Kevin Harvick addresses contract status in wake of Stewart-Haas/Ford news

817 Views 12 Replies 9 Participants Last post by jgBowyerfan, Feb 27, 2016

Dale3DaleJr88

Discussion Starter · Feb 26, 2016

HAMPTON, Ga. – Kevin Harvick, a Chevrolet driver throughout his NASCAR career, said his approach won’t change in the wake of Stewart-Haas Racing’s 2017 move to Ford.
“I got a great team, I’ve got great people, I’ve got a great organization that’s wanting to win races,” Harvick said while walking between the Xfinity and Sprint Cup garages Friday morning at Atlanta Motor Speedway. “To not be committed to them would be foolish on my part to be in the best position I’ve ever been in as a driver.”
While teammate and co-owner Tony Stewart (who also has strong Chevy ties) heartily endorsed the move during the team’s announcement Tuesday, Harvick’s reaction to Ford has been muted. The 2014 series champion hadn’t posted about the move on his Twitter account.
That’s fed the speculation about the status of Harvick’s contract with SHR, which he joined in 2014 and tends to sign its drivers to three-year deals with options.
Asked whether that was his deal, Harvick said he thought it had options and that he wouldn’t consider himself a free agent. SHR’s other three drivers — Clint Bowyer (who will join from HScott Motorsports next season), Kurt Busch and Danica Patrick — are signed with the team beyond 2016.
“My contract, I haven’t even looked at,” he said. “I haven’t even asked. I just assumed that it was all sealed up and done. So I assume so.”
Asked if he would consider leaving SHR, Harvick said, “I just want to win races. That’s what we’re all going to focus on.”
The Bakersfield, Calif., native spent Friday morning working with JR Motorsports, which fields a Chevy in the Xfinity Series that has chassis and engines from Hendrick Motorsports.
SHR also receives chassis and engines from Hendrick but will be severing ties in its move to Ford. In the past, Harvick has cited Hendrick’s equipment as a reason he moved from Richard Childress Racing to SHR three years ago.
“Nothing (different),” Harvick said about working with JRM team members Friday. “You guys can go back to all the way when I’ve been in this position with RCR and changing jobs, and we won four to five races and made the Chase, so … nothing’s different.”
In addition to driving Chevrolets, Harvick also has fielded bowtie-emblazoned cars and trucks as a team owner and chassis builder.
“Myself personally, I’ve made decisions as a businessperson and from a driver standpoint,” Harvick said when asked about his Chevy ties. “I’m just focused on what I’ve got to do this weekend to win races and to put ourselves in position to win a championship.”
Asked about his preparation for the weekend, Harvick said, “My focus is the same as it has been since I started racing. That’s to go out and win races and championships. Just got to follow along with what your organization thinks is best. I think they have the same interest in mind that I do, and that’s to compete for wins and championships.”

Kevin Harvick addresses contract status in wake of Stewart-Haas/Ford news

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yzerman19harvick4

· #2 · Feb 26, 2016

1. I find it hard to believe that he hasn't looked at his contract seeing how the company with his name on it represents him.

2. I think he is leaving his options open for next year. Not because of Chevy vs. Ford, but because he wants to stay competative next year and with the switch over there's a decent chance that SHR might stumble a little bit.

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tankemt

· #3 · Feb 26, 2016

Harvick for kahne lol

yes I'm still here, I'll post when I can

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kWobubba

· #4 · Feb 26, 2016

yzerman19harvick4 said:
1. I find it hard to believe that he hasn't looked at his contract seeing how the company with his name on it represents him.

2. I think he is leaving his options open for next year. Not because of Chevy vs. Ford, but because he wants to stay competative next year and with the switch over there's a decent chance that SHR might stumble a little bit.

This. While I think he still most likely stays at SHR, he's definitely left the door open there. I think his issue is exactly what you said. If SHR stumbles, he looses out what may be his last few opportunities to win championships. Harvick was a lot better driver than the equipment he had some years at RCR, and he can't afford to waste more time going thru that again. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out. The SHR deal is going to make more dominos fall before this is over.

