Harvick not happy?
RCR driver wants to see increased performance
By JIM UTTER
ThatsRacin.com Writer
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. – Nextel Cup driver Kevin Harvick said Friday he has "put on hold" any further negotiations with Richard Childress Racing over an extension of his contract which concludes at the end of next season.

"We want to see how things are going to go and evaluate the performance side," said Harvick, who has driven RCR's No. 29 Chevrolets since the second race of the 2001 season.

"I strictly want to see what the improvements are going to be in a lot of different areas, and I'm going to take my time and evaluate it. I want to take care of things early, but I don't want to be at the point where I don't want to be somewhere or (Childress) doesn't want me here."

Harvick, 29, said the top issue that needs to be addressed before he feels comfortable signing a contract extension is performance.

"We need to be a top-10 team week-in and week-out," Harvick said. "Richard is doing a lot of things and making changes on the race teams, and I just want to see where all of that is going.

"I don't want to run a race team. I want to be the driver. I don't want to have to work five days a week in the shop, but I will if I have to."

Despite drivers Kurt Busch and Jamie McMurray announcing new deals for the 2007 season already, Harvick said he would not put himself in that position.

"Richard has always fulfilled his commitments, and I have given him my word I would do that for him," Harvick said. "I will fulfill my commitments 100 percent."

In the past year, Harvick has been critical of RCR's engine program, and the organization has taken several steps in recent months to address that issue, including the hiring of Rick Mann as chief engine builder and Nick Hayes to head research and development.

"I think there are a few things that need to be addressed. Some of the things we agree on, some of them we don't," Harvick said. "I'm going to give it all I have on the driver's side of it, but I just want to see where this is going to go."

Harvick is currently 13th in points, with one win, one pole, three top-five and six top-10 finishes in 21 races. He has five career Nextel Cup wins and 15 Busch Series wins.

Harvick, then RCR's Busch Series driver, took over the driving duties of the team of the late Dale Earnhardt, who died in a last-lap wreck in the 2001 Daytona 500.

Can Harvick be the next driver to bolt his team? Well, I'm sure Roush would like to see a quality driver fill the #97 seat, and Harvick would be a good fit.