This car was scheduled to be the black No. 3 GM Goodwrench Service Plus Chevrolet Monte Carlo that Dale Earnhardt was to drive at Atlanta Motor Speedway in March 2001. It was the same car that Earnhardt drove in its debut to a second-place finish there the November before. On March 11, 2001, as a white No. 29 GM Goodwrench Service Plus Chevrolet Monte Carlo with Kevin Harvick behind the wheel in only his third NASCAR Winston Cup race, it played a major role in one of the most dramatic and emotional victories in auto racing history.

Harvick had qualified fifth and led laps 7-18 before settling in to a solid run all day with the lead pack. With 10 laps remaining, he was in a battle for the lead with Jeff Gordon and three other drivers. He went wide coming off turn 4 on lap 320, splitting Dale Jarrett and Jerry Nadeau to take the lead. Gordon moved to second on the final lap and challenged for the lead in the outside lane coming off of turn 4 headed for the checkered flag. Harvick crossed the finish line 0.002 second ahead. He became the first NASCAR Winston Cup rookie to win a race in less than 10 starts since the rookie-of-the-year program began in 1958. More important, he gave everyone at RCR and the entire racing community the shot in the arm it greatly needed.