Harvick, who retired from full-time competitors within the Cup Sequence on the finish of final season, was requested by Hendrick Motorsports workforce proprietor Rick Hendrick if he would run Larson’s No. 5 Chevrolet in All-Star Race follow on Friday at North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway.
Larson was participating in Indianapolis 500 follow on Friday however will return to run within the All-Star Race predominant occasion on Sunday night time.
Harvick, who spent his whole Cup profession at two organizations – Richard Childress Racing and Stewart-Haas Racing – mentioned working with HMS in preparation for this weekend has been “eye-opening.”
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports, HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro
Photograph by: Gavin Baker / NKP / Motorsport Pictures
For one, Harvick spent Friday sporting a white hearth swimsuit adorned by a HendrickCars.com emblem, which appeared vastly misplaced. Harvick has spent the primary half of the season as an analyst for Fox Sports activities’ NASCAR broadcasts.
“It’s undoubtedly not the apparel that I assumed I’d be sporting this yr, but it surely’s been a enjoyable course of,” Harvick mentioned. “I believe, you realize, typically there are cellphone calls that you simply react to in a different way than others.
“When Rick (Hendrick) referred to as and mentioned what he wanted and I mentioned, ‘OK’ and everyone at Fox was form sufficient to allow us to take the day to do what they wanted to do. So, it’s been a enjoyable course of to have the ability to undergo.”
Harvick mentioned SHR was good sufficient to offer him together with his seat and seat rails which helped make the becoming technique of his seat within the No. 5 a lot easier.
“That is that is actually extra for simply attempting to assist these guys out in a state of affairs and I believe they have been simply in search of any person that that had had been within the (Subsequent Gen) automotive,” he mentioned. “This automotive is lots totally different.
“It’s very, very totally different to drive than a Xfinity automotive or any of the opposite automobiles that that you’d run. We’re actually simply having a very good time with it.”
Harvick mentioned the preparation Hendrick has put into simply his 50-minute follow session was spectacular.
“How the fellows have approached it with one thing that’s actually for a 50-minute follow, however we’ve approached it like we’re going right into a race weekend as a result of they need to do every little thing they’ll do to get Kyle ready to return from the again of the pack to attempt to win the All Star Race,” he mentioned.
“So, it’s been very methodical with the best way that that they’ve gone about every little thing. I’ve completed all of the workforce conferences and been within the simulator and completed all these issues as we’ve led as much as it like they have been like they have been making ready for the race so. Hopefully, I can do my half.”
SHR vs. HMS
Requested what, if something, struck out to him between the SHR and Hendrick organizations from his expertise thus far, Harvick quipped, “I imply, I heard from the proprietor twice in two weeks. So, that’s totally different.
“Simply the race store and the construction and the best way that that everyone goes about it in a different way. I believe the factor that stands out for me about Hendrick Motorsports usually is it’s really run like a enterprise that is part of an precise construction of how issues move and who you discuss to.
“There’s simply the depth of the enterprise facet and the racing facet is deep. I believe that that’s fairly eye opening simply from the construction of the entire thing.”
Whether it is his closing alternative in a Cup automotive, Harvick mentioned he’s appreciative of the transient expertise with HMS.
“I used to be very lucky to have a really, excellent race workforce Stewart-Haas. It’s simply, you realize, enjoyable to type of get a glance, a peek behind the scenes,” he mentioned.
“You realize, I believe that that Kyle is superb at no matter he races. However Cliff (Daniels, crew chief) can also be very understanding of the truth that he’s off racing different issues and the way they speak about issues and the best way they undergo issues is spectacular.”
