Kevin Harvick's crew makes a trackbar adjustment during a pit stop. Credit: Autostock

Harvick's Chase hopes fades along with car

After leading 167 laps, RCR driver settles for 10th

RICHMOND, Va. -- When the green flag waved for Saturday night's Chevy Rock and Roll 400, it looked like Kevin Harvick had picked up where he left off in the Busch Series event the night before.

Kevin Harvick Credit: Autostock

Needing to have a dominant performance to have at least a slim chance at making the Chase for the Nextel Cup, he led the first lap from the pole, then checked out, leading 70 of the first 90 laps.

His No. 29 Chevrolet, carrying the likeness of country music star Gretchen Wilson, was the class of the field early on, and he ended up leading 167 of the first 300 laps.

But unlike the night before in the Busch race, Harvick lost his grip on the racing surface and fell back to 10th at the finish. He also missed the Chase by 118 points.

"We had a really good car the first half of the race," Harvick said. "Once the groove moved up, though, we kind of lost the handle on it and it started pushing the front tires getting into the corner and lost the forward bite up off and never could really get it back.

Results Chevy Rock & Roll 400 Pos. Driver Make 1. Kurt Busch Ford 2. Matt Kenseth Ford 3. Greg Biffle Ford 4. Kyle Busch Chevrolet 5. Rusty Wallace Dodge Complete results, click here Standings, click here Victory LaneKurt Busch celebrates his win at Richmond Sign up for TrackPass now BUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE

"It was a pretty good night. We came home 10th. It could have been better, but it could have been a lot worse."

Harvick said that once the track got slick, his car lost grip at both ends.

"Once it greased up, both ends were slipping," he said. "The front end started chattering getting into the corner and the back was loose off the corner. I hated that we couldn't close the deal, but it was still not a terrible night for us."

The fact that he missed the Chase for the second straight year was on his mind, but he chose to look at it as a building experience.

"Everybody wanted to be in it [the Chase]." Harvick said. "We gave it everything we had and we'll just keep trying."

"We just have to put 10 more weeks together and get it going for next year."