ESPN.com preseason rank: No. 12
2009 Outlook
Kevin Harvick, like fellow Chase driver Matt Kenseth, went winless in 2008, which naturally means a hungry approach to this season. Harvick also is well aware that his team at Richard Childress Racing exhibited long spells of consistency and durability -- he was running at the end of all 36 races -- so he has momentum to build upon this year. His team has not undergone any major changes, although RCR has added a fourth team with Casey Mears.
Todd Berrier returns as Harvick's crew chief, and they have solid chemistry that could propel them to a more active role in the Chase this season. This also is a critical year for Harvick, whose contract with Childress expires at the end of the year. Could his final contract year become a distraction?
2008 Review
Harvick was winless in 2008 -- only the second time in his eight-year career that he failed to score a victory -- but he managed to finish fourth in the Cup standings. He started the season strong with four top-10 finishes in the first five races and four top-10 finishes in the final five races.
For the season, he had 19 top-10 finishes, including a string of nine straight, which really propelled Harvick into somewhat of a contender down the stretch. Perhaps most impressive is he didn't have a DNF last season, and completed 98.1 percent of all laps. Still, Harvick didn't win and his victory in the 2009 Bud Shootout ended a winless skid of 71 races.
He has a shot at the title if: Harvick avoids any major blips. He finished races last year; now he needs to win.
He won't win because: Resources might be stretched at RCR this year with the addition of Mears, and that could hurt the other three teams.
-- Angelique S. Chengelis | 
