Defending Cup champ Harvick sets sights on new goals
So now what?
That essentially was the first question to Kevin Harvick at NASCAR media day three weeks ago in Daytona Beach, Fla.
How do you top a Sprint Cup championship?
Topping the title is missing the point. It’s about a new set of goals, even if they’re very much like the old set.
“You always re-establish new goals,” Harvick said, “and I think that when you’re able to accomplish goals, that’s very rewarding.”
The primary goal is to repeat, which means getting into the Chase for the Cup. A win in Sunday’s 12:30 p.m. Kobalt 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway would almost assure Harvick’s Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet a spot in the 16-driver playoff field.
He won under the new elimination format that was installed last season.
Harvick is off to a strong start this season, finishing second in the first two races and leading 116 laps on Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. His Xfinity Series (formerly Nationwide) car won in Atlanta.
“I think as you come into this year knowing that you can do the things that we did last year is very rewarding,” Harvick said. “It’s also a great confidence builder for our race team and our guys and everybody that’s still a part of the No. 4 team.”
He won as a first-year driver at Stewart-Haas, a boon to a team that had its share of problems, from Tony Stewart fatally injuring a sprint car driver to Kurt Busch being accused of assault by his former girlfriend to Danica Patrick finishing 28th in the season standings.
“This winter, what I’ve seen at the shop, it’s created more momentum, so that’s a good thing,” Stewart said of Harvick’s title. “It shows the depth of our people and the character that we have in the organization. I think they’re as excited to do everything we can to repeat that as anybody I’ve ever worked with. I feel really good about what our guys have done to get ready and get prepared.”
Harvick joined the team after spending the first 13 years of his Cup career at Richard Childress Racing, finishing third in three of his final four seasons. The relationship with RCR, however, ended badly, with Harvick insulting drivers Austin and Ty Dillon, Childress’ grandsons, saying they’re “exactly the reason I’m leaving RCR.”
Harvick later apologized.
Stewart-Haas gladly welcomed Harvick, creating a team for him and crew chief Rodney Childers.
“It was a very unique situation because we went out and handpicked Rodney,” Harvick said. “We had an organization that was willing to do everything that they had to do from a financial standpoint to go out and buy new cars, trucks, trailers. Every nut and bolt on that team was brand new last year.
“So you didn’t get a couple cars from this team and a couple things from this team. It was, ‘OK, we want you guys to succeed, so here, you guys just go get everything that you need and you hire all the people that you think will fit in.’”
Harvick then went out and had a season to remember.
He won eight poles in 2014, two more than he had in his entire career until that point. Harvick also tied his personal best by winning five races, and with 2,137 laps led, he became the third driver since 2000 to break 2,000 in a season.
It all came together in the season-ender in Homestead, Fla., when Harvick not only beat the remaining contenders in the Chase but also won the race.
For Harvick, who turned 39 in December, the championship was a long time coming.
“You get referred to as champ, and that’s great and pretty cool,” he said. “And when you look at the list of guys that have won a championship, it’s pretty small.
“But I think as a guy who has been a part of this sport, for me, I think it was better that I won a championship a little bit later in my career because I think I respect it a lot more and understand how hard it is to get to this point and really know the work and effort and how many people it takes to be a part of it.”
Contact Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65.
