Race/Date: Zippo 200/ August 12, 2006
Location: Watkins Glen International (2.45-mile road course)
Start Position: Third
Finish Position: Seventh
Points Position: First (443 points)
U.S. Coast Guard driver Kevin Harvick led 19 laps, finished seventh, and gained a 443-point lead in the series on Carl Edwards in the Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen International on Saturday, the final road course event of the 2006 NASCAR Busch Series.
The strong efforts marked Harvick’s 21st top-10 finish in 24 races this season.
During Saturday’s qualifying session, Harvick toured the 2.45-mile road course in 73.018 seconds (120.586 mph) securing a starting position on the inside of the second row for the 82-lap event.
The team’s strategy fell into place as the 22-time NASCAR Busch Series race winner took the lead on lap 18 while all the other teams hit pit road early. Interim crew chief Todd Berrier knew the No. 21 team could make it on one pit stop if they pitted late enough into the first run.
On lap 40, Harvick surrendered the lead and hit pit road for his first and only stop of the race. With no adjustments needed, the Coast Guard pit crew changed four tire and added fuel, returning the No. 21 machine to the track in the 27th position due to a number of teams electing to stay out on the track.
The plan looked like it was falling into place since everyone in front of Harvick still had to pit one more time. Harvick began to pick off his competitors one by one. On lap 45 he was 24th, and just three laps later he was shown in the 17th spot. Harvick was ninth when the second caution flag of the day flew on lap 57.
After the caution displayed, Harvick sent his team scrambling for fresh tires and possibly a new shock absorber when he informed Berrier and company something just didn’t feel right. His initial reaction was a right front-flat tire; however, once his spotter and team looked over the tires from a distance, they didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. The next concern was a broken shock. Fortunately, after swerving his Coast Guard Chevy back and forth across the race track in an effort to clean up his tires, Harvick realized his tires were coated with debris.
Harvick lined up for the restart on lap 60 in the seventh position. Another caution was shown for debris on the race track before the field could even make it back to the start/finish line. The Bakersfield, Cailf., native lost one position in the process and restarted on lap 63 in the eighth spot.
Harvick worked his way back into the sixth position on lap 68 and began a battle with John Andretti for the fifth spot. He did everything he could to get past Andretti but was unsuccessful. Unfortunately, while Harvick was battling with Andretti, Martin Truex Jr. was able to close in on the two and passed Harvick in the final laps. Harvick crossed the finish line in the seventh position.
The finish marked the seventh consecutive top-10 for Team Coast Guard. It was also the 21st top-10 by the No. 21 team – Jeff Burton has collected three and 17 for Harvick behind the wheel of the No. 21 machine.
Harvick’s Richard Childress Racing teammate, Clint Bowyer, finished 16th.
Kurt Busch took the victory followed by Robby Gordon, Jamie McMurray and Greg Biffle. Andretti completed the top five.
Next up for Harvick and Team Coast Guard is the Aug. 19 Carfax 250 at Michigan International Speedway. The event will take the green flag at 2:45 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time and will be televised live on TNT. The race will also be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and XM Satellite Radio.
KEVIN HARVICK - NO. 21 COAST GUARD CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO SS –
“It was a solid day for the U.S. Coast Guard Chevy. We got great gas mileage and only had to pit once during the race. We didn’t have a car to win but we were able to pull out a solid top 10.”
