(L-R) Kevin Harvick, driver of the #29 Budweiser Chevrolet, talks with Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Mobil 1/Office Depot Chevrolet - Photo Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images
By Tim Packman
Special Opinion Column to Catchfence.com
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (November 12, 2012) – When I first heard Kevin Harvick was leaving Richard Childress Racing to sign with Stewart-Hass Racing for the 2014 season, I was kind of shocked like some others.
But, as I started to think about the whole deal, it made sense in some ways. However, the part that it “slipped” out came into focus a little bit more. These are just my thoughts, and are based off having worked with Harvick at RCR and dealing with Budweiser at two different teams.
First, nothing that major slips out to a media member like Marty Smith. Someone chose to have it slip out to him, a reporter for the largest “sports only” channel in the world. He did his due diligence to get it confirmed as close as possible; then took it from there – which then ended up all over.
Second, with Harvick being signed through the 2013 season with RCR, what better way to possibly start working his way out of the contract by letting the news get out now. I mean, why sign a multi-year deal for 2014 with another team when you’ll have a whole year left on your current contract with RCR for 2013?
Easy, because you want out of it now.
SHR has said they wanted to expand to three then four Sprint Cup Series teams. They have Danica Patrick coming over next year. Why not expand to four when you’re already doing a transition anyhow?
Harvick has put Richard Childress through the ringer many, many times. He’s swapped crew chiefs multiple times, he’s had the team redone multiple times, he’s had the crews switched multiple times and it all adds up to the same result – no Sprint Cup championship.
By letting it out now that he’s leaving, it could force RC to cut him loose now and let him get on to his next team. At some point, RC has probably tired of trying to please his star driver since 2001.
As the owner, he’s now faced with replacing a driver in the No. 29 car. That could be very easy, but who? The talent pool in the Nationwide Series isn’t that deep right now for drivers to make the jump to Cup.
That, and he has his future Cup stars in the family waiting to make the move upward in Ty Dillon, then Austin Dillon. But, they aren’t ready to do that right now. Burton, CAT and RCR have said 2013 will be his final year with the team. That would put two “lame duck” drivers on your Cup roster leaving Paul Menard as your only driver to the future.
Then, there is Budweiser. They have enjoyed a great relationship with Harvick and he’s become the face of their Beer Wagon. Now, with him leaving, they would have to find another driver who would live up to their image and expectations if they stay with RCR.
No offense to Kasey Kahne, but Harvick has the grit and personality to be a beer guy. Do they not re-sign with RCR for 2014, which would free them to move to SHR with Harvick?
Well, let’s see what you get with that deal.
You get to keep “your guy” in Harvick, you get Tony Stewart as part of the deal for commercials and you get the Bass Pro Shops crowd. Hunting, fishing, boating, golf, etc are all part of Bass Pro Shops business. And, what goes great with all those items – beer.
Think of all the hilarious commercials Stewart and Harvick could make for Budweiser AND Bass Pro Shops. Heck, toss Danica Patrick into a few of them and you capture the female demographic for both brands, as well.
If I’m RC, I cut Harvick loose now and let him do what he wants in 2013. Otherwise, you have a whole year of distraction involving your driver’s defection to another team the following year.
How much of your technology and ECR engine and set up know how do you want one of your drivers taking to another team? That, and the crews could be looking to go with their driver, possibly taking away their focus on the task at hand.
And, why are sponsors going to sign a Harvick deal when he’s going to be gone in one year? They want to mold their brand and have continuity with the team, driver and car number.
Again, these are all just my opinions and views based off past experiences with some of the particulars.
But, I will stand by this – the news of Harvick going to SHR didn’t just “slip out” this past weekend. It was like a draft beer – the tap was opened and the good stuff flowed out.
Tim Packman is an award-winning writer and author who has been part of two Daytona 500 championships, two Nationwide championships and worked at Dale Earnhardt, Inc., MRN Radio and Richard Childress Racing.
The post Did the Harvick to Stewart-Haas deal “slip out” this weekend, or not? appeared first on Catchfence.
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