What to make of KHI-RCR merger?

[pandr]

What to make of KHI-RCR merger?
Jim Utter-Chorlotte Observer
On Wednesday, Richard Childress Racing announced it would be merging with Kevin Harvick Inc. to run a joint program in the Nationwide Series next season. Basically, it's the reversal of a deal announced over a year ago in which RCR said its Nationwide programs would be run out of KHI.

The question remains about how this merger affects the future of KHI as an organization. Team owner Kevin and DeLana Harvick have yet to announce their plans - if any - to field teams in the Truck series in 2012.

With the Nationwide program at RCR and without a Truck program, in essence KHI would no longer operate as an organization fielding multiple teams in NASCAR's national series.

Any way you put that, that can't be good for NASCAR.

One of the things I thought that was always a bonus for NASCAR was drivers who made their way through NASCAR's lower-tier series "giving back" to the sport, so to speak, by operating teams in those series when they have moved on to Sprint Cup.

Think of the wins and championships of the last several years in Trucks and Nationwide and the role KHI teams and drivers have played in them. That's a big contribution to see exit the playing field.

Organizations like KHI, Kyle Busch Motorsports and Brad Keselowski Racing epitomize what is best about many of the sport's drivers. Racing is not only a hobby to them, but a way of life - and one they like to share with others like them.

We don't know the future of KHI yet. We don't know all of the reasons for the decisions that have already been made.

What we do know is NASCAR is worse off today than it was yesterday.

C/P Lucky Dog

[pandr]

KHI no longer fielding teams after this season
By Jim Utter - charlotteobserver

Friday, Sep. 09, 2011

Kevin Harvick Inc., co-owned by Sprint Cup driver Kevin Harvick and his wife, DeLana, will no longer operate as a racing organization after this season.

On Wednesday, the team announced it was merging its Nationwide series teams with Richard Childress Racing, where they would operate next season.

Friday morning at Richmond International Raceway, Harvick confirmed KHI would no longer field Truck programs after this season, as well.

“The racing portion of Kevin Harvick, Inc., the only part that will still exist, we‘ll operate out of RCR,” Harvick said. “But there won’t be anything racing-wise operating out of our shop.”

Harvick made the announcement to his 140 employees on Wednesday, which is why he was unable to attend a NASCAR function with President Obama on the same day.

“We needed to have everything done and I need to go into the last 10 weeks with a one track mind, and that’s to run that Cup car as fast it’ll go and be a part of that team,” Harvick said.

“It is fun, don’t get me wrong, it is fun to go out and win Truck races and be a part of it. We have been able to win championships and I think that’s one of the great things about where we are at with the decision is.

“We are winning races, we have got the sponsorship, we have done the things right to keep the things on the race track and it going to be successful at the time we moved on.”

Harvick said their 80,000 square-foot facility in Kernersville, N.C., will likely be sold.

KHI has fielded three Truck teams and two Nationwide teams this season. Twice during its 10-year operation, KHI has won Truck series championships with driver Ron Hornaday.

“It has been a great run,” Harvick said. “Obviously one of the hardest conversations I had to have was with Ron, telling him where everything was going.

“He was a big part of helping us to get to the point that we are at today.”
C/P Thats Racin