When the NASCAR Xfinity Series rolls into Darlington Raceway for the annual Throwback Race Weekend, Richard Childress Racing’s No. 2 and No. 21 Xfinity Series Chevrolets will take on a new look in celebration of a former series champion. Before the 2023 season began, Kevin Harvick announced he would retire at its conclusion. With deep roots in the organization’s history and five Harvick Chevrolets still on campus in the RCR Museum, the team will pay tribute to one of the greatest by throwing back to two of Harvick’s greatest memories – his two Xfinity Series championships.
In 2001, Harvick not only competed in his first full-time NASCAR Cup Series season, but the then 25-year-old also claimed his first NASCAR Xfinity Series championship in the No. 2 ACDelco Chevrolet. Just five years later in 2006, Harvick brought history to yet another number and captured the title for a second time in the No. 21 Coast Guard Chevrolet. Nearly 139 miles from the spot where the historic championship cars are currently on display in Welcome, N.C., the designs will be on track once again when drivers Sheldon Creed and Austin Hill take to Darlington Raceway this weekend.
Whelen, the full-time primary partner of the No. 2 Chevrolet, traditionally showcases their red and white colors, but in honor of this weekend’s celebration, Creed’s machine will turn blue. The manufacturing company had their interest sparked when the idea originated to throw back to Harvick’s first Xfinity Series championship. As a long-standing partner in the sport, they are no stranger to Harvick’s name or legacy.
Bennett Transportation & Logistics, a partner on Hill’s No. 21 program, is known for their family of truck drivers, so the tribute to a former driver in the RCR family makes complete sense for the Georgia-based company. One of Bennett’s core values is patriotism, and it does not fall on deaf ears that the throwback sponsor for Harvick’s 2006 championship was the United States Coast Guard – making this the perfect blend of past and present partnerships.
While the No. 21 Bennett Transportation & Logistics Chevrolet replicating Harvick’s second Xfinity Series championship will be in the spotlight this weekend at The Lady in Black, Bennett recounts another special moment for Harvick – his first premier series victory – at their home track of Atlanta Motor Speedway.
“The Bennett Family of Companies have witnessed many winning races from Kevin Harvick during his career, especially at our home track of Atlanta Motor Speedway,” mentioned Kris Rzepkowski, Vice President of Marketing for Bennett. “When we learned that Kevin had won an Xfinity Series championship in the No. 21 Chevrolet for RCR, the same car that we currently sponsor, we knew that we wanted to catch some of that ‘Harvick Mojo’ for Austin Hill. We are excited to honor Kevin and his amazing career with a tribute paint scheme during Darlington Throwback Weekend, and we wish him the best as he completes his final full-time season in the Cup Series. We hope to see this special No. 21 Bennett Transportation & Logistics Chevrolet in Victory Lane!”
While these schemes are exciting for the partners and drivers, they also drive close to home for others at RCR. Both current Xfinity Series crew chiefs, Jeff Stankiewicz and Andy Street, have worked closely with Harvick during his time at the storied organization and reminisce on seeing the two schemes on the shop floor once again. Stankiewicz, Creed’s crew chief, served as Harvick’s car chief during the 2006 championship season, while Street, Hill’s crew chief, worked as Harvick’s engineer that same year in the Cup Series.
Matt Kreuter, fabrication shop foreman at RCR, was the rear tire carrier on Harvick’s 2006 pit crew. “It is pretty cool,” said Kreuter, when talking about how it feels to see the No. 21 scheme in the shop. “That one season, we won nine races, and it was a good feeling to go to the track every weekend. We were going to show up and that team of guys always had the car prepped. With Kevin driving, we always had a chance to win the race.”
The No. 2 and No. 21 throwback schemes will take to the track on Friday, May 12 for practice and qualifying, beginning at 5:05 p.m. ET.