NASCAR Cup Series

Kevin Harvick is showing title strength

Published May. 31, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

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Jeff Hammond

Kevin Harvick has been so successful in NASCAR across all three of the major touring series as both an owner and a driver.

Probably the only thing missing from his stellar career is the Sprint Cup championship. Kevin has to be so proud of what he has been able to accomplish since coming on to the NASCAR scene. He not only drives for Richard Childress Racing in the Cup series, but he also owns the Nationwide and Camping World Truck series organization Kevin Harvick Inc. with his wife DeLana.

Everyone can clearly see why Richard Childress tapped him to try and fill the shoes of a man who can never be replaced – Dale Earnhardt Sr. Kevin has established what kind of man and driver he is. Kevin has had to handle a lot of pressure and responsibility for the position he is in. I think everyone can agree that Kevin has stepped out of the shadow of the driver he replaced and is a standalone quality driver in his own right.

Kevin’s just that good.

The man is just flat-out good. He’s one of those rare few that can talk the talk but also walk the walk. I think that’s one of the major factors that make him a credit to our sport. It’s also why Kevin is a fan favorite.

He doesn’t back down from controversy. He calls it the way he sees it. He never quits.

Kevin has the heart of a champion. I think this might be what carries him to the very top of the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup championship.

Kevin and his crew chief, Gil Martin, have put together quite an impressive racing resume. It shows the world what they are made of. They have shown us how strong that No. 29 team is across the board.

Here they are again one year later backing it up again. Harvick finished third in the title race last season after leading the points for much of the opening 26-race segment of the season.

That never-say-die mentality, backed up by the racing gods smiling on him this year, has helped Kevin already amass three Cup wins in 2011. This makes him a very formidable contender to dethrone Jimmie Johnson as the NASCAR Sprint Cup champion.

Trust me, this is no surprise to Jimmie. He knew last year and he is seeing it again this year that he will have to battle Kevin all the way to the checkered flag in the season-ending race if he wants to repeat as champion.

Kevin hasn’t been a flash in the pan. He has the mental toughness and he won’t go away.

Harvick, Martin and the entire No. 29 team are serving notice to Johnson that the road to the championship goes through them.
 

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