In the Twilight of His Career, Tony Stewart’s Retiring Driver Relishes His Championship Victory

At the end of the 2023 Cup Series campaign, NASCAR will bid farewell to one of its greatest drivers of the past two decades. With one Cup Series championship, one regular season championship, and 60 Cup Series wins to his name, Kevin Harvick has carved a legacy that fans will look up to for decades to come.

Perhaps he has one of the most incredible NASCAR records to his name. Out of the 800+ races he has run in the Cup Series, the veteran has finished in the top 10 442 times. He was always known and respected for his consistency behind the wheel, his racecraft and racing IQ, and most importantly, getting the absolute 100% out of almost every single car he has driven. The Cup Series grid will feel thinner next year without Kevin Harvick behind the #4 Ford.

When Kevin Harvick shocked Tony Stewart and Co. in his first season with the team

Harvick began his career at Richard Childress Racing where he was called up to compete in the Cup Series after the tragic passing of Dale Earnhardt in 2001. The Intimidator’s shoes are massive for anyone to fill but Harvick did the job exceptionally well. After racing 13 years for RCR, he joined hands with Tony Stewart and Stewart-Haas Racing in 2014.

SHR is where Harvick achieved the highest of highs. In his first season with Tony Stewart as his boss, Harvick shocked everyone as he battled through the odds and won the Cup Series championship in 2014.

Unlike 2020 when he won 9 races, 2014 was not a season that Harvick outrightly dominated. He had more lows than highs over the course of the campaign but his and Stewart‘s hard work paid off as he lifted the coveted trophy by winning the last two races in Phoenix and Homestead-Miami. 

In a recent video released by NASCAR commemorating Kevin Harvick’s 2014 title win, the 47-year-old talked through the difficulties he faced going to a new team after spending more than a decade with Richard Childress. “Switching to Stewart-Haas Racing after 13 years at RCR, you know, had a lot of different layers to it. Building a team and hiring a crew chief and hiring all the employees and you know, as we went through the year (2014) a lot of stuff broke. We got towards the end of the year in must win situations,” he said.

They say that diamonds are made under pressure, and that is the year Harvick overcame every obstacle thrown at him and truly became a legend of the sport. He might not have dominated, but he won when it mattered and despite all the hardships, went the distance and shocked the world.

“In the end, we had to win at Phoenix to get into the race at Homestead. We were just able to capitalise and do it and put ourselves in position. You know you go in 2014 and the ultimate goal was to race for championships. Rodney made a great call that night and able to put ourselves on victory lane and win the championship,” the 47-year-old added.

On Saturday, Kevin Harvick raced around the iconic Daytona track for the last time in the Cup Series. Ahead of the race, he had shared a picture on X (formerly Twitter) with the caption, “One last time around @DAYTONA.” 

Fans who have seen him give his 100% on track for so many years were quick to comment their tributes under the post, writing words of gratitude and respect for one of the most illustrious motorsports careers in recent history.

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Tributes poured in for Kevin Harvick’s final run around Daytona

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“Mr. Harvick good luck tonight. Thank you for the awesome career you have had and looking forward to your new career in the booth,” wrote one fan. Similar comments poured in under Harvick’s post as fans paid their respect to one of the greatest drivers of our generation.

There were many who hoped that Harvick would win the last race of the regular season. “Go getcha one more Daytona win tonight! Have fun out there!” a fan commented.

Emotional messages poured in as well commemorating the legendary Stewart-Haas Racing driver for his last stint around the legendary Daytona track in the Cup Series.

Kevin Harvick’s career might not end in the grandest of fashions. The Stewart-Haas Racing cars aren’t up to the mark this year so chasing the championship would be extremely difficult.  But one thing is certain. People won’t remember Kevin Harvick because of the 2023 Cup Series season. They will remember him #4EVER for the unbelievable moments and memories he has given us over the course of his outstanding 23-year Cup career.