Kevin Harvick's final season in the NASCAR Cup Series won't end with a second championship, as the driver of the No. 4 failed to advance out of the first round of the playoffs. However, Harvick won't let that stand in the way during his final seven races driving for Stewart-Haas Racing.
At least the 2014 series champion won't have any pressure in his final seven starts. It has been a tough final season for the 60-time cup race winner, but he hasn't let that put him down.
To say we are disappointed about this weekend is an understatement, but one race and one playoff run do not define a career.
We know @KevinHarvick and the No. 4 team will make themselves known in the remaining races. #4EVER pic.twitter.com/dyFhH2Sq0I
— Stewart-Haas Racing (@StewartHaasRcng) September 18, 2023
Harvick recently sat down with The Athletic for an interview, where he reflected on his career, including all the important contributions he made to NASCAR and how inspiring the drivers who race on Sundays can truly be.
"The thing this year has really made me realize is the impact we have as drivers and athletes on people's lives in general," Harvick said. "Hearing those stories and those moments, whether it be inspiring a driver or inspiring somebody to get through a hard time period, through COVID or something personal they have going on — when we're in the day-to-day grind, going week to week from race to race, you lose sight of the fact that what you do is much bigger than winning or losing to the people outside of this hauler. The impact you have on people's lives is much different than what you realize inside of the competition walls."
Harvick's career has seen plenty of highs and lows. Having raced in NASCAR for 25 years, he has seen it all. His NASCAR ventures began in 1999 in the Xfinity Series.
His cup career began in a very seldom time in the sport, as he was tabbed to take over for Dale Earnhardt Sr. following his tragic death in the 2001 Daytona 500. Once he stepped behind the wheel in the cup series, there was no looking back for the man they call "the closer."
After more than 1,100 races run across all three series, including more than 800 starts in the cup series, it's finally time for him to hang up the helmet.
It's going to be weird not seeing Harvick on the track every week after so long. Put the accomplishments aside, Harvick deserves all the appreciation coming his way.
