WELCOME, N.C. - Team owner Richard Childress reiterated yesterday that Kevin Harvick will be back in his car next season despite rumors to the contrary. “We want to put the rumors behind us by stating together that Kevin will drive RCR’s No. 29 . . . for the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season,“ Childress said. It’s the second time in two months that Childress has publicly had to address speculation about Harvick’s future with the team, which has been scrutinized during his worst season in nine years at RCR. Winless since the 2007 season-opening Daytona 500, Harvick is 24th in the standings and won’t participate in this year’s Chase for the Sprint Cup.

Former drivers-turned-owners Glen Wood and Richard Childress are among the 25 nominees for the first NASCAR Hall of Fame induction class. NASCAR released the two names yesterday ahead of the announcement of all nominees tonight. Wood helped pioneer the modern-day pit stop. He and brother Leonard formed the legendary Wood Brothers racing team of Stuart.

It has been 15 years since Richard Childress Racing won a NASCAR Sprint Cup championship. The last was in 1994, when Dale Earnhardt Sr. captured his seventh—six of which he won driving for Childress. The team hasn’t come close to a championship since the legendary driver was killed in the 2001 Daytona 500. South Boston’s Jeff Burton, one of Childress’ drivers, says the drought may be coming to a close.