via Getty
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 15: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Busch Light #BUSCHRACETEAM Ford, stands in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series 64th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2022 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
via Getty
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 15: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Busch Light #BUSCHRACETEAM Ford, stands in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series 64th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2022 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
End of an era. NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick is all set to bid adieu to full-time racing. And as one would expect, the news of Happy Harvick’s retirement broke many hearts. Although a lot of people did see it coming for the 47-year-old driver, it’s a bit difficult to witness the oldest active full-time driver retire.
As reported by the Athletic, Kevin Harvick hinted that he would be stepping away from time racing after the 2023 Cup Series. And now, as per the recent tweet by the Athletic’s reporter Jordan Bianchi, sources have confirmed Harvick’s retirement plan in 2023.
NEWS: Kevin Harvick to step away from full-time racing after 2023 NASCAR season, sources tell @TheAthletic. https://t.co/zzulrL9ozM
— Jordan Bianchi (@Jordan_Bianchi) January 12, 2023
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As soon as Bianchi’s post came up on his Twitter account, NASCAR fans huddled in to discuss the probability of their favorite driver’s retirement. Some Twitter users were sad to see Harvick bid farewell to full-time racing. Whereas, some others expressed the hope of seeing the Closer in a part-time capacity.
Man that sucks.. I new it after he just partnered up and bought @CARSTour. Welp I quit too after this year. The hell with it.
— K€V!π L@π¢€ BU®π$ (@klburns8878) January 12, 2023
#4Ever Going to miss Harvick, what a legend
— Nascarfan17 (@DevynPotter4) January 12, 2023
End of an era thank god Jimmie’s gonna be back part time at least.
— XO (@XOpwns) January 12, 2023
Knew this was coming. Makes me sad but hopefully this year will be good and Rememberable for the right reasons 🙂
— Sav #4EVER (@JsavageRL) January 12, 2023
man… all my childhood drivers just leaving me 😭 pic.twitter.com/tOjvw2tM0k
— DennyDeliversYT 📦 (@DennyDelivers) January 12, 2023
Totally grew on me when his era of winning too much ended, defently gonna miss him, one of the sports 🐐’s.
— Ethan (@Pokefan_2844) January 12, 2023
The closer will be closing one chapter to start another
— Jennifer G (@jenniferleeanng) January 12, 2023
Bummer, but I'm not surprised, family is important to #4thewin, but now I have to find a new driver. Been on the @KevinHarvick train since 2000 when he was dominating in the blue deuce, then stepping in for a legend. It's been a great ride.
— Brian Gregory (@LovetoCue) January 12, 2023
ima cry fr during the season finale
— DNG (@Danascarguy) January 12, 2023
I'm not ready pic.twitter.com/22UsNHtS8V
— Nick Bellman (@nick_bellman) January 12, 2023
Dang he one of the last veterans in the sport.
— James (Aka Slim) (@Slim_Jr_9) January 12, 2023
I'm going to cry! 😢
— Jennifer Marion (@jennil326626) January 12, 2023
Sucks he is retiring he's been in nascar a long time a damn good driver one of my favorites hope he goes out winning a championship
— ChaseEdwardTownsend (@ChaseTownsend92) January 12, 2023
becoming a NASCAR fan in 2005, it saddens me to see my favorite driver gone. The memories and great races will last forever. This era of the greatest to race in CUP IMO is shown here with this picture from the 2005 chase for the cup. Just look at the legends in it. Thanks Kevin pic.twitter.com/wVsdznljt6
— Exorcist of Stupidity (@JamieExorcistof) January 12, 2023
We’re losing all the great drivers
— Lone Ranger (@LoneRan61333268) January 12, 2023
It’s true that Harvick did hint at his plans of retirement after the 2023 Cup Series season last year. But irrespective of that, it is still difficult for fans to witness Happy Harvick retire from full-time racing. Although the Stewart Haas Racing driver did not reveal any concrete plans for his retirement, NASCAR fans and media did anticipate this upcoming move.
What did Kevin Harvick exactly say about his retirement?
Kevin Harvick is the oldest active full-time Cup Series driver. Hence, questions regarding his retirement plans are a common phenomenon during the interviews. However, when the #4 driver did not re-sign his contract with Stewart Haas Racing, the NASCAR fraternity began speculating about his plans for retirement.
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USA Today via Reuters
Oct 23, 2022; Homestead, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick (4) waves to the race fans along the front stretch before the Dixie Vodka 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
In a December 2022 interview with the Athletic, Harvick did hint at his big move after the 2023 Cup Series. When asked about the probability of his retirement, Harvick said,
“Right now, I’ll know that answer before we get to Daytona. I don’t really have a clear answer on that right now. I think as we get to Daytona, I know 100 percent that we will have a direction because I’m not gonna start the season without knowing that direction. Just because of the fact that there’s just a lot of layers to unfold and really go through and evaluate. So we’ll see. I think it could go either way at this particular point.”
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WATCH THIS STORY: Fans Nominate Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch & Ross Chastain as “Fu*k Around and Find Out” Slogan’s Prime Candidates
With a 23-year-long career, Kevin Harvick began racing in the Cup Series with Richard Childress Racing in 2001 as a replacement for Dale Earnhardt. During his career, the Closer registered 60 Cup series race wins and was also crowned the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion.
