Could Kevin Harvick be leaving RCR?
Friday, Nov. 09, 2012
Getty Images for NASCAR
RIDGEWAY, VA - OCTOBER 27: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #2 Tide Pods Chevrolet, holds his son Keelan on the grid during pre-race ceremonies for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway on October 27, 2012 in Ridgeway, Virginia. (Photo by Rainier Ehrhardt/Getty Images for NASCAR)
Getty Images for NASCAR
KANSAS CITY, KS - OCTOBER 17: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #29 Budweiser Chevrolet, in action during NASCAR testing at Kansas Speedway on October 17, 2012 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images for NASCAR)
jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick watches his team make adjustments to his car during a break in practice at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, NC on Thursday, October 11, 2012. Jeff Siner - jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
AVONDALE, Ariz. Could Kevin Harvick's career at Richard Childress Racing be coming to an end?
ESPN reported Friday that Harvick – who has never raced for any other team in NASCAR other than RCR – had signed a deal to drive for Stewart-Haas Racing in the Sprint Cup Series beginning with the 2014 season.
Neither Harvick nor SHR team owner Tony Stewart would confirm the report Friday on the record.
During his media availability on Friday at Phoenix International Raceway, Stewart was asked about the ESPN report and replied, “I will tell you this, when we have something to tell you guys, we’ll tell you. I’ve always said that.
“You guys can throw darts, but when we have something to tell you that’s different than what we’ve got going on, we’ll obviously tell you.”
An official with RCR said the organization would have no comment on the report.
The Budweiser sponsorship on Harvick's No. 29 Chevrolet car at RCR may well move with Harvick to SHR. The sponsor's current deal concludes at the end of the 2013 season and sources said Budweiser would be open to continuing its relationship with the driver.
Harvick has driven for RCR throughout his 12-year career. He replaced the late Dale Earnhardt in 2001 after Earnhardt was killed in a last-lap wreck in the Daytona 500.
Harvick has has 18 career Cup wins at RCR and has twice finished third in the final series standings (2010 and 2011). He is winless so far this season and 11th in points.
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