"I wouldn't say he's freaking out" about the season, but Harvick has "had a year to this point he would rather forget," Burton said. "He's used to contending for wins and being fairly secure in the Chase. This year none of us have been able to do that."
The problem, according to Burton, Harvick and other team members, is not one of raw horsepower but rather that the Childress cars aren't racing through the corners to keep pace with the leaders.
"We have a multitude of problems that need to be addressed," and they "all carry over to how fast the cars are on the track," Harvick said without being more specific.
Burton said "we didn't do a good job this past fall and this winter" in developing the cars for 2009 and "the record shows it. We didn't prepare properly and so we're behind."
Harvick was the driver Childress tapped to replace the legendary Dale Earnhardt after Earnhardt died in 2001. Childress had won six championships with Earnhardt.
Asked about Harvick's frustration, Childress said "all of us are holding up very well under the conditions. RCR -- Richard Childress -- is not used to these situations, either.
"We just got to all keep working."
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Bringing up the rear
Riverside's David Gilliland and Marcus Ambrose must start at the rear of the 43-car field in backup cars today after problems in practice Saturday.
Gilliland, who finished second in last year's race, crashed into John Andretti in a pit-road mishap, and Ambrose blew an engine.
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james.peltz@latimes.com
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(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)
Toyota/Save Mart 350
Site: Sonoma, Calif.
Schedule: Today, race, 2 p.m. (TNT, 12:30-5:30 p.m.)
Track: Infineon Raceway (road course, 1.99 miles).
Race distance: 218.9 miles, 110 laps.
Last week: Mark Martin won for the third time this year, saving just enough gas at Michigan International Speedway. Jimmie Johnson dominated most of the race but ran out of fuel with two laps to go, giving the lead to Greg Biffle, who then ran out of gas on the final lap. The 50-year-old Martin has 38 career Cup victories.
Next race: Lenox Industrial Tools 301, June 28, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, N.H.
-- Associated Press
