“I believe this week has been undoubtedly totally different than all the pieces main as much as this simply due to the truth that there isn’t a subsequent week,” Kevin Harvick mentioned Friday.
“There’s been a subsequent week up till this week.”
However subsequent week, Harvick’s lengthy, distinguished driving profession will come to an finish however his function in NASCAR won’t.
The subsequent chapter
Along with working a number of different enterprise ventures, Harvick, 47, will be part of Fox TV’s NASCAR broadcast staff subsequent season, as an analyst within the sales space for Cup races and likewise occasional work in Xfinity and Vehicles.
Because the departure of Jeff Gordon, who left the sales space following the 2021 season, Fox Sports activities 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.
“Clearly, it’s been an amazing trip and I believe for me it’s one thing that I like to do,” Harvick mentioned. “I believe as you look again on it and notice all of the issues that you just’ve been capable of be part of and be lucky to be considerably profitable at, it’s been enjoyable.
“I believe, for me, all of the weeks main as much as this explicit one have been actually not that tough. I believe this week was just a little harder simply because it’s the final week along with your guys and the individuals and all the pieces that you just do is definitely coming to an finish.
“I don’t suppose up till this level, I don’t suppose anyone actually thought it was actual and this week it’s fairly actual.”
Photograph by: Eric Gilbert
Race winner and 2014 NASCAR Dash Cup collection champion Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet celebrates
Not like a lot of as we speak’s up-and-coming Cup stars, Harvick appeared to excel within the twilight of his profession, profitable his first Cup Sequence title in 2014 on the age of 38 and securing 32 of his 60 Cup wins since then.
After ending within the top-five within the collection standings six instances previous to his 2014 transfer to Stewart-Haas Racing, Harvick has completed exterior the top-five solely 3 times since, together with three straight appearances within the Championship 4 from 2017 to 2019.
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 the late Dale Earnhardt Sr., Gordon and Jimmie Johnson.
Whereas there have been made farewell or retirement items, a slew of particular tribute paint schemes orchestrated by his Stewart-Haas Racing staff and sponsors, there stays one crucial closing chapter in Harvick’s driving profession.
He has but to win a race this season and his closing alternative will come Sunday at Phoenix, on the monitor on which he has gained extra typically (9 instances) than every other.
Is it potential that Harvick – nicknamed “The Nearer” in his profession – might shut out his profession by stealing a few of the limelight of the 2023 championship race?
As illustrated by Harvick’s profession, something is feasible.
Photograph by: John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Photographs
Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing, Busch Mild Ford Mustang
“We did run good (within the spring) and I believe as you look again at simply the historical past of all the pieces that we’ve completed right here, it’s been OK,” he mentioned.
“We’ve been moderately hit and miss this yr, however I believe it is a place, irrespective of how your season has gone, you come to with the expectations of operating on the entrance of the pack.
“Hopefully, that’s what we are able to do.”
