April 26th, 2010 
T.C. Isn’t it funny how things work out? Just a few short days after Shell announces it is leaving Richard Childress Racing and Kevin Harvick following this season for Penske Racing and Kurt Busch, Harvick goes out and wins in dramatic fashion at Talladega. I swear, sometimes truth is stranger then fiction. The win will no doubt add fuel to the debate about where Harvick will end up next season. During a press conference on Friday at Talladega, Harvick said he’d be with a Chevrolet team next season, but didn’t go any further. So the question remains, where will he drive in 2011?
Late in 2009, it appeared that Harvick was attempting to get out of his contract with RCR so he could bolt for Stewart-Haas Racing. The thought was that he would leave and take long time sponsor Shell/Pennzoil with him to SHR, allowing Tony Stewart and Co. to start a third team. No such situation ever materialized though, and Childress held Harvick and Shell to their deals through 2010.
Between Harvick’s relationship with Stewart and the possible defection last season, many people have been left wondering if Harvick might still end up at SHR. The major road block for Harvick at SHR might now come in the form of Kasey Kahne. After he announced his deal to drive for Hendrick Motorsports starting in 2012, many have speculated that either he or Mark Martin could drive a third car for SHR next season. SHR has strong ties to Hendrick, and this deal would allow Stewart and Gene Haas to start their third team on Mr. H’s dime. Harvick now appears to not have a sponsor in his back pocket, and even if he did, Stewart may still be hesitant about bringing him on. SHR Competition Director Bobby Hutchens told Yahoo! Sports’ Jay Hart last week that their chances of expanding to a third team for 2011 are 50-50. So if that’s true, the chances of expanding to a fourth team for Harvick are probably even worse.
The only other major Chevrolet player in the garage area that could take on another team is Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. EGR presents an interesting opportunity, but considering they may have sponsor trouble for the #1 team after this season, they may not be looking to add a third team.
The only other option for Harvick that has been floated, is for him to take his current Nationwide/Truck team, Kevin Harvick Inc., and expand into the Cup Series. With the infrastructure in place at KHI, this could certainly be feasible, but it would be very difficult for Harvick to remain competitive against the super teams as a one car operation. An alignment with Childress or Hendrick would help considerably, but it wouldn’t guarantee success.
All of these reasons lead me to believe that Harvick’s options for 2011 might be very limited. In fact, he may only have once or two choices. The major hurdles that Harvick faces in trying to find a ride and/or sponsor for the future are his age, and his performance. Harvick is 34 years old and he’s not getting any younger. He’s trying to compete against kids that are much younger then he is, and who are often more appealing to sponsors. On top of that, Sunday’s win at Talladega was the first points paying win for Harvick in over two years, going back to the 2007 Daytona 500. His performance this season has been much improved over 2009, but he must continue to improve to be valuable.
So what is my prediction for Harvick and his future? I honestly think he finds a way to stay at RCR. It’s his best chance for success, and he will have both the Childress folks and his own working hard to find sponsorship. It would be a surprise to me to see him drive for anyone other then the only owner he’s every known.
We’re Kind Of A Big Deal…
I just wanted to take a quick second to point out a big moment for us that happened on Sunday during the Cup race. Mike Joy, from the NASCAR on FOX team, mentioned our site and a post I did last week about double duty crews during the race broadcast. I wanted to give a HUGE thanks to Mike for doing that, as we know he’s been a reader of ours for some time. You’re the man! I also wanted to say welcome to any new folks that may have stopped by because of the mention. Take a look around the site and feel free to comment, ask questions, and hang out!
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I was not aware of your website until I heard Mike Joy mention it today during the race on FOX. I have already added you to my favorites. So far I really like what I’ve seen. I am looking forward to digging around some more to see what I’ve been missing.
On Kevin Harvick; is there really a better situation than RCR for him at this point? Moving to EGR is a step down. If you ask me, Stewart-Haas is stuck with putting Kahne in a car for a season or creating a third team for Mark Martin next year. Yeah, I realize that by all outward appearances it should be “a choice” on Stewart’s part but who are we kidding here? The main reason Stewart-Haas is competitive out of the gate has a lot to do with Mr. Hendrick.
If Kevin Harvick is smart he’ll resign at RCR and go grab that Budweiser sponsorship that is there for the taking. I don’t know what sponsor contracts are are up after this season so a more appealing driver may be out there for Budweiser but as it stands right now Kevin Harvick is their most logical choice. Whoever takes Kahne’s place at RPM is not going to have the name recognition that Harvick does.
Just my opinion. Love the site.
I HEARD THE COMMENT BY MIKE, AND I THINK YOUR SIGHT IS AWESOME…..ALREADY ADDED TO MY FAVORITES ON MY PC.
I heard the shout-out and was proud to be a fan and regular reader! You’ve hit the bigtime!
Yes, that comment by MJ resonated well.
Even my son took note and said, “Say, isn’t that the blog you read and say good things about Dad?” To which I replied, “Yep!”
Keep up the good work!
PS – I too think a stay at RCR will be what KH ultimately chooses. It was sad however to see both him and RC clearly uneasy in each other’s presence at the post-race presser yesterday. What should have been an ebullient moment was just plain awkward and chilly.
I thought yesterdays Talladega race was the first interesting one in years. Sure the wrecks are going to happen ( it is kind of like them forcing drivers to race in a rain storm, you know it is a disater waiting toi happen ) but at least they let them bump and grind.
