Harvick clinches 2001 Busch Series Championship
By Ryan Smithson, Turner Sports Interactive
November 5, 2001
2:38 PM EST (1938 GMT)
ROCKINGHAM, N.C. - The critics said it couldn’t be done, but Kevin Harvick pulled it off.
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Kevin Harvick celebrates clinching the Busch Series title.
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Richard Childress, determined to keep his Busch Series program together, asked Harvick to drive the entire Winston Cup schedule in addition to the Busch Series schedule after the death of Dale Earnhardt in February.
It all paid off on Saturday as Harvick clinched the Busch Series title by finishing fifth in the Sam’s Club 200 at Rockingham.
“A lot of people said we couldn’t do it,” said Harvick. “It’s been a tough year on everybody, but this makes it worthwhile.”
Harvick became Busch champ after just two seasons in the No. 2 Chevrolet. After Earnhardt’s death in February, he was asked to take over Earnhardt’s car in the Winston Cup Series - and Harvick has driven both cars since then.
“To tell you the truth, I am absolutely exhausted. I am really wore out, but you walk into the shop and see the pictures of these guys and Richard and Dale and you get your lift back up,” Harvick said.
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Harvick burns some rubber for the fans at Rockingham.
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Jeff Green dominated the event but faded to ninth after a fuel miscalculation with two laps remaining, leaving him unofficially 205 points behind Harvick with one race to go. Harvick needed to exit Rockingham 186 points ahead of Green to clinch the title.
The Busch Series closes its season next weekend at Homestead.
The title makes Richard Childress the first owner to win titles in all three major NASCAR series: Winston Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck Series. Dale Earnhardt won six Winston Cup titles for RCR, and Mike Skinner won a Craftsman Truck Series title in 1995.
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The No. 2 team celebrates a NASCAR title.
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By clinching the title a race early, Harvick caps a tremendous 2001 Busch Series campaign. Harvick has won five races in 2001, with 20 top-fives and 24 top-10 finishes. Harvick has also won six Bud Pole Awards in 2001.
In addition to running in every Busch Series race so far this season, Harvick has also recorded two Winston Cup victories, winning at Atlanta and Chicago.
Harvick has driven the No. 2 Chevrolet for Childress in the Busch Series since 2000. As a rookie that season, he was third in the standings despite failing to qualify for an event due to inclement weather.
This is Harvick’s second major NASCAR title - he was NASCAR Winston West champion in 1998.
Harvick, 25, spent a full year in the Craftsman Truck Series in 1999 before moving up to the Busch Series in 2000. Childress started the team from scratch and installed Harvick in the ride. His very first time in the car -- at Daytona -- Harvick led late before finishing fifth.
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