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Closer Look Harvick reflects on rookie mistakes
Posted: Saturday February 19, 2000 05:44 PM
By Ryan Smithson, CNNSI.com DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Kevin Harvick was 19 laps away from winning in his first career Busch Series start in Saturday's NAPA 300-- until Michael Waltrip's spectacular single-car accident brought out the final caution. Harvick wanted to stay out and maintain his lead. But the rest of the front pack -- with the exception of Terry Labonte -- elected to pit for fresh tires. "He [crew chief Todd Berrier] wanted to come in and I didn't," Harvick said. "It was the right decision. He is the crew chief and he knows more than I do." Harvick took on two tires and came out ninth, giving up the lead to Labonte. Matt Kenseth and Jason Keller each took on four tires. Harvick was right behind Labonte with only four laps to go at the 2.5-mile tri-oval. It was then he made a decision that he would later regret. The 24-year-old rookie broke out of a long line of cars in Turn 3 in hopes of getting a push to drive past Labonte. It was a push that didn't come -- no one else got out of line, and Harvick was hung out to dry. "Driver made go-for there at the end and the go didn't go," said Harvick, who would up fifth. "We could have rode around all day and finished second, but we would rather go for the win." Kenseth, on four fresh tires, motored past and took the win by passing Labonte on the final lap. Harvick had taken the lead on lap 87 when he drafted by Buckshot Jones with help from teammate Mike Dillon.
"It was one of those deals where it paid to have a teammate," said Harvick. "To have a teammate push you meant a lot because it was really hard to pass."
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