Kevin Harvick using 31st-place Daytona 500 chassis in Coke Zero

Kevin Harvick is 10/1 to win at Daytona Saturday night. 

Chassis No. 4-1026: Harvick will pilot the No. 4 Jimmy John’s Kickin’ Ranch Ford Fusion built on Chassis No. 1026 at the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. Built new in 2017, Chassis No. 4-1026 made its Cup Series debut in the Daytona 500, where it started fifth and finished 22nd. It made its second start at Daytona in July 2017, when it started fifth, led seven laps and finished 33rd after being collected in an accident on lap 105. The chassis also ran in this year’s Daytona 500, where it started sixth and finished 31st after being collected in an accident on lap 105 of 207.

KEVIN HARVICK, Driver of the No. 4 Jimmy John’s Kickin’ Ranch Ford Fusion for Stewart-Haas Racing: 

Describe the intensity of restrictor-plate racing? 

“Plate racing is something you have to be aggressive at just for the fact that, if you’re not aggressive, it always seems like you’re not going to be where you need to be. Nine times out of 10, I believe the aggressor is going to be the guy who comes out on the good side of things, just for the fact that you’re making things happen and you’re not waiting for something else to happen. When you wait for something else to happen, that’s usually when you get in trouble because it’s usually someone else’s mess. You can still get in trouble if you’re aggressive but, it seems like with this rules package and the way things are, it’s best to stay aggressive and try to stay up front.”

What makes racing under the lights at Daytona in July so special? 

“The July race at Daytona is special for a lot of reasons. I think when you look at the night race at Daytona, it kind of marks the halfway point of the year and you know you’re going to Daytona. It’s not the Daytona 500, but it’s still Daytona, and everybody wants to win a race at Daytona no matter what it’s in or what it’s for. Daytona just has that special place in our sport and everybody wants to win there.”