* Saturday's race at Chicago kicks off second half of 2006 season

* First-half highlights perfect fit for 25th anniversary of NASCAR Busch
Series

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 5, 2006) -- Following last week's race at Daytona
International Speedway, NASCAR Busch Series points leader Kevin Harvick (No.
21 U.S. Coast Guard Chevrolet) was asked about his 388-point lead.

Was a second series title already his?

Harvick acknowledged that the series championship is "his to lose." But as
the series opens the second half of 2006 Saturday afternoon at Chicagoland
Speedway -- where Harvick is the defending winner -- he knows historically as
recently as last year, Clint Bowyer (No. 2 ACDelco Chevrolet) overcame a
204-point deficit with only 10 races remaining to creep within 64 points of
leader Martin Truex Jr. (No. 88 U.S. NAVY Chevrolet) heading into the season
finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

But Harvick's hot pace, wasn't the only first-half highlight. Seven races
were decided by .359 of a second or less, and other high points include:

David Gilliland's (No. 84 Hype Manufacturing Chevrolet) momentous win at
Kentucky last month was followed by Paul Menard's (No. 11 Menards Chevrolet)
first series victory at Milwaukee, his home track. Gilliland is a part-time
driver with a new team, while Menard's win was the second consecutive by a
series regular; Burney Lamar (No. 77 Dollar General Chevrolet), who leads the
series Raybestos Rookie standings driving for Kevin Harvick Inc., opened the
season with a surprising second-place finish at Daytona; Denny Hamlin (No. 20
Rockwell Automation Chevrolet) captured his first series win at Mexico City,
besting a field dotted with popular Mexican drivers, including superstar
Adrian Fernandez and NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series
veterans.

The March race at Bristol featured a brief, heavy snowstorm that cancelled
qualifying and prompted an early spring garage snowball fight before Kyle
Busch (No. 5 Lowe's/Hitachi Chevrolet) held off Harvick for the win. Aric
Almirola won his first career Busch Pole at Milwaukee in just his third
series event. He was subbing for Hamlin, who was en route from his NASCAR
NEXTEL Cup Series duties at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. Dale Earnhardt
Jr.'s (No. 8 Menards Chevrolet) win at Daytona last week was his 21st NASCAR
Busch Series victory, tying him with his father, Dale Earnhardt and former
series great Harry Gant for seventh on the all-time win list.

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