Post by dalejrfan on May 3, 2006 8:45:52 GMT -5
CONCORD, N.C. - Nextel Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick and Richard Childress Racing have reached a tentative agreement on a contract extension to keep Harvick in RCR's No. 29 Chevrolet for the next several years, RCR sources have told The Charlotte Observer.
RCR has reserved a news conference slot Friday at 2:45 p.m. Eastern in the infield media center at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway, site of Saturday night's Crown Royal 400.
A Friday "RCR press conference" was noted on several pre-Richmond race news releases issued Tuesday by RCR teams, although its purpose was not given.
A contract extension with RCR would remove Harvick from the list of available, talented drivers who were slated to become "free agents" at season's end.
Toyota, which will field at least six teams with three different organizations in 2007, was among Harvick's biggest pursuers.
Harvick, 30, has six Cup wins in 186 starts and won the 2001 Busch Series championship. This season, he is seventh in Cup points, with a victory at Phoenix, and already has a commanding lead again in the Busch standings.
Harvick was testing at Lowe's Motor Speedway on Tuesday and not immediately available for comment.
In an interview April 20 with the Observer, Harvick said he hoped to have a decision on his future within two weeks.
"I think it's only fair to the parties involved to make a decision sooner, rather than later and string everything along," Harvick said at the time.
Harvick was competing in the Busch Series for RCR in 2001 when he was tapped to replace Dale Earnhardt, following Earnhardt's death in a last-lap wreck at the Daytona 500.
Harvick ran the rest of the Cup schedule that season while also competing in the Busch Series. He won the Busch championship and finished ninth in Cup points, winning two races.
RCR has reserved a news conference slot Friday at 2:45 p.m. Eastern in the infield media center at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway, site of Saturday night's Crown Royal 400.
A Friday "RCR press conference" was noted on several pre-Richmond race news releases issued Tuesday by RCR teams, although its purpose was not given.
A contract extension with RCR would remove Harvick from the list of available, talented drivers who were slated to become "free agents" at season's end.
Toyota, which will field at least six teams with three different organizations in 2007, was among Harvick's biggest pursuers.
Harvick, 30, has six Cup wins in 186 starts and won the 2001 Busch Series championship. This season, he is seventh in Cup points, with a victory at Phoenix, and already has a commanding lead again in the Busch standings.
Harvick was testing at Lowe's Motor Speedway on Tuesday and not immediately available for comment.
In an interview April 20 with the Observer, Harvick said he hoped to have a decision on his future within two weeks.
"I think it's only fair to the parties involved to make a decision sooner, rather than later and string everything along," Harvick said at the time.
Harvick was competing in the Busch Series for RCR in 2001 when he was tapped to replace Dale Earnhardt, following Earnhardt's death in a last-lap wreck at the Daytona 500.
Harvick ran the rest of the Cup schedule that season while also competing in the Busch Series. He won the Busch championship and finished ninth in Cup points, winning two races.