Harvick to make RCR debut at Rockingham.

Busch Grand National star Kevin Harvick will make his NASCAR Winston Cup debut at Rockingham this Sunday, driving the new No.29 Goodwrench Tools Chevrolet in the wake of Dale Earnhardt's fatal Daytona crash.

Richard Childress Racing will still field two cars in this weekend's Dura Lube 400 at the North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham with Busch Grand National standout Kevin Harvick making his Winston Cup debut, partnering Mike Skinner, in the re-liveried Goodwrench Chevrolet that will now carry the No.29 plate as opposed to the No.3 of the late Dale Earnhardt.

Team-boss Richard Childress stated today that although the No.3 plate will not be used again in the Winston Cup this year, NASCAR will not be retiring the number and the rights to the No.3 still belong to Richard Childress Racing and while it is far too soon to start thinking about when the No.3 plate will re-appear on the Winston Cup circuit, the rumours will no doubt begin to circulate as to whom will eventually replace the seven-times Winston Cup Champion alongside Skinner

Harvick was set to make his NWC debut in March's Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 11th but the unexpected death of RCR team-leader Earnhardt at Daytona last weekend has forced the shell-shocked team into promoting the 25-year old several races early.

It is not clear whether Harvick will remain in the car for the duration of the 2001 season as he is scheduled to run a full BGN campaign for the No.2 Chevrolet squad, or what will become of the No.30 RCR America Online Monte Carlo that Harvick was set to drive in Atlanta.

However the fact that Harvick is racing this Sunday is a clear sign that NASCAR is attempting to move on from last Sunday's tragic event and although the announcement that Earnhardt's lap-belt was found to be broken will only keep the dark clouds hanging over the Winston Cup, the strength of character shown by the drivers, teams ad fans over the past week speaks volumes that this year will be a celebration of good racing and the good memories that everyone shares of Dale Earnhardt.

The pressure and attention that the striking white machine and its' rookie driver will receive this weekend will be almost unparalleled as the Motorsports world looks on to see how much Earnhardt's passing will affect the most colourful show on four wheels. However Harvick, Skinner, RCR and Earnhardt's own team, Dale Earnhardt Inc. will have the full support of everyone in the pitlane at Rockingham this Sunday such is the enduring spirit of Earnhardt and NASCAR as a whole.