ONE-MORE TIME: This weekend’s Nationwide Series race at Gateway (Ill.) International Raceway will mark the series last scheduled event at the track. For the final appearance at the 1.25-mile track, Mike Bliss will pilot the No. 33 Mad Croc Energy Chevrolet.
In seven previous Nationwide Series starts at the track, Bliss has recorded one top-five and one top-10 finish. He has completed 1161 of 1400 attempted laps for 82.9 percent and has led 119 laps.
The 2002 Truck Series Champion has five starts at Gatway in the truck series with one top-five and three top-10 finishes. He has completed 763 of 800 attempted laps (95.4 percent) and led three laps.
Bliss will be attempting to score his first career NASCAR win at the track this weekend in the final Nationwide Series race at the 1.25-mile track.
WELCOME TO THE TEAM: This week Kevin Harvick Inc. welcomes new sponsor Mad Croc Energy to the No. 33 Nationwide Series team with driver Mike Bliss. Mad Croc has generated over $300 million in world-wide sales and is the only global energy brand with a full portfolio of products including energy drinks, energy shots, energy gum and energy chews.
“This is our Company’s first significant racing sponsorship in the U.S. and we are very excited to partner with the Kevin Harvick Inc. team,” said Robert Tamcsin, CEO for Mad Croc Brands Inc. “Not only will this deal generate great exposure for our growing brand here in the U.S., but it will also expand the distribution of our energy products into the nation’s largest grocery retailer.”
The agreement also includes distribution of Mad Croc products in select Kroger stores in the Mid-Atlantic region.
BEFORE THE RACE: QUOTES WITH DRIVER MIKE BLISS:
This will make your third appearance in the No. 33 car for Kevin Harvick Inc. this season. Can you talk about this opportunity and returning to Gateway? “I’m really excited to get back in the No. 33 car for Kevin and DeLana (Harvick) this week at Gateway. Every time I have gotten in their equipment, we’ve been competitive and run up front. This week we have a new sponsor on board with Mad Croc Energy and I’m excited to have a good run for them and hopefully at the end of the race, we’re there with a chance at the win. Gateway is a track where I’ve had some bad luck, but I hope to turn that around this week.”
CHASSIS HISTORY: This week the No. 33 Mad Croc Energy team will unload chassis No. 058 for driver Mike Bliss. The last on-track appearance for this chassis was at Gateway International Raceway with team co-owner Kevin Harvick. Harvick started the race 10th and following a late-race accident finished 16th. Other appearances this season include New Hampshire Motor Speedway where Harvick started the race from the third position and led six laps before finishing seventh. Prior to New Hampshire, this chassis was on track at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway where Harvick finished the race seventh and at Phoenix International Raceway where Harvick scored a second-place finish.
PREVIOUS RACE RECAP: For the final Nationwide Series new car race of the 2010 season, Kevin Harvick piloted the No. 33 car at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway where he was looking to score his first-career Nationwide Series win at the track. Starting the race from the 14th position, Harvick fought a loose-handling condition most of the race. After leading two laps midway through the race, Harvick crossed the finish line 10th.
ARE YOU A FOLLOWER? Twitter users can now keep up-to-date with Kevin Harvick Inc.’s NASCAR Nationwide Series by following @KHI_NNS. In addition, you can follow KHI’s Truck Series teams @KHI_TruckSeries. Want more from KHI? Follow KHI’s co-owners Kevin and DeLana Harvick @KevinHarvick and @DeLanaHarvick.
ONLINE MEDIA KITS: Media members can now access KHI media kits online at KevinHarvickInc.com. Included on the site are driver bios, driver and team images, KHI history and statistics, team profiles and schedules. Please contact Alicia Deal (adeal@kevinharvickinc.com) at KHI for access to the new site.
Mike Bliss
Nationwide Stats at Gateway
Year No. Team Start Finish
2010 40 CK 39 19
2009 1 JF 6 4
2008 1 JF 8 31
2007 22 AF 7 33
2006 30 CL 29 36
2004 20 JG 11 17
2003 20 JG 6 12
*CK: Curtis Key
*JF: James Finch
*CL: Chris Lencheski
*JG: Joe Gibbs
About Mad Croc Brands:
Mad Croc has generated over $300 million in world-wide sales and is the only global energy brand with a full portfolio of products including energy drinks, energy shots, energy gum and energy chews. Regular Mad Croc products contain pure cane sugar, B vitamins, caffeine and taurine for a healthy boost that eases fatigue, increases alertness and enhances your senses.
About Kevin Harvick Inc.:
Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI), established in 2001 by Kevin and DeLana Harvick, is an 80,000 sq. ft. facility located in Kernersville, N.C. Home of the 2009 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship team, KHI enters 2010 in its seventh full year of competition with two full-time Truck Series teams and one full-time Nationwide Series team. Four-time Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday returns to the helm of the No. 33 Truck team looking for his fifth title and third championship for KHI (2009 and 2007), while Sprint Cup series stars Kevin Harvick and Elliott Sadler guide the No. 2 Truck team. Two-time NASCAR Nationwide Series champion Harvick will again shine as the lead driver of the No. 33 Nationwide Series team as he continues to make his mark in motorsports and establish KHI as one of the top teams in NASCAR competition. For more information about KHI and its teams, please visit www.KevinHarvickInc.com.
