Kevin Harvick (left) with Benny Parsons Credit: Autostock

Harvick says he can't worry about Chase

BRISTOL, Tenn. (AP) -- Kevin Harvick isn't worried about making NASCAR's championship chase. If he focuses only on each of the remaining races before the playoffs begin, he's confident he can qualify.

Harvick, currently 14th in the points standings, will begin his quest Saturday night with the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. His lone victory this season came here in April.

Harvick spins at Daytona in July Credit: Autostock

"We feel really good coming in here, but you still have to have a little bit of luck," Harvick said Friday.

Harvick also will need luck to get into the Chase for the championship. There are just three races left for him to work his way in, and he's 82 points out of the 10th and final qualifying position.

Although he's stayed out of trouble on the track -- finishing every race -- he's led just 146 laps this season and has only six top-10 finishes.

So Harvick knows he needs to think only about getting strong finishes at Bristol and in the upcoming races in California and Richmond.

COKE TRACK ACCESS Interactive race highlights and instant win game

"Don't worry about the Chase, that's probably the biggest thing," Harvick said. "You don't go out and race any different. You go out and race as hard every week. You don't worry about whether you're in the Chase or out of the Chase and run as hard as you can.

"The chips fall where they fall. You can't control whether you'll be either in or out."

Harvick, the flagship driver at Richard Childress Racing, failed to make the Chase last season. In just over four seasons, he has only five career victories.

That could be why Harvick has declined to discuss a new contract with Childress, choosing instead to wait out the final year he has on his current deal.

"I'm checking things out and really just trying to see how it all goes," he said. "I'm just taking my time and just trying to make sure that things are going in the right direction. I don't want to be there and have us all run poorly -- we want to run good.

"You know, there are a lot of things going on and I just want to see how it all goes."