New rules, old date await Darlington race on Labor Day
From the scorching temperatures to a new rules package, Kevin Harvick says racing at Darlington on Labor Day weekend will be a different animal.
Luckily for Harvick, he and his No. 4 team at Stewart-Haas Racing have shown the ability to adjust any variable thrown their way over the past two seasons. The 39 year-old and defending Spring Cup champion is leading the points despite Sunday’s 42nd-place finish at Pocono.
“It is just confidence,” Harvick said at Tuesday’s Bojangles’ Southern 500 media day at the Governor’s Mansion. “We know we can beat everyone in the garage. Whether it is guys on pit road, you in the seat or (crew chief) Rodney Childers making a call, you can overcome anything and win just about every race. It is fun to be a part of that.
“Our confidence is through the roof because we won that championship and for how the year it has gone.”
One of Harvick’s signature wins in his championship season was getting a victory at Darlington. He led 239 laps but needed a second green-white checkered finish to overtake Dale Earnhardt Jr. for his first victory at the Lady in Black.
That race was held in April, but NASCAR moved Darlington’s date back to its traditional Labor Day weekend date this season. Harvick is one of 11 full-time Cup drivers to compete in the race the last time it was held on Labor Day weekend in 2003.
So, Harvick knows to expect a slick track surface and 90-degree temperatures which traditionally accompany Labor Day weekends in Darlington. One thing Harvick and the other drivers don’t know is how the cars will run with the new tire Goodyear is bringing and the rules package for the race.
Darlington is one of the tracks that feature the new aero package, which is similar to the one run at Kentucky last month. The cars will have about 1,000 pounds less down force with a 3½-inch shorter spoilers and smaller splitters. This was designed to increase more passing on the track.
Darlington hosted a pair of Goodyear tire tests and an open test for teams back in June. There will be extra practices for teams the Friday of race weekend.
“There are some unknowns for the rule package,” Harvick said. “All the cars haven’t been on race track at same time, so there are a lot of things that could make it an interesting race.”
Drivers’ tempers also figure to be on edge with Darlington race being a week before the Chase cutoff at Richmond. Going into this week, there are nine drivers battling for the final five spots. That number will shrink by one more once Kyle Busch likely clinches his Chase spot in the coming weeks.
“If you are in that position of desperation, then you got to do what you got to do,” Harvick said.
Sprint Cup rookie Ryan Blaney joined Harvick on the appearance to promote the race, and both praised track officials for the way they have embraced and promoted the return to the Labor Day weekend date. The two drivers held a question-and-answer session for session-ticket holders at a rest stop in Lugoff before driving to Columbia in street cars with their paint schemes for the race.
Harvick and Blaney drove the cars to the Governor’s Mansion where they were joined by several dignitaries, including South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.
Haley, who last attended a Darlington race in 2011, announced she and family will be attending this year’s race.
Blaney also revealed his special paint scheme for his Wood Brothers No. 21 car that he will drive in the race. The car features many old pictures on the sides of people and drivers who were part of the storied Wood Brothers history.
It will be the first time the Wood Brothers will enter a Cup car for a Darlington race since Bill Elliott finished 30th in the 2008. The team has eight wins at the track – seven of them coming from NASCAR Hall of Famers and South Carolina natives Cale Yarborough and David Pearson.
“Every race I drive for the Wood Brothers is special,” Blaney said. “But Daytona and then Darlington is extra special because of the history they had at these two race tracks. It will be a really big treat for me – and for them too.”
This story was originally published August 4, 2015 at 10:01 PM.