KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – Kevin Harvick is used to having a spotlight on him in the NASCAR world, but there will be a unique focus on the Bakersfield, Calif., driver this weekend.
This weekend at Dover Int’l Speedway, most of the talk will be about Harvick and his No. 4 Busch Beer/All Harvick Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing.
Busch loves sponsoring Harvick – no other driver more perfectly represents its brand. But in the NASCAR world, the name Busch doesn’t just stand for crisp, cold, refreshing beer, and it’s been giving free advertising to Harvick’s rivals for too long.
To show its appreciation for Harvick and to make sure there is no confusion about who the brand’s guy truly is, Busch is going All–Harvick in Dover for the NASCAR Cup Series race.
Every Busch branded item at Dover will now say “Harvick,” instead. It won’t just be the paint scheme on Harvick’s No. 4 Ford Mustang or his firesuit, but everything at the track – even the Busch beer at the concession stands – will have the driver’s name.
“Harvick beer,” quipped the 2014 Cup champion. “It doesn’t get much better than that.”
A win at Dover in the Busch Beer/All Harvick scheme would be beneficial in a lot of ways for Harvick and the No. 4 team. If he takes the checkered flag first, he will automatically advance to the Round of 8 because, if you win, you’re in.
If he did so, Harvick would also tie his boss Tony Stewart for 14th on the NASCAR Cup Series all-time wins list at 49 career victories. And it would put him within one win of 50 Cup Series victories. Only 13 drivers are members of the 50-win club.
Harvick scored his first Dover win in October 2015, when he started 15th, led 355 of 400 laps and beat runner-up Kyle Busch by 2.639 seconds. He scored his second win at the concrete mile oval in May 2018, when he started second, led 201 of 400 laps and finished 7.450 seconds ahead of SHR teammate Clint Bowyer.
Sunday will mark Harvick’s 38th Cup Series start Sunday at Dover. In addition to his two wins, he has one pole, seven top fives, 18 top 10s and has led 1,443 laps.