This Week
Race: Ford EcoBoost 400
Date: Sunday, November 17
Track: Homestead-Miami Speedway
TV: ESPN, 3 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN Radio affiliates, Sirius XM NASCAR RadioTrack Facts
Track Length: 1.5 miles
Race Length: 267 laps/400.5 miles
Grandstand Seating Capacity: 65,000
First Race: Nov. 14, 1999
Banking in Corners: 18-20 degrees
Banking on Straights: 4 degrees
Frontstretch: 1,760 feet
Backstretch: 1,760 feet
TV: ESPN, 3 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN Radio affiliates, Sirius XM NASCAR Radio
Rearview Mirror
Harvick’s win at PIR on Sunday marked his fourth victory at the 1-mile speedway and the 23rd of his NSCS career. He is now tied with Johnson for the most NSCS wins at PIR.
Budweiser Racing Team Notes of Interest
Riding a wave of momentum after winning Sunday’s race at Phoenix International Raceway (PIR), Kevin Harvick and the No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet SS team will close out the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) season with Sunday’s Ford EcoBoost 400 race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Season Review… Harvick enters the season finale ranked third in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings and is still in contention for the championship as he sits 34 points behind leader Jimmie Johnson. Harvick has earned four wins, nine top fives and 20 top-10 finishes this season, and has an average start of 15.6 and an average finish of 11.2.
The End of a Chapter… Sunday’s race at Homestead-Miami Speedway will mark the end of a chapter in Harvick’s racing career – his final race for Richard Childress Racing. In his 13 years in the NSCS, Harvick has earned 23 wins, 100 top fives and 208 top 10s. In addition, he’s also earned two NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) titles and 35 NNS wins for the team during his career.
A Special Tribute… In honor of his time at RCR, Harvick will wear a special helmet for Sunday’s race to recognize all of the accomplishments and milestones achieved during his time with the team. The helmet features images from several of his key wins and NNS championships, as well as other special moments from his career.
Chassis Info… The No. 29 Budweiser team will utilize Chassis No. 438 from the RCR stable at Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend. This is a new car that will make its first laps on track this weekend.
Statistically Speaking… In 12 starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Harvick has earned five top fives and 10 top 10s. He has completed 100 percent of the laps run in NSCS competition (3,208 of 3,209) and has an average start of 14.7 and average finish of 7.9.
Loop Data… Harvick owns several impressive marks at Homestead-Miami Speedway in NASCAR’s Loop Data scoring system heading into this weekend’s event, including: first in closers; third in laps in the top 15 (1,607); fourth in driver rating (100.1); fourth in average running position (10.631); fourth in green flag speed (162.022 mph); fifth in fastest on restarts (159.986 mph); sixth in quality passes (339); ninth in fastest drivers late in a run (160.144 mph); and 10th in laps led (70).
A Look Back… During last year’s season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Harvick and the No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet team started 23rd and finished eighth. The result marked Harvick’s fifth-straight top-10 finish at the track.
Harvick Discusses Racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway
Share your thoughts on racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
“Homestead (Miami Speedway) has been a great race track for us, whether it was flat or banked. It’s been a race track where we’ve run well. It would be nice to close out my career at Richard Childress Racing with a win there and go out on the right note. RCR is where I got my start and it’s been a great career so far.”
Is it difficult to go to a track only once a year?
“It’s definitely different for the fact that it seems like the track changes so much more because we only go there once a year, not to mention the progression of the car is so different from year to year. Homestead has aged over the years because of the climate it’s in and has become a very challenging track to drive and figure out. It does create new challenges when you only go there once a year, because you don’t put as much focus on that specific track with testing and the things you should do to collect the needed data to put into the simulations to get the right starting point.”
Are you fatigued or excited when you finally get to Homestead-Miami Speedway?
“You’re pretty excited when you get to Homestead, because you know you’re going to get some time off. You’re obviously still working during the winter doing photo shoots and working with sponsors, but at least you get to come home and sleep in your own bed at night. It’s great to get month or so off, but I’m pretty excited for the last day of school.”
Is it bittersweet for you to close out this chapter of your career?
“I’m excited for what lies ahead. I’m extremely grateful for opportunity that Richard (Childress, team owner) gave me and I’m proud of everything that we have accomplished throughout the years.”
