Kevin Harvick has had very different torture compared to where he was last year in the same stage of the season.
When the regular-season ended last year, Harvick was the No.1 driver in seed position as a regular-season champion. The 2014 champion was the favourite to add to his championship trophy.
But this season is the complete opposite as he failed to win a single race until now and goes to the playoffs as the 16th seeded driver.
“Every year is a little different than the last and creates new challenges, and new conversations and new things happen,” Harvick said on Tuesday. “Every year is not going to be great. The good news is you have a group of people you’ve worked with for a long time and an organization that wants the exact same goals as you do, so you’re working toward those things together as a group and doing what you can.
“I don’t think we’d be sitting in this position if it weren’t for the group of people navigating through all the things that have gone on with our stuff this year. Everybody on the team has done a good job in getting a lot of out (this) scenario.”
“We are a threat” – Denny Hamlin optimistic about his chances despite no wins yet
Another driver with an excellent season last year, Denny Hamlin, too doesn’t have any wins this season. But unlike Harvick, he is one of the most consistent drivers in the series despite his lack of win. As for Harvick, he recorded only six top-five finishes this season.
“We know where the problem lies,” said Harvick, “and they’re working to try to fix it.”
However, Harvick didn’t elaborate on the problem. But, time is running out for the No.4 Stewart-Haas Racing driver to fix the problem.