April 26, 2006

By Rebecca Gladden

Rebecca Gladden

There's a fundamental lesson that racecar drivers learn early on in their careers. At times it seems counterintuitive, but it is true so often that it has become a well-worn saying in the racing world: The fastest car doesn't always win the race.

When you're a kid and you're challenged to a foot race, chances are the fastest runner is going to come out ahead. But in modern-day NASCAR racing, any number of variables - mechanical issues, tire problems, driver errors, accidents, pit road mishaps, and so on - may affect the outcome of the race.

This was proven in dramatic fashion on Sunday when Kevin Harvick, who lead just 10 of the 312 total laps, passed Tony Stewart and Greg Biffle in the closing moments of the race for the victory.

Kevin Harvick

Biffle and Roush teammate Mark Martin appeared to have the dominant cars all day, but both were hurt by uncharacteristically long green flag runs in the second half of the race. Biffle, who led a race-high 151 laps, was passed by Harvick for the lead with ten to go, then ran out of gas on lap 310. Martin led the second-most laps with 111, but also ran short of fuel with one to go.

In fact, Harvick was fourth on the list of lap leaders with 11, preceded by Biffle, Martin, and Harvick's RCR rookie teammate Clint Bowyer, who led 21.

Tony Stewart also looked like he might have the car to beat. After qualifying third, Stewart was forced to start 43rd due to miscommunication regarding tires. He quickly sliced through the field to lead six laps, but finished second behind Harvick.

In fact, none of the lap leaders was able to hold off the Goodwrench Chevrolet, and Harvick's victory in the Subway Fresh 500 gave him the weekend sweep in Phoenix.

Harvick knew he didn't have the fastest car Saturday night, but as he explained after the race, "We didn't have the best car all day today, but we were the best car when it counted."

Proving the adage once again.

Harvick admitted that he was worried about fuel in the closing laps of the race and worked to conserve gas. "I was sweating the gas, but it didn't sound like they (his crew) were sweating the gas. I just wanted to make sure. I started letting up at the start-finish line, coasting in the corner and the dogleg in the back for about the last six or seven laps, once I realized we were going away. We ran out of gas here last year running fourth. We always worry about running out of gas. But once we were able to get out in front and in clean air, and saw how far we were able to pull away, I'm telling you, I let off right there at that flag stand and right at the dogleg in the back, and (crew chief) Todd told me it was all good by a half a lap."

It was a good day all around for Richard Childress Racing on Saturday. Along with Harvick's victory, RCR drivers Clint Bowyer and Jeff Burton both finished in the top ten, coming in 5th and 9th respectively.

Childress has been out of the country recently, prompting Harvick to joke that his absence might be the reason the team has posted four straight top-ten finishes. But after Saturday night's race, Harvick's good luck charm might be as simple as a chorus or two of the Chicken Dance Song, which team members sang on the radio during the race.

"We do some stupid stuff over the radio," said Harvick. "Our spotter should have been a comedian instead of working on a race team. He should have his own comedy show. I think he has two screws loose in his head and he only has one. I went up in the lounge this morning and they were singing the Chicken Dance Song. All of a sudden it just became a part of the day. If you think about the Chicken Dance, how do you get that stupid song out of your head? It kind of became the theme of the night. We were having fun and just cutting up on the radio and having a good time with it."

This weekend, the Cup series rolls into Talladega, a restrictor plate track where Harvick has posted five top-10's in 10 starts. If his luck holds out, the 29 team may be singing another Happy tune come Sunday night.

The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Insider Racing News, are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of IRN. Although we may not always agree with what is said, we do feel it's our duty to give a voice to those who have something relevant to say about the sport of auto racing.