Harvick's chance at second Daytona 500 win falls short (cont'd)

In the aftermath of the second rain-shortened 500 in the last seven years, Harvick had no room for criticism. He was satisfied with Sunday's outcome and didn't want to debate NASCAR's decision to call the race based on a forecast for rain that ceased while Kenseth was in Victory Lane and never reappeared.

"I've learned a long time ago that I just kind of do my own thing and the rest of it is all up to them," Harvick said. "You know, fortunately we've sat on the other side of the fence. Knowing how our day started, what we accomplished [Sunday], I'm happy with where we are. Obviously, I know how exciting it is to be in Victory Lane. But it's easy to second guess something until you have to sit up there and make those decisions."

Harvick's been a fixture in the championship race the last several years, and starting the season as he has puts him in a positive mind-set, even though his day Sunday didn't start that well.

"Well, I wasn't happy with the way we started the day, but I was proud of the way that we came back and made the car handle really good," Harvick said. "We knew where we were speed-wise -- it didn't have the speed like it needed to. We said, 'All right, let's make the thing handle.' That really paid off for us in the end.

"I'm kind of like Elliott [Sadler, who led late but finished fifth]. Another lap, you never know what would have happened if that doesn't shake out like it did. I mean, you always want to win the race. Knowing what it's like to win the Daytona 500, it's a lot of fun to win and neat to be in Victory Lane. But, you know, it's also kind of bittersweet, I guess you could say, for the fact that Matt is the one that pushed me to my Daytona 500 win. In the end, it's kind of weird how that stuff works out, but to kind of have it reverse the roles here that's all right."

All the way around, for Harvick his Speedweeks was satisfying. One of his RCR cars won the Shootout and he was second in the Daytona 500. His own Kevin Harvick Inc. vehicles were fifth in the Truck Series race and on the pole for the Nationwide race, where Harvick finished 11th.

But after the 500, as uneasy as he was with his own finish, he was ready to give Kenseth a lot of respect on Sunday night.

"I think in the garage it will definitely be a popular win," Harvick said. "I think Matt's obviously a pretty stand-up person and a great race car driver, accomplished a lot in this sport. I think a lot of us can relate to Matt for kind of going out of the spotlight.

"I think he's one of those guys that he can win seven or eight races in a year and never receive any credit. He's a really good race car driver. He's a champion, Daytona 500 champion. I think a lot of times some of those things are overlooked."