Kevin Harvick using winning Dover chassis at Kentucky

Kevin Harvick wins at Dover; he's 2/1 favorite to win Saturday at Kentucky.

Chassis No. 4-986: 

Harvick will pilot the No. 4 Busch Light Ford Fusion built on Chassis No. 986 at the Kentucky 400 at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta. Built new in 2016, Chassis No. 4-986 made its NASCAR Cup Series debut in April at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, where it started 22nd, led one lap and finished 10th. In its second appearance, Harvick started on the pole at Kentucky in July after qualifying was cancelled due to rain, led 128 laps and finished ninth. In its final start of 2016, Harvick started fourth, finished fifth and led 33 laps in August at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn. Chassis No. 4-986 finished sixth at ISM Raceway near Phoenix in March in its first start of 2017. Its final start of 2017 came in October at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, where Harvick started second, led 37 laps and finished eighth. In its only start of 2018, Harvick started second at Dover (Del.) International Speedway and put up a dominant performance by leading 201 laps and finishing 7.450 seconds ahead of runner-up Clint Bowyer en route to the win.


KEVIN HARVICK, Driver of the No. 4 Busch Light Ford Fusion: 

You’ve scored five straight top-10s at Kentucky Speedway but are still looking for that first top-five and win. What makes Kentucky so challenging? 

“We’ve actually run really well there the last couple of years and led a lot of laps. I’m not sure it is any one thing that makes Kentucky challenging to be honest, just for the fact that they’ve recently repaved it and it really is a unique track that is hard to get everything just right.” 

What challenges does the heat in Kentucky present this time of year? 

“Kentucky is always a hot race and we’ve had some weather there over the last few years, but to be honest, it’s the same for everyone. It really just comes down to preparation for the driver and the team. As a driver I have to take care of myself to make sure I’m ready. The team has to focus on the doing the best they can to make it as bearable in the car. It also makes it tough on the handling of the car, especially on a new racing surface. It’s going to be very slick and hard to get the setup just right, but I’m confident in my team and the preparation they put into this race.”