Kevin Harvick Discloses How Rick Hendrick Asking a Favor Brought Him Back to NASCAR

Kevin Harvick hung up his racing helmet just a few months back, taking a permanent seat in the FOX Sports booth. However, his stellar NASCAR career was dramatic, studded with amazing wins and tough feuds. One such tussle played out with a Hendrick driver, Chase Elliott, in a 2021 Charlotte race. Rick Hendrick had sternly lashed out at Harvick’s foul intentions.

However, fast forward to 2024, and the tables have turned. Harvick has been chosen to act as a standby driver for Kyle Larson as the latter remains busy in his ‘Double’ preparations. And lo and behold, none other than Rick Hendrick himself offered him a pass back to the NASCAR race tracks.

Kevin Harvick attributes Hendrick’s offer to the team owner’s request

Among the Hendrick Motorsports wins this year, Kyle Larson holds one in Las Vegas. He was also in strong contention to win the Würth 400 race in Dover, but JGR driver Denny Hamlin bested him for his season’s third victory. Before the spotlight fell on this JGR-Hendrick battle, Kyle Larson revealed an interesting piece of news.

Talking to the FOX Sports broadcaster trio, Larson announced his replacement driver for the All-Star Race. Larson’s Double Duty in May is clashing with the All-Star race in NWS, hence his need for a stand-by driver. 

Canceling out Clint Bowyer as his resume was rejected, Larson pointed at his new colleague- Kevin Harvick. It seems that Kevin Harvick’s retirement will take a break. “We decided to go with Kevin Harvick…He’s gonna practice the No. 5.”

Then Harvick revealed how his former denouncer had offered him a ticket back into NASCAR, saying, “Rick called a couple days ago and said, ‘Hey, I need a favor.’ You know when a conversation starts like that, usually you have to say yes. So I appreciate you guys calling. It’s gonna be fun to practice the car at the All-Star race.”

No wonder the former RCR driver was picked, as Kevin Harvick already has experience in the same race. He is a two-time All-Star race winner (2007, 2018). Harvick also had a funny response to Larson, taking a jibe at Bowyer: “Well, would have been a lot easier to drive Clint’s car, because I know I can drive that one fast.”

Evidently, the bad blood between Harvick and the Hendrick team has washed away by now. Kevin Harvick hinted more at this earlier, when he made a meaningful choice.

Harvick hailed a Hendrick executive

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Just a few days back, a NASCAR fan raised a poignant poll. “Answer THIS random fun question… who was better, Jimmie or Jeff?” The answer can be tricky indeed, as both veteran drivers have made Hendrick Motorsports proud several times. 

Venturing into HMS in 1992, Jeff Gordon collected four Cup championships and 93 race wins. On the other hand, Jimmie Johnson worked wonders with his crew chief Chad Knaus. They clinched seven Cup Series titles, five of them consecutively. However, Gordon himself had inducted Johnson into the HMS fold.

Maybe this is what prompted Kevin Harvick to produce his unequivocal response. He gave a one-word answer: “Jeff”.

Kevin Harvick is getting into a stronger bond with Hendrick Motorsports. And we are pumped to see how he races for the team which was his rival only a short while ago.