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Tracy2

· #5 · Feb 26, 2016

He has no where else to go that's competitive. I just don't see him at HMS. If I remember correctly, Bud did not want to go to HMS.

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kWobubba

· #6 · Feb 26, 2016

Tracy2 said:
He has no where else to go that's competitive. I just don't see him at HMS. If I remember correctly, Bud did not want to go to HMS.

HMS is the only place I'd see him leaving for. The 5 would be the only possibility. And Busch is only signed for 10 races, so losing them probably wouldn't matter much. Jimmy Johns would probably follow, and some of the current 5 sponsors would probably fill the gap. I can't see sponsorship being an issue. Don't get me wrong, I think he stays at SHR, but a move to Hendrick isn't totally impossible. And I think he'd fit in fine. He already works with Jr on the Xfinity end, and even though they've had their issues, he's known Johnson a long time. I never thought he'd fit in working with Kurt Busch either, but they've done fine together.

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stp43

· #7 · Feb 27, 2016

His contract is up at the end of this season. If Stewart -Hass likes to sign drivers for 3 years, will he stay? That's the question. My guess is that he will stay and drive a Ford.

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ARosser14

· #8 · Feb 27, 2016

I don't see Kevin leaving, personally. I think his ties to Stewart in particular but the organization as a whole are strong enough even after two years - especially with the performance they've had, he's one spot away from being undefeated at SHR in the championship column - that he's in it for the long haul. Remember he flirted with signing with Red Bull and Toyota back during his first free agency in 2006, I'm sure he has a deep affinity for Chevrolet but I doubt it's deep enough that he's going to drop what he has at SHR to stay with the Bowtie, especially when it's Tony who's Chevy ties are stronger than anyone this side of Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Kevin included) who helped make the deal happen. If Tony can go Ford, so can Kevin.

If he does leave, like I said to the speculation on here that Stewart would sell his half of SHR back to Gene because of this, if I'm wrong I'll eat a big plate of crow.

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jkarpinski14

· #9 · Feb 27, 2016

He may be leaving his options open, but I'm still fairly sure that he'll be back with SHR for next year.

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kWobubba

· #10 · Feb 27, 2016

RedChevy14 said:
I don't see Kevin leaving, personally. I think his ties to Stewart in particular but the organization as a whole are strong enough even after two years - especially with the performance they've had, he's one spot away from being undefeated at SHR in the championship column - that he's in it for the long haul. Remember he flirted with signing with Red Bull and Toyota back during his first free agency in 2006, I'm sure he has a deep affinity for Chevrolet but I doubt it's deep enough that he's going to drop what he has at SHR to stay with the Bowtie, especially when it's Tony who's Chevy ties are stronger than anyone this side of Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Kevin included) who helped make the deal happen. If Tony can go Ford, so can Kevin.

If he does leave, like I said to the speculation on here that Stewart would sell his half of SHR back to Gene because of this, if I'm wrong I'll eat a big plate of crow.

I don't think it's any loyalty to Chevy that would make him switch teams. It's the thought of being mired in a couple RCR like seasons while they adjust to the new Fords. Building their own chassis is a big deal.

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ARosser14

· #11 · Feb 27, 2016

kWobubba said:
I don't think it's any loyalty to Chevy that would make him switch teams. It's the thought of being mired in a couple RCR like seasons while they adjust to the new Fords. Building their own chassis is a big deal.

Right, that's why I said the long haul. There's bound to be some growing pains, hopefully nothing too serious - adding guys like Rex Stump and the help they'll be getting from Ford should hopefully expedite their learning curve on that, I don't expect them to come out of the box and win races immediately but who knows - but they're building something bigger and better than what has already taken him to the top. Reading between the lines of what's been said though it's obvious Ford has thrown a lot more than just a lot of cash behind this deal to lure SHR into the fold, I'd expect that includes a concentrated effort to make sure they are ready to win out of the box. We'll just have to see but I'd bet the lineup looks the same in 2017 as we expected it to.

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Matt9975

· #12 · Feb 27, 2016

I don't see him leaving. Especially now with the Charter system in place.

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· #13 · Feb 27, 2016

I think he will stay.

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