Dollar General will enter into its third year as a primary sponsor in the Busch Series and its second season with Kevin Harvick Inc. Credit: Autostock

KHI to field No. 77 with Dollar General backing

KERNERSVILLE, N.C. -- Kevin Harvick Inc. has announced that Dollar General Corp., a discount retailer based in Goodlettsville, Tenn., has renewed its contract for the 2007 NASCAR Busch Series season, to sponsor KHI's No. 77 Dollar General stores Chevrolet in all 35 events on the Busch Series schedule.

Two-time Busch Series champion Kevin Harvick, former Busch and Cup Series champion Bobby Labonte and Busch Series regular Kertus Davis will alternate as drivers of the No. 77 car during the season.

MOST POPULAR Features Headlines Opinion Video Conversation: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Conversation: M. Waltrip Conversation: E. Sadler Last Lap: Best of the rest By the Numbers: Daytona 500 More Features Roush No. 6 Cup hauler involved in injury crash Big checks from Toyota a threat or mere myth? Higher speeds, added wrecks close LVMS test Driver opinions differ on LVMS after testing NASCAR puts limit on past champ provisional More Headlines Here's hoping NASCAR fixes the 2007 schedule Jr.: I expect to drive the 3 Top 35 rule is Toyota's worst enemy for 2007 Top 10: Predictions Partial in the buff pose shows Edwards is buff More Opinion NASCAR.COM Junior's future with DEI Earnhardt Jr. on his contract and relationship with Teresa Improve competition Learn how the Car of Tomorrow could improve competition More Videos

Davis will compete in 13 events, Labonte in 18 and team owner Harvick the other four races. Harvick will also use a Dollar General paint scheme for one event in the No. 33 car KHI owns.

"I'm very pleased to continue KHI's partnership with Dollar General," Harvick said. "Dollar General and KHI share the same visions of growth and success. With Dollar General returning for a second full-time season, it will only build the teamwork and communication we have established."

Dollar General will enter into its third year as a primary sponsor in the Busch Series and its second season with Kevin Harvick Inc.

"Dollar General is excited abut our prospects for the 2007 season," said Rick McNeely, Dollar General's vice president of general merchandise. "We have assembled an all-star line-up with Kevin Harvick, Bobby Labonte and Kertus Davis.

"Kevin and Bobby's track record speaks for itself and we are looking forward to watching Kertus make the move to the next level in the quality equipment that KHI will give him."

Nextel Cup Series driver Labonte returns to the No. 77 Dollar General stores machine. Labonte is competing in five events for KHI in the 2006 season.

"I think this is a great opportunity to race in the NASCAR Busch Series," Labonte said. "Kevin Harvick has a great organization full of good people. The folks at Dollar General have been very supportive of this program and we are all hoping for a lot of success in the races we run together.

"I know this is a team that is capable of winning races and one that is competitive each time they come to the track. I think that's pretty exciting and we're looking forward to 2007 together."

Up and coming driver Davis will make his debut with KHI in 2007. Davis has competed in five seasons in the Busch Series, starting more than 60 events in his career, mostly for the team owned by his father, Johnny Davis.

"This is an opportunity of a lifetime," Kertus Davis said. "This is what I have worked for my entire racing career and I want to thank Kevin and DeLana as well as Dollar General for believing in me as a driver -- as well as my father for giving me the chance to get noticed."

Davis also thanked Denny Hamlin and Joe Gibbs Racing, who selected him this season to stand-in for Hamlin at a number of conflicting Busch and Cup races, when Hamlin needed a substitute to practice and sometimes qualify his Busch car.

The Dollar General stores car will be one of two full-time Busch teams that KHI will field in 2007. In addition to the No. 77 car, KHI will field the No. 33 Chevrolet, which will feature multiple sponsors and drivers.