This Week
Race: GEICO 400
Date: Sunday, September 15
Track: Chicagoland Speedway
TV: ESPN, 2 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN Radio affiliates, Sirius XM NASCAR Radio
Track Facts
Track Length: 1.5 miles
Race Length: 267 laps/400 miles
Grandstand Seating Capacity: 75,000
First Race: July 15, 2001
Banking in Corners: 18 degrees
Banking on Tri-Oval: 11 degrees
Banking on Backstretch: 5 degrees
Frontstretch: 2,400 feet
Backstretch: 1,700 feet
Rearview Mirror
Last weekend at RIR, Harvick and the No. 29 Budweiser team earned an 11th-place finish after a late-race caution ruined their strategy for victory.
Budweiser Racing Team Notes of Interest
Kevin Harvick and the No. 29 Budweiser Designate a Driver Chevrolet SS team travel to Chicagoland Speedway this weekend for Sunday’s GEICO 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) race.
Designate a Driver… Harvick’s No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet will feature a special “Designate a Driver” paint scheme this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway in support of Anheuser-Busch’s worldwide effort to promote the responsible enjoyment of the company’s beers on “Global Be(er) Responsible Day” Friday, September 20. Adults are encouraged to join Harvick, the No. 29 Budweiser Designate a Driver team and the Nation of Responsible drinkers by taking the pledge at www.NationOfResponsibleDrinkers.com.
In the Chase for the Championship… Sunday’s race officially kicks off the 2013 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup – the championship format used throughout the final 10 races of the season. Following last weekend’s race at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway (RIR), the driver point standings for the top 12 were reset and drivers in the top-10 spots received three point bonus for each victory earned during the first 26 races of the season. Harvick currently is ranked fourth in the Chase standings, nine points behind leader Matt Kenseth.
Chase Across America… As the 12 Chase drivers head to different markets this week as part of NASCAR’s “Chase Across America” program, Harvick will visit Texas Motor Speedway on Wednesday to participate in the track’s special event that will honor first responders from across the state. From there he will travel to Chicago where he and the other Chase drivers will participate in media interviews and the NASCAR Contenders Live fan event on Thursday at Navy Pier. Fans can purchase tickets to the event for $10 and NASCAR.com will have live coverage.
Join Harvick at the Race Fan Rally… Harvick will take part in the Race Fan Rally held in downtown Joliet, Ill., on Thursday, September 12. He’s scheduled for a Q&A on the main stage at 6 p.m. Additional details on the event can be found at .
Chassis Info… The No. 29 Budweiser Designate a Driver team will utilize Chassis No. 430 from the Richard Childress Racing (RCR) stable at Chicagoland Speedway. While the team has tested with this car, it will make its first competitive laps on track this weekend.
Statistically Speaking… In 12 starts at Chicagoland, Harvick has earned two wins (2001 and 2002), six top fives and seven top-10 finishes. He has completed 99.5 percent of the laps run in NSCS competition (3,190 of 3,207 laps) and has led 282 laps there as well. Harvick’s average start at the track is 18.8 and his average finish is 10.5.
Loop Data… Since the inception of NASCAR’s Loop Data Statistics in 2006, Harvick has competed in seven NSCS races at Chicagoland Speedway and owns a number of impressive marks heading into this weekend’s event, including: third in fastest drivers late in a run (167.409 mph); third in closers; third in speed in traffic (167.791 mph); fifth in speed by quarter; fifth in green flag speed (168.640 mph); sixth in laps in the top 15 (1,462); sixth in laps led (94); sixth in fastest on restarts (164.798 mph); sixth in driver rating (95.8); seventh in fastest drivers early in a run (170.394 mph); seventh in average running position (11.996); and 10th in quality passes (207).
Double Duty… In addition to his duties in the No. 29 Budweiser Designate a Driver Chevrolet, Harvick will drive the No. 33 Menards/Rheem Chevrolet in Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Chicagoland. ESPN2 will air coverage of the race starting with the pre-race show at 3:30 p.m. ET. Sirius XM NASCAR Radio and MRN Radio affiliates will provide the live radio broadcast.
A Look Back… During last year’s race at Chicagoland Speedway, Harvick started 35th and scored a 12th-place finish.
Harvick Discusses Racing at Chicagoland Speedway
What are your thoughts coming back to Chicagoland Speedway and kicking off the 2013 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup?
“I really like tracks like Chicagoland where the surface is a little bit worn out, because it makes for better racing. We were fortunate to win the first couple of races here, so Chicagoland has always been a really good race track for us as far as fans and following, too. DeLana and I always enjoy coming in early for the Chase kick off, going into the city and having a couple of low key days before the weekend gets started.”
Talk about the Goodyear tire test at Chicagoland Speedway in May that you participated in. Did the team learn anything they can use for the race this weekend?
“We had a really good test. Obviously a lot has changed since then from a setup standpoint because we’ve been trying out some different things recently, but I think we’re a little bit ahead of the curve going into this weekend. I feel pretty good about it. I think it’ll be a good weekend.”
For the online version of the Budweiser Racing media guide, please visit www.budweiserracingmedia.com.
