Harvick

Kevin Harvick is back.

After a sophomore slump and a slow start to 2003, the 2001 Winston Cup Rookie of the Year has charged from 11th in the points to third since the June 15 race at Michigan.

"Everything is coming together for us," said Harvick, who finished ninth as a rookie and 21st last season. "We know how quickly this kind of thing can turn around, so I really don't like to talk about it."

Harvick, who stepped into the ride at Richard Childress Racing left vacant when seven-time series champion Dale Earnhardt was killed in the 2001 Daytona 500, said the crew of his No. 29 Chevrolet team is communicating better than ever.

"With Todd (Berrier) at crew chief and Gil (Martin) managing the team, everybody is working together to make sure these cars are perfect," Harvick said.

In the last nine races, the team has six top-five and seven top-10 finishes, including winning the Brickyard 400 from the pole -- Harvick's first victory in more than a year.

Now Harvick goes to the Southern 500 at Darlington, where he got caught up in an early accident in March and finished 36th in the Carolina Dodge Dealers 400, his worst race of the season.

"We struggled (at Darlington) at the beginning of the year but, right now,it's a lot of fun to go to the racetrack," he said. "Darlington will be a challenge like it's always been, but we've got a lot of momentum and that should really help us."