Did you know, that the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina has twice as many father/son inductees as the NFL, NBA, NHL, or MLB? It’s clear that NASCAR leads the way when it comes to producing second, third, and sometimes even fourth-generation drivers, who can compete at the highest level and add to their family’s legacy. Whether it’s Bill and Chase Elliott, Dale Earnhardt Sr and Dale Jr, or Bobby and Davey Allison, the list is long!
Retired NASCAR legend Kevin Harvick and his son Keelan Harvick are the newest father-son duo to make that list. Keelan, an aspiring racer, recently won at the Charlotte Motors Speedway and expectations are high for the 12-year-old. While Harvick continues to enjoy retirement, he is keeping a close eye on Keelan’s motorsport future.
Kevin Harvick wants to include Keelan in retirement activitiesADVERTISEMENT
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Kevin Harvick has left a legacy of inspiration, ever since he decided to hang up his helmet in 2023. With 60 wins to his name in the NASCAR Cup Series, the 2014 champion has devoted his NASCAR career to the pursuit of excellence, which has influenced Keelan Harvick as well. Keelan is a natural, winning his first go-kart race in 2020 when he was only eight years old, and has gone on to achieve much more in the four years that have followed. Knowing that Keelan might be a potential superstar, Kevin Harvick is keeping his future in mind while enjoying a well-earned rest post-retirement.
What excites you most about Kevin Harvick’s retirement plans?
Spending more time with family
Supporting Keelan’s racing career
Enjoying leisure activities
Leaving NASCAR on a high note
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When asked about his plan to race the Late Model in 2024 by Frontstretch Grassroots, Kevin Harvick replied, “Well, I wanted to get done with the FOX portion of what I did and make sure that’s what I wanted to go do. I had a blast at Pensacola and in Super and obviously racing at North Wilkesboro next weekend in the late-model stock. I’m going to race 12 or 14 times next year and we’ll kind of just meander around the country and race where it fits and where we can have fun and where Keelan can be a part of it. Where our teams can be a part of it. We’ll race from California to North Carolina next year, and we’ll race a few more times this year as well.”
The 48-year-old recently competed in the Super Late Model Race at Five Flags Speedway, finishing 13th in his debut race. The race was won by Bubba Pollard, who even managed to lap Kevin Harvick in the process. Yet, despite the result, Harvick enjoyed the experience of racing on a new track, while driving a new car in a different environment. With the pressure of achieving results no longer on his shoulders after retirement, Kevin Harvick’s motivation to compete in the Super Late Model Races is firmly to set out of his comfort zone and enjoy his love for racing. That’s exactly what he seems to be doing.
While Kevin and Keelan Harvick might not be able to race in NASCAR together, it’s heartwarming to see the former Stewart-Haas Racing driver wanting his son to be a part of his retirement activities. With Keelan Harvick making waves, particularly after his victory in round three of the Cook Out Summer Shootout at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the 12-year-old has proven that he’s just as talented as his father.
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A prospect to watch out for!Just like Kevin Harvick, who won five times at Charlotte Motor Speedway and finished runner-up 11 times, his son Keelan has shown a similar aptitude on the same racetrack. Having picked up the pole at the 1.5-mile intermediate oval, Keelan Harvick led the first four laps of the race before being overtaken by Max Reaves.
However, the tables turned thanks to three late cautions, which got Harvick back in the lead with just two laps to go, after which the 12-year-old held off the competition to secure the victory with a 0.35-second advantage. Speaking after the race, Keelan Harvick said, “Thanks to Max Reaves for racing me clean. This is my second year here and I’ve always wanted to win one of these races.”
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Just a month earlier, Keelan Harvick secured another victory at Wake County Speedway in Raleigh, North Carolina. Having finished P5 in qualifying, he outraced 27 others to get himself in Victory Lane. With Kevin Harvick’s wealth of experience and so many opportunities for Keelan to prove himself, it’s only a matter of time before the young driver fulfills his potential and makes a name for himself in the motorsports community.
Do you think Keelan Harvick is a future superstar? Let us know in the comments!
Source : EssentiallySports