Harvick uses Earnhardt car, not number (updated)

Harvick, from Bakersfield, California, was last season's Busch Grand National Rookie of the Year. He will not run the number three or a black colourscheme, both made famous by Earnhardt, but his Chevrolet Monte Carlo will carry a white livery and the number 29 while continuing to bear allegiance to Earnhardt's longtime sponsor GM Goodwrench.

The 25-year-old, who was scheduled to graduate to the Winston Cup ranks in 2002, was informed of his new deal on Monday night and spent Tuesday and Wednesday testing an RCR machine at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Harvick, who finished second in the Busch Grand National race at Daytona last Saturday, was second quickest of the three cars testing on Wednesday, just a tenth slower than pacesetter Ron Hornaday.

Kevin Hamlin, Earnhardt's crew chief, will head up Harvick's team. Both Harvick and team mate Mike Skinner, plus the three Dale Earnhardt Inc-entered cars of Dale Earnhardt Jr, Michael Waltrip and Steve Park, will all carry black decals with the number 3 in the middle in honour of 'Big E'.

Seven-time Winston Cup champion Earnhardt was buried on Wednesday in a private ceremony at an undisclosed venue, thought to be the family farm in Mooresville.

Pressure has been mounting on NASCAR to retire the number three, which is licensed to Childress, from its entry list as a mark of respect.

But in a press conference at Rockingham today (Friday), Childress said that NASCAR does not retire numbers and although he will not use the number for the remainder of the 2001 season, it will be raced again in the future.

NASCAR has waived the rule which says a number must appear at least five times in one season to be retained by a particular owner.