Former Stewart Haas Racing driver Kevin Harvick never really understood the true meaning of retirement until the NBC Sports first broadcast. Although, for the most part, he wasn’t driving the race car, he was busy with his debut run with FOX Sports in the booth with Mike Joy and his friend, Clint Bowyer. But the feeling of being retired from NASCAR racing really sank in when Harvick missed going to the racetrack for the first time since 2002 and sat home.

However, it looks like the plan to watch the race alongside his wife, DeLana, didn’t really turn out to be an enjoyable experience. It turns out DeLana is like any regular fan, and her constant reactions and outbursts of emotion were too much to handle for Harvick. Fortunately, he did spend quality time with his family, taking a break from his usually busy schedule.

Kevin Harvick explains the reality of being away from NASCAR events

One of the biggest perks for Kevin Harvick after hanging up his boots from competitive racing was that he bagged a job in the FOX booth, and didn’t really have to leave NASCAR. Although he wasn’t racing, it was the perfect platform for him to stay connected with the Cup racing action. But with FOX Sport’s quota of broadcasting 16 races coming to an end, Harvick, for the first time, had to alter his routine.

Trying to put the feelings into words Harvick, via the Happy Hour podcast, said, “It was strange. I sat in a chair and watched the race, and that, for me, I don’t even know how to describe it. It was eye-opening I guess would be the best way to put it. We spent the latter part of the afternoon and the evening in the swimming pool, which was always entertaining and fun, and then I sat and watched the race. And learned that it was awkward at first.”

But he certainly wasn’t aware of what the experience would be like watching the race on TV with his wife, DeLana. “I realize that I don’t want to watch races with my wife. Well, my wife is brutal, like she is brutal whether it’s the competitors or the broadcaster, and she’s like totally opinionated on pretty much everything that happens. I was kind of set back because it wasn’t like oh you know, I think this was good, maybe not so good. It was like that sucked, that was stupid, what an idiot,” he further explained.

Moreover, Harvick also shed light on the crucial moment in the race where the balance shifted in favor of Ryan Blaney to score his first win of the season.

It was Daniel Suarez bumping into Kyle Larson who opened the door for Blaney to end his winless streak

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Kyle Larson, without a doubt, is a contender to win each weekend when he gets behind the wheel of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy. However, he just wasn’t able to contest for a lead thanks to a big crash during the Stage 2 run. It was the Trackhouse Racing driver, Daniel Suarez, who turned the Larson, causing him to lose control of his race car and ram into Denny Hamlin’s race car before colliding with the wall. That was it; the Hendrick Motorsports star had to park his car in the garage and call it a day.

This is where Harvick felt like Blaney became a clear favorite to claim his big win of the season. “I think really, when the 5 car fell out, that was pretty much gonna be the closest competition that he had, in my opinion. The situation with the 5 and the 99 that was kind of a weird deal, and you know, you could definitely see the 99 come up the racetrack and kind of get into the left rear quarter panel of the 5 and wreck him. But once the 5 car was out, I felt like it was Blaney’s race to lose.”

With the NASCAR Cup Series heading to New Hampshire this weekend, all focus will now shift to the drivers hovering above the cutline, trying to secure their playoff spot. Kevin Harvick’s shift from racing to broadcasting definitely gave him fresh insights into NASCAR, including the unexpected challenges of watching races at home with his candid wife, DeLana. However, how do you think Harvick’s perspective as a broadcaster influences his views on the sport compared to his days behind the wheel?