Kevin Harvick, one of the most decorated drivers in NASCAR history, is set to retire after the 2023 season. However, the 2014 Cup Series champion has not been able to win a single race in his final year, a stark contrast to his dominant performance in 2020 when he won nine races. Some have questioned if Harvick feels insecure or disappointed about his winless farewell season, and how that might affect his legacy or his motivation. Harvick, however, has denied any such feelings and said he is happy with his career and looking forward to having fun in the remaining races.
Kevin Harvick Career
- Harvick has been racing in the NASCAR Cup Series since 2001, when he replaced the late Dale Earnhardt at Richard Childress Racing. He won his first race in just his third start, an emotional victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He went on to win 23 races with RCR, including the 2007 Daytona 500 and the 2003 Brickyard 400.
- In 2014, Harvick moved to Stewart-Haas Racing, where he teamed up with co-owner and former driver Tony Stewart. He immediately won the Cup Series title in his first season with SHR, beating Ryan Newman in a thrilling finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He has since added 37 more wins with SHR, making him the ninth-winningest driver in Cup Series history with 60 victories.
- Harvick has also won two championships in the Xfinity Series (2001 and 2006) and 14 races in the Camping World Truck Series. He has been named the Cup Series Most Popular Driver once (2014) and the Driver of the Year twice (2014 and 2020).
A Winless Final Season
- Despite his impressive resume, Harvick has not been able to reach Victory Lane in 2023. He was eliminated from the playoffs after the first round, ending his hopes of a second Cup Series title. Some have speculated that Harvick might feel insecure or frustrated about his winless final season, especially after he dominated the 2020 season with nine wins but fell short of the championship.
- However, Harvick has shot down any such notions and said he is at peace with his decision to retire. He said he does not think his legacy will be affected by his performance in 2023, and that he is more focused on having fun and enjoying the sport than winning or losing.
- He also said that he loves racing and being around the people in the sport, and that he does not feel any pressure or stress about his results.
- Harvick admitted that he would prefer to win at least one race before he hangs up his helmet, but he said he would be satisfied regardless.
A Fun Final Stretch
- Harvick still has seven races left in his final season, and he said his main goal is to have fun and enjoy them as much as possible.
- He also said that he can have fun even without winning, as long as he is doing what he loves.
- Harvick will make his final start at Phoenix Raceway on November 5th, where he has won a record nine times. He will then join FOX Sports as a full-time analyst for the 2024 season.
- Harvick has had a remarkable career in NASCAR, and he deserves to go out on his own terms. Whether he wins or not in his final races, he will always be remembered as one of the greatest drivers of all time.
