Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images |
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| 2005 Season |
| Final Points Standing | 14th
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| After First 26 Races | 14th
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| Earnings | $5,630,358
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| Starts | 36
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| Poles | 2
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| Wins | 1
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| Top 5 | 3
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| 6-10 | 7
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| Laps Led | 326
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| Lead Lap Finishes | 24
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| Bonus Points | 60
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| Races Led | 12 |
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| 2005 Performance |
| Below is the ranking of the team on each type of track along with the driver's best finish. |
| Track Type | Ranking |
| Flat Tracks | 11th
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| Best Finish | 5th, Las Vegas
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| Intermediate Tracks | 14th
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| Best Finish | 6th, California
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| Plate Tracks | 14th
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| Best Finish | 10th, Talladega
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| Road Courses | 26th
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| Best Finish | 15th, Watkins Glen
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| Short Tracks | 10th
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| Best Finish | 1st, Bristol |
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2006 Spin
Kevin Harvick is back for his sixth season with Richard Childress and the GM Goodwrench team. Since taking over very early in the 2001 season, Harvick has won five races, including his first short track win last year.
There are several issues facing the Goodwrench team, the most notable being questions concerning Harvick's future with Childress. He shot down rumors concerning a move to the Miller Lite Dodge, but whispers still persist that he could make a move to the Toyota camp when it hits the sport in 2007.
The expansion of Harvick's Busch and Truck teams could hinder his performance on the Cup circuit as well. Michael Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt Jr. also own Busch teams, and they, along with Harvick, struggled last season. Is this merely coincidence, or are they being pulled in too many directions?
Harvick will have to shoot for a win at either one of the short tracks or at the big plate events if he hopes to visit Victory Lane in 2006. The Childress operation is not up to par with its intermediate program, as witnessed by Harvick's average finish of 18.1 at these tracks. If this team hopes to make the Chase, it must find some answers here.
Expect a few more top 10s than the 10 Harvick recorded last year. He has the ability to drive to the front when the car feels right. The problem up to this point has been relaying to the crew how to get it to his liking.
2006 Recap
Kevin Harvick overcame a disappointing Daytona run to notch three top 5 runs in the ensuing 10 races. His Bristol win in the fifth race of the season was undoubtedly the highlight of his year.
Inconsistent finishes, however, dropped the team back as far as 13th in the standings before an early summer run gave it hope. Five finishes of 14th or better in a six-race stretch from Talladega to Pocono had Harvick back in the Chase hunt.
The Infineon event just two weeks later would prove to be what broke the team's spirit. A disappointing 37th dropped it to 13th in the standings.
Harvick's last gasp to make the Chase at Richmond — when he was 131 points out of 10th — saw the team answer the call, winning the pole and leading 167 laps. However, Harvick faded to 10th when the handle went away late.
• The Good: Harvick's come-from-behind win at Bristol was a real achievement. Starting shotgun due to a penalty, he used pit strategy and a fast car to win his first short track race.
• The Bad: The incident at the fall Bristol event when Harvick refused to get back in the car after a lengthy stay in the garage was a slap in the face to his crewmen. He did eventually climb back in but limped home to a 37th-place finish.
• The Ugly: Two penalties for infractions in qualifying with nothing to gain aren't just ugly; they're idiotic. Todd Berrier is a creative crew chief, but his misadventures cost the team 50 hard-earned points.
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