Watching Harvick pull off that perfect “detach the locomotive” “shake him leader/puller” and blaze around him was pretty exciting. And the way no one could hold the lead with the way the race is run, leading to more racers leading a lap than usual was exciting. And hearing Jeff Gordon”go off” on JJ was funny. Who knows where that will lead later, but with the luck Jeff has seen lateley he is due due due…… Gordon could have maybe 2-3 wins, instead of his back of the pack finishes
PS
BIG PROPS again for the national coverage, that was fun to hear, and you deserve it. It was a timely comment about a timely article you wrote here. You are very deserving.
TC & Journo-Many congrats and props to Mike Joy. I DVR’d the race and was bouncing in & out of the race between my yardwork and car washing. I usually fast forward through a lot of the race, but luckily heard the shout out from Mike. I backed it up a few times just make sure my ears weren’t playing tricks on me. You know between the drone of the lawn mower and a few beers.
My only question is did you have any inclination that Mike was going to do that? After all, he doesn’t know you guys from Batman and Robin! or does he?
If Harvick is offered a good ride from another manufacturer, I bet he’ll jump at it. The only reason for him to stay with Chevy is for KHI. If he was offered a good ride in a Toyota, & Toyota offered KHI manufacturer support, Kevin’s in a Toyota next year. Kevin Harvick in the #11 or #82?
As far as digging up a sponsor (if he needs to) to secure a cup ride, he certainly has the experience as a successful Busch & truck owner.
Way to to, T.C. Watch out!! you won’t be anonymous much longer. Harvick’s only chance to stay in Cup is with RCR, as I see it.
Way to go Guys! Heard the shout out too!
Just proves that Mike Joy really is pretty smart and on top of things.
Since it seems to me that SHR is probably out of the mix, I can’t see a better option for Happy than RCR unless he does want to change manufacturers. At the same time I find it fascinating that everyone, especially in the media, seems to have forgotten about Danica and her deal with Dale, Jr. and Hendrick, which it seems to me is another reason there is unlikely to be a seat for Happy at SHR. After all the hoopla about Danica early this season, I find it amazing that I’ve seen no mention of her in the media since Kahne announced his deal with Hendrick.
Glad to say I found out about you guys from the first, and it’s been an enjoyable ride.
Congratulations on the recognition on “National TV”. As an everyday reader it made me sit up and take notice. Remember how the Jayski site started out and look at it now. So do you think you’ll quit your day jobs? LOL
I also heard Mike Joy’s comment and found this site today. It’s already added to my favorites. I must say that it is nice to see a site where all the “haters” aren’t making stupid comments about drivers and NASCAR. The articles that I have read so far are very good. Thanks Mike Joy for turning us on to this site!
Fellas,
You deserve every plaudit and kudo you receive. Bravo! I wish I’d heard Mike Joy mention you.
Yes, it was highly ironic that Kevin Harvick won yesterday. I enjoyed the race especially the finish. But to me the highlight was seeing the 48 on a hook. My mind put a gigantic “DNF” graphic across the bottom of the screen.
I hope that Harvick and Kahne and Wonderboy win some races and break the 48′s championship streak.
West Coast Kenny
Alameda, California
Great site!!
Went to the computer right after Mike Joy mentioned you guys.
I now have you on my favorites.
Too bad that Fox isn’t broadcasting all of the NASCAR Season, but I now have a great website to read during the week.
Eric
Hendrick, Gibbs, Stewart-Haas, RCR, Ganassi, Penske. At present, that’s 17 seats in what one might call the upper two tiers of NASCAR. Hendrick, Gibbs, Penske and Stewart-Haas are booked solid. (Well, how about Hornish’s seat?) So’s Ganassi. That leaves the mystery third car at Stewart-Haas and RCR. My bet would be that Harvick stays – where’s he going to go?
Of course, if there are personal (or personnel) issues at RCR that we fans know nothing about, all bets are off. Maybe Harvick takes Kahne’s seat at RPM? (Not really!)
And my congrats as well for the much-deserved publicity. Now you’re national media figures behind those sunglasses! To the newcomers: explore the site’s archives – there’s tons of good stuff out there!
P.S. I knew some day we’d be rooting for “poor old Jeff” against SOMEONE. Turns out it’s the guy he brought into the shop!
Congrats on making the big time! I’m happy to say I’ve been reading here since you first started.
#15 Eric M.
on Apr 26th, 2010 at 5:36 pm
Great site!!
Went to the computer right after Mike Joy mentioned you guys.
I now have you on my favorites.
Hi Eric,
I wonder, when you heard Mike mention this site, and you “went to the computer”, were you able to bring this web site up?
I ask because I came here right after Mike mentioned it, to give congrats to T.C and Jounro, but for some reason this site would not come up. It was not my connection because other websites worked, but this one would not come up.
This was the first time this ever happened here. This is a VERY reliable website, and it always works, and always has great info …. so I am just curious what happened yesterday. Maybe the site was flooded?
Anyway, I am not complaining, I am just curious because I could not read this site until late Sunday night, when I tried again whne I posted on the thread Mike mentioned.
Again
Congrats on your great success TC and Journo.
I cant wait to see your movie when it comes out. ; )
Neon: No, we had no idea that Mike was going to mention us during the race. We were just as surprised as everyone else.
Garry: We did have a small server issue with the site on Sunday evening, but everything is cool now.
Dan: No, we won’t be quitting our day jobs. That would be nice though…
Thanks to everyone else for your kind words. We appreciate it!
Point-of-view writing and informed comment are hard to come by among all of the sites associated with the racing blogosphere. You guys have it big-time…and I make it a point to get here every week. Glad to have MJ among the readership. With apologies to Cliff Claven, ‘it’s a little-known fact…’ Mike Joy is/was an accomplished racer in his own right (back in the day) in the Trans-Am series if I’m not mistaken, and brings more to the table than most viewers realize than ‘good pipes’. Wish he’d display that more often, but can see why he doesn’t.