NASCAR Busch Series: Daytona Champ Harvick to Drive No. 33 This Weekend

Harvick dominated last Saturday`s Orbitz 300 at Daytona leading the final 42 laps enroute to victory.

Salem-News.com SPORTS

FONTANA, Calif. - Daytona 500 champion Kevin Harvick will be behind the wheel of the No. 33 RoadLoans.com Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS in the NASCAR Busch Series this weekend at California Speedway.

The two-time Busch Series Champion will be looking for his second straight win when he returns to his home state for the Stater Bros. 300 Saturday night.

The race begins at 7:00 PM ET and can be seen live on ESPN2.

ORBITZ 300 RACE RECAP (No. 33):

Tony Stewart and the Old Spice team persevered though a lengthy race with a loose handling race car to bring the No. 33 Old Spice Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS home in the eighth position Saturday at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.

For Stewart, the finish snaps a two race win streak in the season opening Busch Series event.

DAYTONA 500 CHAMP IN THE NO. 33:

Daytona 500 champion Kevin Harvick will be behind the wheel of the No. 33 RoadLoans.com Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS in the NASCAR Busch Series for Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI).

Harvick will compete in eight races in the No. 33 KHI Chevrolet during the 2007 season.

Harvick’s last race for KHI in a Busch car was at Lowe’s (NC) Motor Speedway in October of 2006, where he clinched the Busch Series Championship.

Much like last season Harvick will share driving duties in the No. 33 with fellow NEXTEL Cup drivers Tony Raines, Tony Stewart, road course specialist Ron Fellows and newcomer Cale Gale.

The star-studded cast of drivers should make for a thrilling season.

Primary sponsors in addition to the 14 RoadLoans races will be Old Spice for eight races and Camping World for 11 races with the remaining two races going to Bounty and Dollar General.

HARVICK TRYING FOR TWO STRAIGHT:

Two-time Busch Series Champion Kevin Harvick will be looking for a second straight win this weekend when he returns to his home state for the Stater Bros. 300 at California Speedway.

The Bakersfield, California native dominated last week leading the final 42 laps to win the Orbitz 300 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, which was his first Busch Series superspeedway win of his career.

CALIFORNIA SPEEDWAY:

Kevin Harvick has eight career NASCAR Busch Series starts at California Speedway. Of those eight starts, he has compiled seven top-10 finishes including a pole in the 2003 1-800-Pitshop.com 300.

KEVIN HARVICK QUOTES

ON THE BUSCH SERIES:

"I like the Busch Series. It is where a lot of us got our start, it is where I got my first break with RCR and had some success there. I would rather be in a race car on Saturday; It is a big part of my racing career and always will be.”

ON WHY IT IS SO MUCH FUN TO RACE IN THE BUSCH SERIES:

“There is a lot less pressure then you have on Sunday. You can just go out and race as hard as you can and go for the win. I am doing 14 in the RCR car and 12 in a KHI car. Tony (Stewart) will drive for me this year again in eight races and I am racing four truck races too.”

ON HOW DRAINING IS IT TO DO THE FULL SCHEDULE IN BOTH SERIES:

"To be honest, it wasn't that draining last year. We were fortunate to be very organized and for the most part, everything went off without a hitch so it was fairly easy to do just because of everybody else's organization. Just got lucky with the weather and everything. I think we won 13 races last year and that always makes it more fun."

NO. 33 ROADLOANS.COM CREW:

Crew Chief: Dan Stillman

Hometown: Menasha, Wisconsin

Car Chief: Nate Bellows

Hometown: Fairfax, VT

Front Tire Carrier: Jeffrey Roth

Hometown: Washington, Georgia

Front Tire Changer: Eric Sainer

Hometown: Mentone, Indiana

Rear Tire Carrier: Darrell Haskins

Hometown: Danville, Virginia

Rear Tire Changer: Richard Boyles

Hometown: High Point, North Carolina

Gas Man: Cameron Brown

Hometown: Welcome, North Carolina

Catch Can Man: Greg Hinkfus

Hometown: Thousand Oaks, California

Jack Man: Michael Marks

Hometown: Massillon, Ohio

Pit Supporter: Keith Harrison

Hometown: Statesville, North Carolina

Pit Supporter: Chad Billings

Hometown: Burlington, North Carolina

NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Standings

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