Harvick plans to run more Truck events

KERNERSVILLE, N.C. -- Kevin Harvick, 2001 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series champion, announced he plans to field trucks for 10-15 Craftsman Truck Series events in 2003.

Schedule  Kevin Harvick Inc's tentative Craftsman Truck Series schedule in 2003:  2/14/03: Daytona International Speedway, driver Ed Berrier  3/14/03: Darlington Raceway, driver Kevin Harvick  3/23/03: Mesa Marin Raceway, driver Brandon Miller  4/12/03: Martinsville Speedway, driver Kevin Harvick  5/16/03: Lowe's Motor Speedway, driver Kevin Harvick  5/30/03: Dover International Speedway, driver Kevin Harvick  8/20/03: Bristol Motor Speedway, driver Kevin Harvick  9/4/03: Richmond International Raceway, driver Kevin Harvick  9/13/03: New Hampshire International Raceway, driver Kevin Harvick  10/18/03: Martinsville Speedway, driver Kevin Harvick  10/31/03: Phoenix International Raceway, driver Kevin Harvick  11/14/03: Homestead-Miami Speedway, driver Kevin Harvick

The 27-year-old established Kevin Harvick, Inc. (KHI) in 2001, running only one truck event at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway. He almost clinched his first truck series victory in his first attempt as an owner/driver.

He finished second to Jack Sprague who eventually went on to claim the 2001 Truck Series championship. Harvick did finally get his first Truck Series win as both owner and driver at Phoenix International Raceway in November of 2002.

"We were really pleased with our truck efforts right out of the box," Harvick said. "My goal was to establish a top-notch truck team, and I think we've proven that our team is capable of winning each time we show up to the track.

"I'd like to run another year of trucks, move to the Busch Series for a couple of years and then be a Winston Cup owner," continued Harvick. "I think we're setting a good base to do that here at KHI. It's important that we build a quality organization from the ground up. I've learned a lot while I've been racing for Richard (Childress), and that's one of the main things I've learned from him."

Harvick plans to run the majority of the scheduled truck races in 2003, along with Ed Berrier, Harvick's crew chief in the Truck Series, and Brandon Miller, a newcomer to the series.

Berrier, who previously raced for Junie Donleavy in the Winston Cup Series and is a veteran of the Busch Grand National Series, returns to the track in the No. 6 KHI Chevrolet for the season-opening event in Daytona.

Miller, a 21-year-old resident of Bakersfield, Calif., who has predominately raced Late Models on the West Coast will make his Truck Series debut at Mesa Marin Raceway in March.

"We'd like to run more races, but that really depends on whether or not we find a sponsor," Harvick said. "We've had some good leads but nothing has worked out yet. We're still continuing the search for that sponsor who could travel with us up NASCAR's ladder of competition."