Kevin Harvick 2014 Fantasy NASCAR Preview
2013 Stats: Points Finish 3rd, 1 Pole, 4 Wins, 9 Top Fives, 21 Top Tens, Average Running Position 12.7, Average Finish 11.2, Laps Led 269, Driver Rating 94.91
Strengths- Kevin Harvick is a versatile driver who’s capable of winning at any track. One strength of his throughout his career is that he’s a consistent driver who takes care of his equipment. In fantasy racing that’s an important attribute because you can’t win championships with drivers who are “DNF magnets”.
Weaknesses- Intermediate tracks could potentially be weakness in 2014. In 2013 they weren’t a strong suite for the Stewart-Haas Racing organization.
NASCAR 2014 Printable Schedule
Intermediate Track Grade- A-, Kevin Harvick scored the most points in the series on intermediate tracks in 2013. The way he scored the most points wasn’t by domination, it was by consistency. On this track type he had a 6.9 average finish, won two races and was the only driver who finished in the top fifteen every race. His wins in 2013 were at Charlotte and Kansas. In Chase intermediate track races he had a 5.7 average finish, scored the third most points and had a 10.5 average running position.
In 2014 I don’t see him matching his 2013 level of performance. He had a phenomenal season on this track type and the worst trouble he had in any race was a speeding penalty on pit road. Another reason why I think he can’t match his level of performance is because this track type wasn’t a strong suite for Stewart-Haas Racing last season.
Flat Track Grade- A, Kevin Harvick is a flat track master. He’s capable of winning at any flat track. Last season on this track type he scored the 7th most points.
The big flat tracks weren’t an area of strength for him last season. On them he only had one top ten and two finishes in the high-teens. At Indy last season he finished 17th. I wouldn’t be concerned about that result. That race last season was dominated by Hendrick horsepower. Newman won the race, Stewart finished 4th and overall cars with Hendrick engines took 7 of the top 9 finish positions. Historically Indy has been a good track for him. He’s a former winner and has a 10.9 average finish.
Pocono for whatever reason hasn’t been the best track for him. Since it’s been repaved he has one top ten and three finishes in the teens.
Small flat tracks have been good venues for him. At Phoenix he’s won the last two fall races and since it was reconfigured he has the best average finish, best average running position, and the best driver rating.
At New Hampshire Harvick has been strong recently but not competitive. Last fall his team missed the setup and finished 20th. In the four races prior to that he had a 9.5 average finish and a 11.0 average running position.
Make sure you check out these other driver previews: Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, Danica Patrick and Ryan Newman
Short Track Grade- A-, Kevin Harvick is a skilled short track driver. On this type of track he has the perfect level of “calculated hate” it takes to get the job done. He’s one of a handful of drivers who have won at all three venues.
Last season Harvick’s lone win on this track type came at Richmond in the spring. If the late caution didn’t come out though he wouldn’t of won the race. That marked his third career win at Richmond. Since fall 2009 he’s won twice, has a 8.3 average running position and a 9.0 average finish.
Bristol hasn’t been a great track for Harvick recently. Since 2009 he only has one top ten. Typically a recent finish for him has fallen between 11th and 15th. In the last ten races half his finishes have been within that range.
In 2011 Harvick won at Martinsville. Last season he had results of 6th and 13th. If he has a “Hendrick heavy” race package watch out because he might get the job done again.
Restrictor plate Track Grade- A-, Kevin Harvick has as much talent as anybody on restrictor plate tracks. With the current drafting package he’s more than capable of winning.
Last year at Daytona he won the Sprint Unlimited, his Duel race but was taken out early in the Daytona 500 by an early big one. In the summer he finished 3rd. As long as he doesn’t have problems in the race he’s a lock for a top ten.
At Talladega last year he was involved in a wreck in the spring and finished 12th in the fall. His last Talladega top ten was in spring 2011.
Road Course Track Grade- A-, Kevin Harvick does good on serpentine tracks. At Watkins Glen he’s a former winner and has only finished outside the top fifteen twice. Last season he finished 13th. His career average finish is 13.1.
At Infineon he’s finished in the top ten in three out of the last four races. Last season he finished 10th. One strong suite of his there is that he completes laps. Throughout his career he’s only failed to not complete 1 lap.
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