Harvick returns to scene of emotional first victory

HAMPTON - Kevin Harvick&#39;s first hint he had done something special last March at Atlanta Motor Speedway came when he saw crewman Danny ``Chocolate&#39;&#39; Myers crying. <br> <br> Harvick, making only his third start for Richard Childress Racing since replacing the late Dale Earnhardt, had just beaten Jeff Gordon to the checkered flag by inches for his first career Winston Cup victory. It was eerily similar to Earnhardt&#39;s narrow victory over Bobby Labonte a year before. <br> <br> After making a victory lap and accepting congratulations from many other competitors, Harvick pulled his car into Victory Lane and encountered Myers, a longtime employee of the team that won six championships with Earnhardt. <br> <br> Myers, a large man who rarely smiles and often has a menacing look on his face, was sobbing uncontrollably. <br> <br> Harvick says, ``When I saw a guy like Chocolate Myers just crying his eyes out, it made me realize how important winning that race was. For Chocolate and all of the guys that knew Dale and were friends with him, I guess it meant a lot.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> It meant a lot for Harvick, too. Already the center of attention for taking the ride, the victory made him a star. A victory at Chicago later in the season helped him win Winston Cup Rookie of the Year, and he also won the NASCAR Busch Series title. <br> <br> So far, 2002 hasn&#39;t been as kind. Harvick returns to Atlanta for Sunday&#39;s MBNA America 500 28th in points.

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