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KEVIN HARVICK – 2017 Charlotte I Race Advance

Kevin Harvick, driver of the No. 4 Mobil 1 Ford Fusion for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), is going to the Coca-Cola 600 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race this weekend looking for performance, reliability and success. Luckily, the No. 4 Ford Fusion is riding with Mobil 1, a partner with a proven track record of those traits, on the hood and in the engine of the car as Harvick attempts to tackle the longest, most grueling race on the Cup Series schedule.

Stewart-Haas Racing’s technology partnership with Mobil 1 is a unique combination of experience, expertise and innovative thinking that strives to consistently deliver performance-enhancing results on the track. The partnership allows the SHR teams to head into the series’ only 600-mile event with a level of confidence that its cars will be there to compete at the end.

Mobil 1 continues to perform rigorous testing with the SHR teams in the garage with its products and support to improve on-track performance, including the reduction of frictional loss in the engines to maximize fuel mileage, increase horsepower and turn more revolutions per minute (RPMs). Mobil 1 works to reduce engine temperatures to increase engine efficiency. The products allow the No. 4 racecar to reduce rolling resistance, which contributes to increased acceleration on restarts on the way to reaching top speed.

The Mobil 1 products reduce friction in the suspension components, as well, providing maximum tire grip and helping to reduce steering compliance to give precision control and improved handling for Harvick behind the wheel.

Harvick and the No. 4 team hope the benefits provided by Mobil 1 products and technology will help carry them to victory lane in the Sunday’s traditional Memorial Day-weekend event, during which their racecar will honor a fallen soldier on the windshield header as part of NASCAR’s “600 Miles of Remembrance” initiative.

The name of Capt. Brent Morel of the United States Marine Corps will be featured on the No. 4 Mobil 1 Ford Fusion this weekend.

Morel, who lived in McKenzie, Tennessee, was killed in action on April 7, 2004, when his platoon was ambushed during a reconnaissance mission in the Sunni Triangle in Fallujah, Iraq.

He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism as Platoon Commander, 2nd Platoon, Company B, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, 1 Maine Expeditionary Force, United States Marine Corps Forces, Central Command in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Morel left his vehicle and led a determined assault across an open field and up a 10-foot berm in order to maneuver into firing position. The boldness of his first assault eliminated several insurgents at close range, forcing their retreat. Observing his Marines pinned down from enemy fire, he left the safety of his position and continued the assault, eliminating the enemy’s attack.

During this valiant act, he fell mortally wounded by a withering burst of enemy automatic weapons fire. By his outstanding display of decisive leadership, unlimited courage in the face of heavy enemy fire, and utmost devotion to duty, Morel reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

Morel graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin in 1999 with a degree in history. He became a commissioned officer in the Marines the following week. Another week later, he married Amy Mullins.

While Harvick has raced up front and scored three stage wins this year, he is still in search of his first Cup Series race win of the season. He has two Coca-Cola 600 wins in his Cup Series career and would like to add his third this weekend to add to his history of performance, reliability and success in one of NASCAR’s top races on Sunday afternoon.

KEVIN HARVICK, Driver of the No. 4 Mobil 1 Ford Fusion for Stewart-Haas Racing:

What does it mean to honor and remember a military member on your No. 4 Mobil 1 Ford Fusion this weekend?

“There isn’t any sport that honors the military any better than NASCAR. I know a lot of sports do a lot of things for our military but, when you roll into this particular weekend with the Coke 600 and you are a part of the celebration and remembrance for all the things that have happened with our military, to see the support that NASCAR and everybody in our garage gives the military, especially on this particular weekend, is something that gives you goosebumps. We are honored to carry the names on our cars.”

Is the Coca-Cola 600 more physically or mentally challenging?

“It just depends on how hot it is, honestly. If it’s a good weekend and the weather is nice, then it’s more mentally challenging than physically challenging. Either way, it’s still challenging both mentally and physically in some way, shape or form. The hardest part mentally is just getting yourself to overcome those last hundred miles because you are used to the 400- or 500-mile races.”

What do you think of Charlotte adding VHT to the racetrack in an attempt to build an outside groove?

“I think that’s a good game plan. Adding VHT to the outside groove and the middle groove, the only groove that was there for the All-Star race was the bottom groove. I went up there and tried the middle and tried the top, and while you could go through there, you just couldn’t make any speed like you could on the bottom. You have to applaud NASCAR, Charlotte Motor Speedway and everybody for trying to make the racing better. I think it’s definitely going to do something. I think, as you look at it, it’s definitely going to make a difference and hopefully it widens the racetrack out and we can have grooves all over the track.”