Richard Childress To Hold Press Conference at Charlotte Motor Speedway-Update

On Saturday May 22, 2010, Richard Childress will hold a press conference at Charlotte Motor Speedway scheduled for 3:15 pm.

It is expected the extension of Kevin Harvick's contract is to be announced.

Harvick, the 34-year-old pilot of the No. 29 Chevrolet, was rumored to be unhappy at RCR earlier this year.  It was thought he would be leaving the organization at the end of this season.

His sponsor, Shell/Pennzoil, is moving to Penske Racing next year.  Childress has been working hard to secure a replacement sponsorship, perhaps with someone new to the world of NASCAR.

At Charlotte Motor Speedway, Childress had said he hoped to have an announcement by the end of this week.

Kevin Harvick continued to be non-committal on the topic.

RCR struggled in 2009, with all of the teams failing to make the Chase.

This season has shown a dramatic turnaround with Harvick being the leader of the NASCAR Sprint Cup points standings.  Jeff Burton is eighth in points, and Clint Bowyer is 15th.

Harvick stated he had "many, many, many conversations" with his boss Childress.  He indicated communication was open and positive.

Reports had swirled that he had burned bridges earlier in the season with RCR, but he denies any bridges were set ablaze.

Being the leader in the points standings played favorably in the negotiations and the probable contract extension.

Kevin is a hard racer.  He began his Cup career when he was thrust into a car at RCR after the death of Dale Earnhardt Sr. 

He has 12 wins and 138 top-10 finishes.  His most recent win was at Talladega Superspeedway in April.

Harvick and his wife Delana own Kevin Harvick Incorporated which fields a NASCAR Nationwide team for car No. 33 driven by Kevin.  Ron Hornaday drives the No. 33 Longhorn truck in the NASCAR Camping World Truck series.

Prior to the running of the exciting non-points Sprint All-Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway we shall know if Kevin Harvick will continue his relationship with RCR. 

The contract extension is certainly expected and perhaps the announcement of sponsorship for next year as well.

Stay tuned!

Update:  Kevin Harvick has signed a multi-year contract with RCR.  The terms were undisclosed and Kevin will continue to drive the No. 29 Chevy.  Several major sponsors are being courted with the front-runners possibly being Budweiser and UPS.