Friday, September 09, 2011

KHI Sued By Former Crew Chief

Kevin Harvick, Inc, announced last week that it had terminated its relationship with crewchief David Hyder, effective immediately. This week, Hyder filed suit in North Carolina Superior Court in Asheboro, accusing KHI of breach of contract.

In documents filed with the court on September 1, Hyder said his contract with the team ran called for him to be paid $150,000 per year in base salary and $12,500 per month in consulting fees through the end of the 2012 season. Hyder served as crewchief for KHI’s #33 NASCAR Nationwide Series Chevrolet and also served as a chassis consultant to the team. The #33 car is currently fourth in Nationwide Series owner points, but has been shut out of Victory Lane since the season opener at Daytona International Speedway in February, with Tony Stewart at the wheel.

Team owner Kevin Harvick revealed this week that the team will effectively cease operations at the end of this season, transferring its two-car Nationwide Series operation to Richard Childress Racing as part of a newly announced merger and shutting down its three-truck Camping World Truck Series effort.

Harvick declined comment on the suit today, and it is not known whether Hyder’s firing was related to KHI’s plans to cease its in-house Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series teams. The veteran crewchief claims KHI terminated him without just cause, but gave no reason for the firing. The suit does not request specific monetary awards or damages.

1 comment:

  1. Anonymous10:33 PM

    It's pretty sorry of the Harvick's to close down KHI after hiring everyone in, and the teams being so successful~especially when Kevin stated that KHI was profitable, he just didn't feel like running it any longer. I've worked with David Hyder in the past, and he's one of the best in the business. He needs to be back in Cup! Hope he gets his money from Harvick.

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