Team Richard Childress Racing Car/Make No. 29/Chevrolet Sponsor GM Goodwrench Service Plus Crew Chief Todd Berrier
STATS	2003	CAREER
Rank	5	5*
Wins	1	4
Top 5	11	22
Top 10	18	42
DNFs	0	7
Top Finish	1	1
*Indicates best career points finish

2003 recap
The good: After a disappointing 21st-place finish in 2002, Harvick enjoyed his best season in Cup racing in 2003, ranking as high as No. 2 (for five consecutive weeks late in the season) and finishing the 2003 campaign a career-high fifth. The high point of the year was in early August when he both won the pole and rallied to win the race at the Brickyard 400. He also competed in 19 Busch Series races, winning three and finishing in the top 10 in all but one of those starts.

The bad: Harvick was on track to finish second behind champion Matt Kenseth -- and at times even became a potential late-season threat to catch Kenseth if the eventual champ faltered -- until late in the year. In the span of just two races, he dropped from second to sixth, but he rallied with a runner-up finish in the season-closing Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) to earn back one of those lost positions, finishing the season fifth.

Key stat: After suffering six DNFs in 2002, Harvick was one of the few drivers around to finish every Cup race in 2003.

2004 outlook
What needs to be done: Absolutely nothing. Harvick has meshed well with crew chief Todd Berrier; he has all the equipment and resources a driver could want; and he also has matured into a fine racer. Unlike in 2002, when he was suspended for one race in April and was placed on probation for the rest of the season for poor sportsmanship, Harvick showed himself to be much more responsible and mature in 2003, with the proof in the results.

Key change: Harvick has worked with three crew chiefs during his brief three-year tenure at Richard Childress Racing. But Berrier arguably has been the best fit of all, and 2003's final finish shows why. If anything, it's a sign of even bigger and better things to come for the No. 29 team.

Guarantee: Whoever wins the 2004 Nextel Cup championship is going to have to get by Harvick to do so. He has become a savvy yet stiff competitor, seemingly has gotten away from his rough driving reputation and likely will evolve even further this season.

Prediction: Heading into next month's season-opening Daytona 500, the Harvick-Berrier combination would have to be ranked among the most likely championship contenders in 2004.

Did you know: Harvick's favorite entertainer is comedian/actor Drew Carey.

Your take
Will 2004 be the year Harvick adds a Cup championship to his list of accomplishments? Has he truly learned to control his notorious temper and matured into a potential champion worthy of the title? Here are your thoughts on Harvick's prospects for 2004.