9781422270790

NASCAR CUP SERIES DEBUT After a successful 2000 season in the Busch Series, Harvick was ready to move on to bigger and better things. Richard Childress Racing (RCR) agreed and scheduled him to drive part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series with a seven-race 2001 season. However, a tragedy changed those plans. On February 18, 2001, Harvick’s teammate and NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt was killed in a crash during the season-opening Daytona 500. This horrific event opened a full-time spot on the RCR Cup Series team. So, Harvick made his first career appearance in the Cup Series the very next week, driving the No. 29 Chevy for RJR in the Dura Lube 400 at North Carolina Speedway. He finished a respectable 14th of 43 racers that day, a debut to what would shape up to be an impressive season. Besides his new full time spot on the Cup Series team, Harvick also maintained his planned Busch Series schedule, racing both days of the weekend all season.

Kevin Harvick makes his Cup Series debut from the 18th row at Rockingham.

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Superstars of the Speedway: Kevin Harvick