4LT GS RoadsterRICHMOND, VA - Kevin Harvick Inc. plans to close its Trucks Series program at the end of the year, a decision that takes two competitive entries off the track but allows Harvick to focus on his only remaining NASCAR goal.
Harvick announced this week that his two Nationwide Series entries would move to Richard Childress Racing next year, and Friday he confirmed he's shuttering KHI outright. He cited various reasons for shutting the organization, but pinned most of it on business decisions and his desire to win a Sprint Cup championship.
"The only thing that I want to do that we haven't been able to accomplish in my career is win a Cup championship," Harvick said at Richmond International Raceway.
Speculation has been swirling for weeks about the future of KHI, which was started by Harvick and his wife, Delana, in 2002.
Harvick shot down talk that KHI was closing because of the Harvick's were getting a divorce, saying Friday his marriage is not ending and laughing at the escalating rumors. He said he believed the gossip started internally at KHI as employees wondered about the future of the organization.
"All the reactions have just been crazy as far as the way the rumors have spun out of control," Harvick said. "DeLana and I have just kind of sat back and laughed at a lot of them. But I feel like as a couple, and as a group at KHI, we've made a lot of good business decisions over the course of the years. And it's going to allow us time to explore other business opportunities as well."
The decision to close KHI will put about 140 employees on the job market, but Harvick was hopeful many of them would be hired at RCR when the KHI Nationwide teams move to that building. The 70,000-square-foot KHI shop, located in Kernersville, N.C., will be sold, Harvick said.
SI.com
Harvick announced this week that his two Nationwide Series entries would move to Richard Childress Racing next year, and Friday he confirmed he's shuttering KHI outright. He cited various reasons for shutting the organization, but pinned most of it on business decisions and his desire to win a Sprint Cup championship.
"The only thing that I want to do that we haven't been able to accomplish in my career is win a Cup championship," Harvick said at Richmond International Raceway.
Speculation has been swirling for weeks about the future of KHI, which was started by Harvick and his wife, Delana, in 2002.
Harvick shot down talk that KHI was closing because of the Harvick's were getting a divorce, saying Friday his marriage is not ending and laughing at the escalating rumors. He said he believed the gossip started internally at KHI as employees wondered about the future of the organization.
"All the reactions have just been crazy as far as the way the rumors have spun out of control," Harvick said. "DeLana and I have just kind of sat back and laughed at a lot of them. But I feel like as a couple, and as a group at KHI, we've made a lot of good business decisions over the course of the years. And it's going to allow us time to explore other business opportunities as well."
The decision to close KHI will put about 140 employees on the job market, but Harvick was hopeful many of them would be hired at RCR when the KHI Nationwide teams move to that building. The 70,000-square-foot KHI shop, located in Kernersville, N.C., will be sold, Harvick said.
SI.com
