Richard Childress Racing has probably lost its faint chance to keep Kevin Harvick on the heels of Wednesday’s devastating announcement that Shell/Pennzoil is moving to Penske Racing in 2011 to sponsor Kurt Busch in the Sprint Cup Series. RCR already faced a serious, uphill challenge in trying to retain Harvick, who is in the final year of his contract, even if it had managed to hold onto Pennzoil, sponsor of Harvick’s #29 since 2007. Harvick, according to multiple sources reached by SI.com but never confirmed by the driver, wanted out of RCR at the end of last season, but team owner Richard Childress held him to the contract. The duo came out strong out of the gate this season — they led the points after five races and are currently fourth, 141 behind Jimmie Johnson — but the sour feelings between the two haven’t changed. “Kevin has burned all his bridges here,” said a source requesting anonymity following the news of Shell’s departure. The source reiterated the chances of Childress and Harvick dissolving their marriage were close to 100%. Harvick is the top free agent driver on the market. His preferred destination is Stewart-Haas Racing, where he’d have Hendrick equipment. Tony Stewart is on the record as wanting to expand to three cars next season, dependent upon sponsorship. With Harvick to sell and the broad range of commercial possibilities available through the team’s partner-like association with Hendrick, Stewart-Haas has far greater ability to find a sponsor for Harvick. Kasey Kahne’s decision to join Rick Hendrick’s organization in 2012 has led to widespread speculation that he’ll be at Stewart-Haas in 2011. Kahne certainly will be in Hendrick equipment next season and it’s the logical place. The other possibility would be for Hendrick to ask Mark Martin to vacate the #5 a year early to go to Stewart-Haas. In either situation, it would require Stewart-Haas to run four cars in 2011. That ‘s not beyond the team’s reach and it’s where Stewart wants to get eventually.(Sports Illustrated)(4-22-2010)
UPDATE: Kevin Harvick says he doesn’t know where he’ll drive next season, but it’s fair to say he will remain with Chevrolet. Harvick said Friday at Talladega Superspeedway that he’s had “many, many, many” conversations with team owner Richard Childress about staying with Richard Childress Racing when his contract expires after this season. He did not elaborate when asked if he’s had conversations with other owners, such as Chevrolet owner Tony Stewart, with whom he reportedly was linked last season. But Harvick made it clear he’s burnt no bridges with RCR, where he has driven in the Sprint Cup series since replacing the late Dale Earnhardt in 2001. He also made it clear that, because he uses Chevrolet with his Nationwide and Truck Series organization, he doesn’t plan to switch manufacturers. “Richard Childress and myself, we’ve got a great relationship,” said Harvick, who is fourth in points after missing the Chase last season. “We’ve been talking about a lot of things for several months. It’s not anything different than we normally do at this time. The cars are running well. Everybody is communicating well. I don’t know what else to say other than Richard and I have had many, many, many conversations over the last several months. What that means? Right now I’m driving the #29 car.” Harvick took issue Thursday on Twitter about stories involving sources on his future [see post above]. Asked to clarify his future, he said: “If you’re going to quote a source, quote their name. If they’re too chicken to give their name, don’t put their name in the paper. Anonymous sources are crap.”(ESPN)(4-23-2010)
