Sports Authority, SPEED and associated logos are registered trademarks of Speed Channel Inc.
All Rights Reserved © Speed Channel, Inc. 2012

All external links will open in a new browser window. SPEED.com does not endorse external sites.