Keelan Harvick is quickly proving that his racing career is more than just a legacy. At 12 years old, the son of NASCAR legend Kevin Harvick has already shown he’s got the talent and determination to make a name for himself in the racing world. After dominating the junior ranks with multiple wins, Keelan made his Limited Late Model debut this year, stepping into a new challenge with confidence. His performance at Florence Motor Speedway’s South Carolina 400 was impressive, but it was his Thanksgiving Classic weekend that really showed how he handles both the highs and lows of racing.

Thanksgiving Classic: A rollercoaster weekend

Keelan’s weekend at the Thanksgiving Classic was a wild ride, to say the least. It started with him qualifying second out of 46 cars on Friday and starting from the pole in the second race. Things were looking up—until his right-side door came open while he was leading, forcing him to pit early. After that, he worked his way back through the field to finish sixth, but then the door came open again, and he had to pit once more. He still managed to climb up to seventh by the end, but it wasn’t the finish he had hoped for.

On Instagram, Keelan shared his thoughts on the weekend: “Lots to learn from the weekend… Friday I qualified 2nd out of 46 cars and started the second race from the pole. While leading my right-side door came open so I had to give up the lead and come down pit road. I restarted at the back of the pack and drove up to 6th when my door came open again! I came to pit road and drove from the back of the field to 7th before the race was called with a few laps to go. DI was disappointed with my finish, but optimistic for Saturday because my car was fast.”

Saturday didn’t go much better in terms of qualifying. The track was crowded, and Keelan couldn’t get the clean laps he needed. He ended up qualifying 18th, which placed him in the second B-Main. But that didn’t stop him—Keelan fought hard, finishing 5th in the B-Main and advancing to the main event, where he started 20th. From there, he made a comeback, finishing an impressive 3rd place. In his Instagram post, he said, “I wish I had done a better job in qualifying because I spent most of the race working my way through the field, but my car was fast and I wound up finishing 3rd!”

Keelan also took a moment to congratulate his teammate Landen Lewis on the win and thank his team: “Congrats to my teammate @landenlewis99 on his win and thanks to @joeryanracecars for giving me such fast cars! We’re ready to battle again this week for $25k to win!”

South Carolina 400: A promising debut amid a historic reunion 

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Just the week before the Thanksgiving Classic, Keelan had stepped into the Limited Late Model for the South Carolina 400 at Florence Motor Speedway, and it was a huge moment in his career. Not only was it a huge moment for Keelan but for his dad’s close friend Dale Earnhardt Jr. as well.

That same weekend at the Florence Motor Speedway, Dale Jr. unveiled his famous Budweiser #8 car to his fans after 16 years! Kevin Harvick must have liked the sound of that as he did a similar thing during his final season in 2023. He brought out his throwback Budweiser scheme from his Cup Series-winning 2014 season for his race at Homestead Miami in 2023. Although despite all the Budweiser love in the air, Kevin Harvick’s focus would have been solely on his son’s debut.

This race marked Keelan’s first-ever start in a full-bodied car, and Keelan took it all in stride. He handled the pressure like a pro, finishing a solid eighth in the 96-lap feature race. It was a big deal for someone so young, but Keelan was confident going into the race, thanks to all the work he’d put in during his two years of Legends racing.

“I feel really good,” Keelan said after the race. “I can’t thank these KHI guys enough. They put in a lot of work. It’s definitely cool to get my first one under my belt, but I can’t wait for the next one.”

Keelan’s performance in the South Carolina 400 showed his potential, proving that he’s ready for the next challenge. And now, with the Thanksgiving Classic behind him, he’s looking forward to what’s next, including a big $25,000 prize on the line. Keelan is quickly becoming a young driver to watch, and it’s clear he’s got a bright future ahead of him.