NASCAR Cup Series

The Hot Pass: Harvick bounces back from adversity

Published Feb. 9, 2009 6:21 a.m. ET

foxsports

Kevin Harvick started the Budweiser Shootout from the back row, stayed in the back throughout much of the race and still managed to win a wild 2009 curtain raiser at Daytona International Speedway.

Despite hitting the wall and losing the draft twice, Harvick persevered to win his first Shootout and earn the first preseason victory for owner Richard Childress since Dale Earnhardt won the 1995 Busch Clash.

Oh yeah, it was also the first win for "Happy" Harvick since 2007.

"I got squeezed up into the wall and it knocked the left front fender off, and they repaired the left front fender, the right front fender and the right side during the break," said Harvick, reflecting on the first 25 laps. "It just seemed like I was in the wrong spot for the whole race, and then at the end wound up being at right place at the right time and had a good car to go with it."