Kevin Harvick: "We've tried not to worry about what everyone else is saying or doing, just do our own thing and let the results speak for themselves." Credit: Autostock

No Daytona testing? No problem for Harvick

No. 29 team shows no ill effects from skipping testing

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Kevin Harvick heard all the noise, sure. He just chose not to listen.

While skeptics on-hand for Preseason Thunder at Daytona International Speedway questioned his dedication, drive and willingness to blend with his team, Harvick sat back, relaxed and grinned that famous Kevin Harvick grin.

He'd raced the Daytona 500 car four times in 2004 and tested it on three subsequent occasions, so he knew without a doubt that spending a week testing for restrictor-plate competition would be redundant.

	KEVIN HARVICK •   No. 29 team assessing, regrouping after off year •   Harvick Article Archive •   Superstore: Harvick gear!

It seems he was correct. Quite so.

Harvick posted the fourth-fastest time during Bud Pole Qualifying for the Daytona 500 Sunday at DIS, one-tenth of a second behind pole-winner Dale Jarrett. Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon qualified second and third, respectively.

"I don't think there could have been a better statement made by Todd and everybody in this Goodwrench team," Harvick said. "They know what they're doing. At some point they've got to give these guys a little bit of credit for knowing what they're doing.

"I don't have anything to do with this. This is strictly about this race team."

Not only did Harvick opt out of testing, he didn't even pay attention to it.

"I didn't really even keep up with it to be honest with you," Harvick said. "I talked to Richard a few times during the test and talked about the engines and doing some engine testing, things like that.

Happy HarvickKevin Harvick puts up a fast lap in Daytona qualifying Sign up for TrackPass now BUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE

"I've been relaxed. We've tried not to worry about what everyone else is saying or doing, just do our own thing and let the results speak for themselves."

Harvick needs the momentum boost. Last season was a struggle, as he failed for the first time in his career to win a race or pole. So he refocused, decided to take a new approach.

"We've come in with an open mind this year, stayed away from the whole racing world, kept quiet, did our own thing and just relaxed," Harvick said. "We went on vacation for three weeks and didn't come down to the test, just chilled out and tried a little different approach to things."

So far, so good.

"We wanted a chance to be in the top 10, and you never know what you're going to get from there," Harvick said of his qualifying approach. "So we came down here with a plan, stuck to that plan and did what we thought was right.

"So far it's worked out. Still the big picture's next Sunday (in the Daytona 500), but we're off to a good start."