(photo courtesy Leon Hammack)
After all the unrest and negative press given to the Kevin Harvick-Richard Childress relationship since the middle of the 2009 season, when it was reported that Harvick wanted out of the remainder of his contract, the relationship seemed to have just fixed itself.
Richard Childress expects to have Sprint Cup points leader #29-Kevin Harvick signed to a new deal by the Coca-Cola 600 at the end of the month. “Yeah, we’re pretty far down the road,” the owner of Richard Childress Racing said of negotiations before Friday’s Cup practice at Darlington Raceway.
“We’ve still got to get a few things finalized, but we’re looking forward to getting everything done by Charlotte or before Charlotte.” Harvick was not immediately available for comment, but did say in a recent radio interview that he hoped to have a deal in place soon. Sponsorship is among the details to be finalized. Shell/Pennzoil announced last month it would leave Harvick after this season and move to the #22 car of Kurt Busch at Penske Racing in 2011.
Asked if Budweiser or Mobile I, big-name sponsors whose current deals are up, might be on the list, Childress said, “There are sponsors that are not even in the sport that are interested,” Childress added.
So it appears that one of the biggest proposed free agents is about to be removed from the free agency field! However, there are still dominoes to fall in this “silly season” of seat swapping! Stay tuned!
TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!