From cherishing his last year to his last playoff season and then his last race, the retirement of Kevin Harvick was heartbreaking for millions of racing fans around the world. Harvick made an instant impact when he was chosen to take the legendary Dale Earnhardt’s place and he soon reserved a permanent spot in the list of NASCAR favorites over the years.

In the championship race in Phoenix, Stewart-Haas Racing’s most prolific driver led the last laps of his career. Kevin Harvick later joined Dale Earnhardt Jr to relive the emotional spectrum he experienced in that moment but one racing regret dominated his thoughts. 

Kevin Harvick set out to tell a story in his final season before retirement 

In a race occurrence, a non-Championship 4 driver received the loudest applause in the season-ending race at the Phoenix Raceway. But such was the presence commandeered by the 2014 champion Kevin Harvick. It was only fitting that his most successful race track also became his farewell ground as the 47-year-old veteran gave the young championship contenders a run for their money. However, that was not enough for the tenacious driver.

Although the racing luminary could not win a race this season, he still qualified for the playoffs and sported one of the fastest cars during qualifying for the final race. After finishing in the runner-up place, the packed stands of the 1-mile tri-oval wished for his lead with bated breaths. When Harvick sped ahead of pole winner William Byron to lead the Cup Series grid on lap 93, the crowd erupted in deafening cheers. 

In the Dale Jr Download, Kevin Harvick admitted how much that meant to him. Harvick said, “I think the coolest thing for me in the last race was being able to lead. I did look right and say; I know they cheer. I know they are happy. I didn’t know what was going to happen the rest of the race, so I did look up there and say, ‘That’s pretty cool’. And I’m going to miss that because I love doing things that people don’t really think you should do.” 

He continued, “I don’t think that people expected us to go out and do the last year the way that we did it. I wanted to do it better, and I wanted to tell a story for 30 years of racing. But that competitive side of leading the laps and having the crowd cheer and knowing that you’re giving somebody something to cheer about is something I’ll miss.” The former SHR driver also dwelled deeper on how he felt when he got out of his #4 Ford Mustang for the very last time.

Kevin Harvick revealed longstanding routine with Stewart-Haas Racing’s No. 4 crew chief 

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Kevin Harvick did not win his last Cup race but for 23 laps, he reminded everyone of his impressive mettle and unmatched skills. Furthermore, Harvick finished in the 7th place, marking his 21st consecutive Top 10 finish at the Phoenix Raceway. Records are meant to be eventually broken, but for now, Harvick sits atop the racetrack’s throne with the highest average finish of 8.5.

Securing his streak, the former SHR star came to a halt and met his crew in a familiar ritual. Harvick reminisced, “You get out of the car, look at the guys and you talk about what just happened and put your hat and sunglasses on and walk off. And the last time [he felt] I’m not getting out of the car anymore and I’m not gonna see [Rodney] Childers to complain about what just happened or what went good or whatever it was. We had such a routine that was so simple.”

The entire racing community would also miss the sight of his indomitable persona on and off the racetrack. Fortunately, they would draw comfort that their beloved driver led among the best of the best until the final race of his legendary career. ‘The Closer’ closed his racing chapter in fine form indeed. 

Read More: “It Got Me”- Even “Happy” Harvick Gets Caught up in Whirlwind of Emotions During Retirement Week