Chat Transcript: Kevin Harvick

March 15, 2001
4:05 PM EST (2105 GMT)

Welcome to NASCAR.com's chat with Cracker Barrel 500 winner, Kevin Harvick!

Kevin_Harvick: Thanks everyone for coming to the chat! Hopefully we can answer all of the questions.

Nascar_Host: Hey Kevin, great run Sunday! What was going through your mind on Sunday when you looked in the rearview and saw Gordon moving up on you, and, more importantly, how did you keep your cool?

Kevin_Harvick: Well, I had a spotter telling that the 24 was coming. I just had to drive my line. Everything worked itself out, and fortunately we won the race.

Nascar_Host: Congratulations on your win. Have you thought about the ironic things that happened on Sunday? The same car Dale ran last year in November, caution three weeks in a row on lap 3, your 3rd time driving for RCR, etc? What do you think?

Kevin_Harvick: Well, obviously Dale was part of the race and part of the community the last three weeks. There were too many things that happened for him not to be there. It's good that he is still watching over us.

Nascar_Host: Kevin, you are doing great. You recently got married, drive the AC Delco car and run the infamous Goodwrench car. How do you do it?

Kevin_Harvick: The marriage part has been the easiest part. As far as the car and the ride well, Dale is irreplaceable, and I am just trying to be myself.

Nascar_Host: Kevin, I believe you wrote a big page in NASCAR history, when you took the Goodwrench Chevrolet to victory lane Sunday. Describe what was going through your mind as you took the "Victory lap" and saw the overwhelming response from the fans, as well as all of the teams.

Kevin_Harvick: Well, I had to take the lap to gather my emotions. We can't do enough to remember dale. I remembered the tribute, so I did a Polish victory lap, and it just all fell that way.

Nascar_Host: Kevin, What was your reaction when Richard Childress told you he wanted you to drive the #3 (29) for the rest of the year?

Kevin_Harvick: Well, at that point, it was 2 days after Daytona, and things were pretty down, and I told RCR that I would do everything for them, so I was willing to do whatever it took to make the situation better.

Nascar_Host: Kevin, how do you plan on racing both the WC and BGN races for the whole season?

Kevin_Harvick: Well, right now out goal is to keep racing full-time. As close as NASCAR has made the motors, it won't be a hindrance. If anything, it will help. Nascar_Host: Hey Kevin, How does it feel to smash the quickest win record in NASCAR history?

Kevin_Harvick: Well, it was unexpected. We did not expect to do that. It is pretty cool. Some of the names on that list are pretty recognizable, and to be a part of that is really great.

Nascar_Host: Kevin, how has it been working with a crew that worked with Dale for so long? Was everything comfortable from the start?

Kevin_Harvick: It's really made things a whole lot easier. They understand how the sport works. They never say die. They really made my life a lot easier. Kevin Hamlin unloads the car every week and it's awesome. I can't say enough about the experience we have on the team.

Nascar_Host: Kevin- Do you think that winning your first race so quickly is going to make people expect to see you in victory lane more often, if so, how does that effect your mindset for the whole season?

Kevin_Harvick: Well, I really do not know how it is going to affect us. We expect to win and people will expect more, but we can't put any pressure on ourselves. We have to just put ourselves in position to win every week.

Nascar_Host: Great Win!! When can I expect your merchandise on the market?

Kevin_Harvick: We are shooting for Bristol. Action Performance is working hard to get it out. We will have "First Win" shirts on the trailer at Darlington.

Nascar_Host1: How did you celebrate your win after Sunday's race?

Kevin_Harvick: I think we were in so much shock that it was tough to. My wife and I watched the race again to see how we made it to the front. We just relaxed.

Nascar_Host: How are you handling all the media attention that has been directed towards you over the past few days?

Kevin_Harvick: It actually has not been too bad. The first week we established what they should expect from us. They have been great giving us our space. It is also a change of pace. There is a lot of attention and I have to relax and realize that it is part of the business.

Nascar_Host: The relationship between driver and crew chief are critical in success of a driver. Would you like to see Todd Berrier come on board with you on the Cup team and how can you describe the relationship between you and Kevin Hamlin already?

Kevin_Harvick: Right now, Kevin Hamlin and myself are working together. Todd is in charge of the Busch team and that chemistry needs to stay put. We do not need to break that up. We need to keep both teams going in the right direction.

Nascar_Host: Kevin-great win Sunday-How is your relationship with Mike Skinner? Has been a help to you moving to WC so quickly?

Kevin_Harvick: Mike Skinner was the first one to call me Monday. Everything has gone really well. Mike is one of my biggest supporters. Everything is going really well so far.

Nascar_Host: Kevin, do you drive fast off the Track?

Kevin_Harvick: Actually, I drove slowly. My wife yells at me for riding in the fast lane. I get it all out of my system on the racetrack.

Nascar_Host: How does your wife feel about this happening so fast?

Kevin_Harvick: We both have taken it in together. We are still trying to take it in. She is still kind of in shock. She worked in PR, so she understands, and she is helping me more than I am helping her.

Nascar_Host: Hey Kevin, are you suspecting to do good this week at Darlington?

Kevin_Harvick: It is tough. One of those tracks that you have to stay on the steering wheel, or you will hit the wall. The tires wear out really quick. We just need a solid finish and pick up some experience.

Nascar_Host: Did you do the photo shoot today for the postcards? How did it go?

Kevin_Harvick: Yes I did. We did a shoot for the postcards and we are trying to get everything up and running for all the souvenir trailers.

Nascar_Host: What do you expect out of this season, a championship run or running for rookie of the year?

Kevin_Harvick: I am not going to rule out anything. Our goal is to win the ROTY and get into the top-10 in points. Hopefully, there are more surprises to come.

Nascar_Host: Kevin Hamlin has said that Dale felt like you were the future of Richard Childress Racing. What are your thoughts on that?

Kevin_Harvick: It is something that makes me feel good. That was the reason Richard started the Busch team. Things sped up quickly. We were supposed to move to Cup. I am doing all I can to help things out.

Nascar_Host: What was the biggest contributing factor to your win on Sunday?

Kevin_Harvick: I think that we did not have to adjust on the car. We made very small changes. They kept me from running the car into the ground.

Nascar_Host: Kevin, I realize this may be the impossible-to-answer question, but can you put into words what your win at Atlanta meant for you and the team?

Kevin_Harvick: I really can't put it into words. I have tried to describe it. It meant a lot obviously, but I think it meant the most to the team. We can win races despite everything that has happened. It was good medicine.

Nascar_Host: Is there a track that you're not looking forward to racing on, what would that be?

Kevin_Harvick: My favorite track is still Bristol. It reminds me of racing back home in Late Model. Every lap is on top of the wheel.

Nascar_Host: Kevin, What if anything did Jeff Gordon say to you after the race? He had some nice comments on TV.

Kevin_Harvick: I as in the middle of an interview. Jeff pulled Richard away and congratulated him.

Nascar_Host: Kevin, Drivers are often superstitious. Do you have any superstitions or routines that never change before a race?

Kevin_Harvick: Not really. I figure if I get superstitious, I have to stick to it every week. I just go through the motions every week.

Nascar_Host: Kevin, You have come along way from the Winston West Series. How does it feel and is it what you expected?

Kevin_Harvick: It's different. It's a different style of racing. Winston West races are short. You do not have to worry about tearing anything up. In Cup you have to save your car until the end of the race.

Nascar_Host: That's all the time Kevin has for us tonight! Thanks Kevin! What are your final thoughts?

Kevin_Harvick: Thanks everyone for joining us. Hopefully I can join everyone again if I win some more races.