Harvick slump leads to crew swap at RCR

Elwood · May 29, 2002

By JENNA FRYER

AP Sports Writer

May 29, 2002

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- The season-long struggles at Richard Childress Racing resulted in a change Wednesday, with the car owner swapping Kevin Harvick and Robby Gordon's crews.

Harvick, suffering through a terrible sophomore slump, will now work with crew chief Gil Martin and most of the crew from the No. 31 Chevrolet.

Gordon gets Kevin Hamlin, the crew chief who directed Harvick last year to rookie of the year, and the No. 29 team. The switch goes into effect two weeks from now at Pocono Raceway.

``We're making this move to help all of RCR,'' Childress said. ``The results of our performances this season have not been up to expectations. The 29 and 31 teams are down enough in the points right now that it makes the most sense to make some changes between the two.''

Harvick was sensational last season, filling in after Dale Earnhardt's death in the season-opening Daytona 500. He competed in both the Busch series and the Winston Cup series, winning the Busch title and Cup Rookie of the Year while finishing ninth in Winston Cup points despite missing a race.

But the team -- and all of RCR -- has struggled this year. Childress expanded into a three-car operation this season, hiring Jeff Green to drive the car Harvick had been tabbed for before Earnhardt's death.

Green, a former Busch series champion, has been the most consistent this year and is 23rd in the points. Gordon is 29th and Harvick, among the preseason favorites for the Winston Cup championship, is a disappointing 33rd.

There's been speculation about a rift on Harvick's team all season with it reaching a breaking point when NASCAR refused to let him compete in April in Martinsville, Va., for rough driving a day earlier in a truck race. As a result, the Winston Cup team had to scramble to get Kenny Wallace ready to drive the car in the Virginia 500.

Childress said they had a team meeting the day after that race in an effort to resolve any issues. But performance has not improved since then, with Harvick finishing 28th, 35th and 40th in three races since.

Childress set the precedent for such a move in 1998, when he flip-flopped crew chiefs Hamlin and Larry McReynolds. That sent McReynolds to direct Mike Skinner's crew and Hamlin to Earnhardt's team.

That move worked out well, and Childress is hoping for similar results.

``Kevin (Hamlin), Gil and all of the guys in the shop haven't forgotten how to build and prepare race cars and Kevin (Harvick) and Robby still know how to win races, so it's just a matter of getting the right people in the right places,'' Childress said. ``We've made changes like this before and it's worked out and we're confident that it will again.''

Hamlin has earned seven Winston Cup victories in 273 races, five with Earnhardt and two with Harvick. Martin, meanwhile, has earned one victory in 87 races, with Gordon in last season's finale at New Hampshire.

SilveradoWV · May 30, 2002

Actully I cant stand Harvick or any of the other RCR drivers, hopefully this change will make things worse and Harvick will drop in points! Just my opinion, dont want to anyone to get their feathers all ruffled just my by remarks! Just thought you all would want to know what I thought about that! :lookaround:

JonesNTN · May 30, 2002

I think Harvick is in a funk after he got his hand slapped for acting like a spoiled brat. Personally, I dont think he has enough talent to be on a championship caliber team. Hes ok, but there are plenty of other drivers with alot of talent that could do better with that ride. He needs some "speary-ance" as DW would say.

General Lee 01 · May 30, 2002

Harvick's not my favorite, but I like him. I hope this change is for the better.

Who is Chocolate Myers going with?

Elwood · May 30, 2002

Who is Chocolate Myers going with?

That's the first thing I thought of too. I don't know.

I like Harvick alot. I think he's pretty cool. And I don't care what anybody says, he doesn't act any different than DW or Earnhardt did when they first came into WC.

antig24 · June 3, 2002

Chocolate is going to the 31 I think, it'll look strange seeing him with a cingualr uniform ???

June 4, 2002

This is exactly what I predicted with the three RCR drivers. They have experienced crews, but very little driving experience between the three of them. Last year, Harvick was able to capitalize on Dale's notes and setups. This year none of the RCR teams have any input from a driver that's been around and can predict what changes will occur in a tire or a track.

hogger999 · June 4, 2002

This is exactly what I predicted with the three RCR drivers. They have experienced crews, but very little driving experience between the three of them. Last year, Harvick was able to capitalize on Dale's notes and setups. This year none of the RCR teams have any input from a driver that's been around and can predict what changes will occur in a tire or a track.

Not sure I agree there Friz, because I'm not sure why all of Earnhardt's notes would have helped so much last year but not this year. As far as setups go, he could have the best setup in the world but it won't do much good if the driver isn't comfortable with it.

I will admit I was one of them at the begining of the season saying Harvick may go all the way :blush:

Oh well good luck Kevin :exclaim:

June 6, 2002

This is exactly what I predicted with the three RCR drivers. They have experienced crews, but very little driving experience between the three of them. Last year, Harvick was able to capitalize on Dale's notes and setups. This year none of the RCR teams have any input from a driver that's been around and can predict what changes will occur in a tire or a track.

Not sure I agree there Friz, because I'm not sure why all of Earnhardt's notes would have helped so much last year but not this year. As far as setups go, he could have the best setup in the world but it won't do much good if the driver isn't comfortable with it.

I will admit I was one of them at the begining of the season saying Harvick may go all the way :blush:

Oh well good luck Kevin :exclaim:

The reason I claim that is because tires, rules, tracks, teams, and strategy changes slightly from year to year.

Last year's notes will get you in the ballpark for this year's event, but you have to be savvy enough to make notes to help next year.

The experience to predict what next year will bring does not exist as far as the drivers are concerned at RCR.