Kevin Harvick announces his retirement

At 47, Kevin Harvick will leave the peloton at the end of the season NASCAR Cup Series, but in no case motor racing. In addition to an expected position as a consultant at FOX News, and his team where a seat is already waiting for his young son Keelan, the Californian has just bought the CARS Tours Late Model Series with Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Burton and the owner of Trackhouse Racing, Justin marks.

With 60 victories in the current series, 31 pole positions and 428 Top 10s, Harvick has one of the finest records in the discipline to which should be added 47 victories in the Xfinity Series and 14 in the Truck Series. 

First season and first victory © NASCAR

His debut in the Cup Series in 2001 was perilous to say the least since he was entrusted the day after the Daytona 500 with the wheel of Dale Earnhardt who died during the race. If his car was assigned the number 29 to replace the legendary number 3 of the Intimidator, there was no doubt for NASCAR fans that Harvick was succeeding the idol. On March 11, 2001, just 3 weeks after Earnhardt's death, Kevin Harvick scored his first victory in Atlanta. In addition to this feat signed from his third start, the finish remains forever etched in the discipline's marble with a gap on the finish line of only 6 thousandths of a second on his second Jeff Gordon! His lap of honour, three fingers brandished outside the passenger compartment in homage to his illustrious predecessor, earned him a definitive knighthood from the Nascarian community. Harvick finished this first Rookie of the Year season with 2 victories and Busch Series Champion (2nd division now Xfinity), a first for a full-time Cup Series driver.

Transition to Stewart in 2014-Haas and title in stride © NASCAR

The rest of his career will be in line with this first season with a second Xfinity title in 2006, a victory at the Daytona 500 in 2007, two All Star victories in 2007 and 2018 and this famous supreme title in 2014 with 5 victories. For this season, Harvick left the Childress Racing fold after 13 seasons of collaboration to join Stewart Haas Racing and take on this Race 4 number which remains forever associated with him. 

Last victory in 2022 at Richmond © NASCAR

In 2020, Kevin Harvick again received the honorary title of regular season champion, but in 2021 he marked time by not signing any victory. In 2022, he did not seem at any time able to play for the title despite two victories at Michigan and Richmond. If he did not hesitate to pull punches during his career with Chase Elliott in particular, Kevin Harvick leaves his community with the image of an authentic and faithful driver as evidenced by this 23-year career led in only 2 teams. 

#4 EVER pic.twitter.com/iH5dzpt4HY

— Kevin Harvick (@KevinHarvick) January 12, 2023

After Kurt Busch, NASCAR sees one of its last monuments deserting the ovals, but knowing the passion of the driver, it would be surprising not to see “Happy Harvick” on the track occasionally.

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