By the Numbers: Daytona

Last year, Kevin Harvick got his 2007 season off to a phenomenal start in what is now called the Nationwide Series. Running part time in the No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Harvick led 42 laps, winning a relatively clean season opener that saw just three cautions for 13 laps.

The fact Harvick took the checkered shouldn't be a surprise to anyone -- he was due. While this was his first Nationwide win at the track, in 11 races he had been one of the most dominant drivers out there.

As Harvick heads into Saturday's Camping World 300 (Noon ET, ESPN2), there will be one glaring difference -- Harvick won't be in a RCR car, but one of his own out of the Kevin Harvick Inc. stable.

"I've been fortunate to run in the 21 and the 2 car at RCR and win races," Harvick said. "I know I could stay at RCR and continue to win races, but it was time for something different.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge of running my own cars and creating a different challenge from all aspects. I know what it's been like the last few years to be winning races and being competitive week in and week out, and that's what we are shooting for this year at KHI."

Making the move to his team isn't exactly stepping down to the minor leagues. KHI has seen its share of success in just four years of Nationwide Series racing. Harvick has visited Victory Lane as an owner at least once the last three seasons, most recently when Bobby Labonte drove the No. 77 to victory at the other restrictor-plate track, Talladega.

In 187 total Nationwide races, KHI has compiled the following stats:

Of those three wins, two of them came courtesy of Tony Stewart in the No. 33 when he won back-to-back season openers at Daytona in 2005 and 2006.

What car will Harvick be running in this year's season opener? The No. 33.

And in a strange piece of irony, as Harvick takes over the No. 33 this season, if he were to win the Camping World 300, it would be his 33rd career Nationwide Series win.

The 2008 Nationwide season marks Harvick's 10th in the series. He is second all time on the wins list with 32, behind Mark Martin with 47. In 192 races, Harvick has 98 top-fives and 141 top-10s. To put that in perspective, Harvick has finished in the top-five in more than half the events he's run -- that's productivity.

Harvick, though, isn't focused on the numbers -- he's focused on making KHI a stronger organization. It starts with a solid run this weekend.

"I think our cars will be good down here; they were very good at the test," Harvick said. "I look forward to being competitive in Daytona. It's a much different mindset going into these races this year and just looking to build the program and get it to where it needs to be. I feel very comfortable with where we are with the speedway programs."

Just the facts ma'am