“It Was My Fault”—NASCAR Veteran Takes the Blame for Ruining Kevin Harvick Near Perfect Record Years Ago

Have you ever made a mistake that you regretted so much that it still bothers you years later? NASCAR veteran Kenny Wallace knows exactly how that feels. In a recent YouTube video, he publicly took the blame for ruining Kevin Harvick’s near-perfect record years ago.

Harvick, who just reached a milestone 800th Cup Series start, had his consecutive starts streak broken due to an incident that got him in trouble with NASCAR. Wallace was asked to step in for Harvick, but he didn’t think much of it at the time. Now, years later, he realizes the impact it had on Harvick’s career.

Kenny Wallace admits to being the reason behind Kevin Harvick’s near-perfect record

Kenny Wallace, a former NASCAR driver, recently took responsibility for a significant event in Kevin Harvick’s career. Years ago, Harvick had a near-perfect record, and Wallace played a small but pivotal role in ending his consecutive starts streak. Wallace recently recounted the story on his YouTube channel, saying, “It’s my fault he doesn’t have any more consecutive starts because Kevin Harvick got in trouble years ago at Martinsville, and NASCAR didn’t like what he did.”

The current #4 Ford Mustang driver for Stewart-Haas Racing was in trouble with NASCAR for something he did during a truck race in Martinsville, and as a result, he was pulled out of the Cup Series race in which he was supposed to compete. Wallace was then called in to replace Harvick, and although he didn’t think much of it at the time, he now realizes the significance of that decision.

“They call me & I’m racing down in Nashville in the Bush grand national Series and I’m in my race car and they say, Mike Helton, President of NASCAR wants to you. ‘Kenny Wallace will you drive the number 29 GM Goodrich Chevrolet’ I don’t ask any questions, it was under the caution flag, I said yes sir so I get on the NASCAR Plane & fly upto Martinsville and I drive the number 29 GM Goodrich Chevrolet in place of Kevin Harvick,” Wallace said in a recent YouTube video.

“I gotta be honest, I don’t think that much of it ever, but I think a couple of weeks ago when they started talking about Kevin Harvick’s 800th start, ‘Oh, he would be much better, but Kenny Wallace.'”

800 starts and counting: Kevin Harvick’s milestone moment

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On April 23, 2023, Kevin Harvick achieved a significant milestone in his NASCAR career, taking the green flag during the GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway for his 800th Cup Series start. Harvick joined the ranks of Richard Petty, Ricky Rudd, Dave Marcis, Terry Labonte, Mark Martin, Kyle Petty, Bill Elliott, Darrell Waltrip, and Jeff Gordon as the 10th driver to reach this impressive feat.

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Harvick’s career in NASCAR has been nothing short of remarkable, with numerous wins, championships, and accolades under his belt. But what makes this milestone moment even more special is that Harvick is the fifth-youngest driver to achieve 800 starts, showing that his dedication and commitment to the sport have spanned decades.

“When you think about 800 races and you try to put it into perspective, you really start adding the years up. It’s a really wide body of work, and I think that’s what I’m the most proud of,” said Harvick, when asked about his thoughts on the milestone.

“Through those 800 starts, it’s not like we started the year cashing checks and just riding around. We’ve been competitive, racing at the front of the pack, leading laps, and having the chance to win races. That’s the part I’m most proud of, being able to do this at a high level for such a long time.”

“But wrapping your arms around 800 of them is, for me, quite an honor, just because of the fact that you’ve been able to adapt and adjust to so many things and stick around so long. Getting to that number is great, but getting there and being competitive is better,” he added.

As Kevin Harvick gears up to complete his final season in November at Phoenix Raceway, his remarkable record along with his consistency and talent on the track are undeniable. His impressive achievements have also earned him a spot among the all-time greats. Harvick’s legacy in the world of racing will undoubtedly be remembered for years to come, and fans will always appreciate his skill and dedication to the sport.

READ MORE: Kevin Harvick’s Dad Duty Took Precedence Over Qualifying as the Family Waited for the Tooth Fairy to Pay a Visit