In an amazing act of sportsmanship, Rick Hendrick recently called on old rival Kevin Harvick. He wanted him to step in and substitute for the NWS All-Star race qualifiers for Kyle Larson. As Larson was racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, there was a huge void in the Rick Hendrick Motorsports lineup. So, to fill the opening, Hendrick picked up the phone on the spot and brought Harvick on board.

The fact that Rick Hendrick chose Harvick could mean only one thing. Kevin Harvick still has what it takes to get the job done. Their partnership shot up staggering results on the board. Thus, leaving the entire Hendrick Motorsports team and, most especially, Cliff Daniels, in awe.

Cliff Daniel’s gets a reality check

On his podcast, “Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour,” Harvick explained what it was like to work on the team at Hendrick Motorsports. “Cliff Daniels, Rick Hendrick, that whole bunch, is a completely professional bunch of people that love racing,” he said at the outset, remarking how seamless a transition this was. He detailed what time he spent at the shop, from the seat fitting to team meetings, and how supportive Hendrick’s crew was.

For as long as he’s been out of the car, Harvick’s presence during qualifiers was top-notch. Thus, leaving even the former NWS defending champ behind. Although some might argue that Harvick just got lucky, This is what Kevin Harvick had to say regarding Blaney, “And so I fit in the same seatbelts. We didn’t have to change the seatbelt size. And I felt really good about myself when I got out of the car because I heard Ryan Blaney’s interview. I’m like, he’s winded.”

This put the crew chief in extreme shock.  Harvick says, “Cliff gave me grief because I went too fast at the beginning of practice.”  This is what Cliff had to say, “I mean, I just can’t believe that you went out there and just went for it like that.” It’s just another example of just how high the expectations and standards are at Hendrick Motorsports.

Shocks aside, Harvick also shared a story of mutual assistance between Hendrick and Stewart-Haas Racing. “Everyone from SHR helped those guys over at Hendrick, and they got that favor returned, by the way, when their cars were underwater. Cliff went over and got all the SHR cars out of the water. What a guy.” This again adds another layer to the story. Harvick here is stressing the brotherhood between HMS and SHR.

But the remarks of Cliff Daniels cannot be taken lightly. His rebuke might have stemmed from considerations about Harvick’s age. Hence, it’s a question that must be swimming around in everybody’s head. What does NASCAR racing have for the future for Harvick?

Physical challenge and future considerations

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As Harvick discussed the physical demands of the race, he admitted, “I was a little caught off guard just from how physical it was.” He then explained the extremity of the race through the speed of the laps, being almost a second faster than last year, and how it had been putting lots of stress on the body. But with all the challenges, Harvick was able to stretch the soft tires to 53 laps—an achievement that the driver himself was extremely proud of and a great sense of reward for the team. This feat suggests that we could see Harvick on tracks again!

As far as his collaborations are concerned,  Hendrick Motorsports would be his top choice. The success of integrating a former rival into the team sends out a strong message. Professional rivalry could be buried for the greater good of the sport. Moving forward, this partnership will have a bearing on how many NASCAR teams strategize. Today, teams can just pick up experienced drivers for several races or qualifiers.  Thus, adding a bit of flexibility to the depth of driving talent each team has.

Again, it was a good reminder of the level of fitness and preparation that were necessary, even for the most experienced drivers who are not regularly racing cars. In this case, it demonstrated Kevin Harvick’s ability to adapt to sudden demands without any prior notice. As other teams are watching, it might be that in the future, similar collaborations will take place. Thus, furthering competitiveness and camaraderie in motorsport.