Even so, a victory within the 2023 season finale at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday didn’t seem out of the realm of chance.
Harvick was quickest within the first spherical of qualifying on Saturday and finally certified third for the race and he remained aggressive all through the 312-lap occasion, dueling with the 4 drivers contending for the collection title.
The followers within the grandstands nearly stood and cheered in unison when Harvick’s No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford swept previous championship contender William Byron on lap 93 to take the lead for the primary time.
He remained out entrance till a warning for Christopher Bell’s wreck despatched everybody down pit highway tires and gas. He led briefly for 4 laps after the restart however would by no means problem for the highest spot once more.
Harvick finally completed seventh, which prolonged his streak of consecutive top-10 finishes to a outstanding 21 races.
“It’s form of a reduction, to be sincere with you,” Harvick stated of his closing begin. “There was simply a lot occurring earlier than the race and this week, nevertheless it was fairly cool to steer some laps there within the final race.
“I’m simply happy with everyone at Stewart-Haas Racing, everyone that works on this automotive and has labored on this automotive for a very long time. I’ve simply received to thank all of the followers and NASCAR and my household and everyone for all of their assist.
“It’s been an excellent experience, and I can’t complain.”
Harvick, 47, was thrust into his Cup profession in 2001 with the loss of life of Dale Earnhardt in a last-lap crash within the Daytona 500 and took over driving Earnhardt’s rebranded workforce at Richard Childress Racing the next week.
Three races later, he captured his first collection win after a side-by-side, picture end battle with Corridor of Famer Jeff Gordon at Atlanta and his place in NASCAR lore was secured.
Photograph by: NASCAR Media
Kevin Harvick takes the checkred flag forward of Jeff Gordon
Not like lots of in the present day’s up-and-coming Cup stars, nevertheless, Harvick appeared to excel within the twilight of his profession, profitable his first Cup title in 2014 on the age of 38 and securing 32 of his 60 Cup wins since then.
Amongst his 60 wins, Harvick owns victories within the “crown-jewel” races of the Daytona 500, Coca-Cola 600, Brickyard 400 and Southern 500. The one different drivers in NASCAR historical past to perform this feat are Earnhardt, Gordon and Jimmie Johnson.
Whereas Harvick went and not using a win in his closing full-time season, he nonetheless remained aggressive. He was the one SHR driver to advance to the playoffs and was within the hunt for race victories a number of occasions all year long.
“It actually hasn’t been about wins or losses, however you by no means need to flop round, so to have the ability to lead laps within the final race form of tells you ways aggressive we nonetheless are,” he stated. “I believe with some tweaks and changes to among the issues at Stewart-Haas, you may go proper again on the market and be the place you’ll want to be with the whole lot that we’ve got occurring.
“I wished to depart right here and be capable of have a look at all you guys, have a look at the followers, stroll within the TV sales space and stroll into any trailer in that storage, whether or not it’s a driver, a crew chief, NASCAR, whoever it’s, and be capable of finish on good phrases and I believe we did that.”
What’s subsequent?
Harvick’s profession in NASCAR is in no way over.
He’ll be a part of Fox TV’s NASCAR broadcast workforce subsequent season, as an analyst within the sales space for Cup races and in addition occasional work in Xfinity and Vehicles.
For the reason that departure of Gordon, who left the sales space following the 2021 season, Fox has used a rotation of visitors to fill the third spot alongside Mike Pleasure and Clint Bowyer.
With Harvick, Fox will get a driver with a Corridor of Fame-worthy profession, who has had no drawback talking his thoughts on points in NASCAR, together with security, the need to shakeup the Cup schedule and the significance of grassroots racing.
He and spouse DeLana even have an 11-year-old son Keelan who has been efficiently racing go-karts and Legends vehicles and a five-year-old daughter Piper, who has tried her hand at some racing as nicely.
“We’ve received so many issues in movement with the subsequent couple of years with plans and what we need to do, so we’re going to return to work. I do have already got calls subsequent week with the oldsters from Fox and beginning to work on finish of the 12 months issues for what we need to do there,” Harvick stated.
“I nonetheless suppose the accountability is simply as huge to go up there and attempt to give the followers as a lot data as doable and do a superb job for Fox and everyone with this sport to inform the most effective story that we will.”
Photograph by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Photos
Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing, Hunt Brothers Pizza Ford Mustang
