Kevin Harvick is 10/1 to win 2019 Geico 500 at Talladega

It’s Back! Flannel Returns to Busch Beer Ford Mustang Kevin Harvick has one win at Talladega. KANNAPOLIS, North Carolina (April 24, 2019) – In April 2018, Kevin Harvick and the No. 4 Busch Beer Ford for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) came to Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway with a fresh, new outdoors-inspired look completely covered in flannel – the unofficial uniform of the true outdoor enthusiast. It was such a hit, especially with fans, that the flannel will return for Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Geico 500 at Talladega. Busch Beer has embodied the spirit of the Great Outdoors since its inception in 1955. Again this weekend at Talladega, Busch will continue to honor its deep roots and celebrate those who are passionate about outdoor pursuits. The “Busch Guy” will return sporting his red-plaid flannel shirt and blue jeans – the inspiration for the livery of the No. 4 Busch Beer Flannel Ford Mustang. When Harvick and the No. 4 Busch Beer Flannel team roll into Talladega for Sunday’s race, the team will be draped in the red-checkered fabric. Harvick’s Busch Beer firesuit, the crew’s shirts, the fan display and even the paint scheme of the No. 4 Busch Beer Ford will all feature flannel. The Busch Guy, decked out in flannel, will be on hand throughout the weekend to cheer on the Busch Flannel team to victory. Fans can support Harvick by shopping athttps://store.stewarthaasracing.com/ where a wide variety of flannel merchandise is available. And Harvick is hoping to put the Busch Beer Flannel Ford Mustang in victory lane. He will make his 37th NASCAR Cup Series start Sunday at the 2.66-mile oval where he has one win, two poles, seven top-five finishes, 15 top-10s and has led 260 laps. Harvick scored his lone Talladega win in April 2010, when he started fourth, led two of 200 laps and beat runner-up Jamie McMurray by .011 of a second. He earned his first Cup Series pole at Talladega in May 2005 with a speed of 189.804 mph. He won his second Cup Series pole in April 2018, when he recorded a lap of 49.247 seconds at 194.448 mph. Harvick has three career Cup Series runner-up finishes at Talladega, most recently in October 2010, when he started 14th, led 12 laps and finished runner-up to his now-SHR teammate Clint Bowyer. Harvick is hoping flannel will be the magic touch that will lead him to his first victory of 2019.

KEVIN HARVICK, Driver of the No. 4 Busch Beer Flannel Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing:

Thoughts on Talladega?   “I have no idea. You just show up and see how it develops. All you can do is show up for a weekend at Talladega and see how it develops and go from there.”   Talladega vs. Daytona – what’s the difference for the spotter? “Talladega is a lot bigger. It’s a lot wider. The track itself is bigger. The shape of Talladega is different than Daytona because of the track being wider and the way the tri-oval is shaped. The start-finish line is almost all the way down into turn one, which seems to change some of the outcomes of the finishes, because you have to go all the way down the front straightaway before you get to the finish line. Talladega’s tri-oval is a little bit different than Daytona’s. That bottom groove has a little less banking than the rest of the racetrack, so it’s almost like you’re dipping down into a hole. Sometimes you see guys get loose down into the tri-oval and spin out, so it ends up being where some of the wrecks are caused. It’s really hard to push through that tri-oval, especially as you are heading down into that bottom lane. It’s tough to know exactly where you need to be at the end of the race but, for me, I’ve only won one of them there. In that particular race, we were tandem racing and I was second coming into the tri-oval and was able to get past Jamie McMurray. But I would still rather be leading and in control. If I’ve made it to the white flag, then I’ve made it a lot farther than I’ve made it lately, so it’s a chess match all day. You have to have a little bit of luck on your side, but you can also put yourself in a good position by making the right moves, having a good day on pit road and not making any mistakes.”