Harvick is expected to leave RCR, Jr. to bring back No. 3?

UPDATE If Harvick does make 2010 his last year at Richard Childress Racing, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. has made no progress at Hendrick Motorsports, could it be possible we'd see an Earnhardt back at RCR in 2011?

The 2011 Sprint Cup season will mark the 10th anniversary of the death of NASCAR's "Intimidator.'' Yes, enough time has passed since that horrible day at Daytona. Earnhardt and Childress won six championships together.

Harvick out of the No. 29 RCR car and Dale Jr. comes into the fold at Welcome, N.C.? Can you imagine the excitement that would generate just as the economy begins heating up again and people have money to buy No. 3 collectible stock cars.

10/19/09 UPDATE: This rumor is upgraded to "strong" today. See Hot News Item

Kevin Harvick

10/15/09 Richard Childress Racing driver Jeff Burton acknowledged on Thursday that teammate Kevin Harvick is expected to leave the company when his contract runs out at the end of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. Burton, speaking at Lowe's Motor Speedway, was asked about Harvick's comments in a prerace television interview last Sunday at Auto Club Speedway where the 2007 Daytona 500 winner indicated he doesn't plan to compete for RCR beyond 2010. "I think that everybody is behaving in a very professional manner, and everybody is understanding that Kevin has a year left on his contract and he's going to do everything in his power to do the best job for RCR and RCR's going to do everything in their power to do their best job for him," Burton said. "Teammate Clint Bowyer and I are going to continue to work with Kevin the same way we always have, and I think we're going to work together better actually – not because he's leaving but because we need to. And things change. Kevin may look around eight months, 10 months from now and say, 'You know what: Things have really changed here, and I really think this is the place that we're going.' By his interview he indicated that wasn't going to happen, but you never know." Harvick, who has been with RCR's Cup program since being tabbed to replace Dale Earnhardt following the seven-time series champion's death on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500, hasn't won a points-paying event since his Daytona 500 triumph in the 2007 season opener. Harvick missed the Chase this year and is 21st in the standings. SceneDaily