There are now just 13 races left in the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season before we bid adieu to Kevin Harvick. The veteran driver is expected to hang up his racing boots at the end of the season. From there, he will trade his gloves for a microphone as he heads to the commentary booth.
In light of this, Harvick will be racing at a number of prominent tracks for the last time. Among them is this weekend’s Cup race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. So Harvick had to make it special.
Kevin Harvick’s big gesture toward his team boss Tony Stewart
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As the weekend’s race inches closer, Harvick and Stewart-Haas Racing have come out with a special paint scheme. Older NASCAR fans will find it familiar because it was the paint scheme that Tony Stewart once raced in.
The livery is predominantly white, with red wings edged in dark blue, on the sides.
It is also worth mentioning that one difference is that Harvick’s number is within the red wings, while Stewart’s was half inside.
Posting the livery on Twitter, Bob Pockrass wrote, “Kevin Harvick has a Tony Stewart tribute scheme with the “wings” around the car number for Indianapolis. #HotPass”
Kevin Harvick has a Tony Stewart tribute scheme with the “wings” around the car number for Indianapolis. #HotPass pic.twitter.com/tLpudKHgAw
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) August 11, 2023
Sadly, as things stand, the Stewart-Haas Racing team has not enjoyed a good 2023 Cup season. The organization has struggled a lot this year and is among the slower Ford cars. In fact, the likes of Team Penske and Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing are performing better. Of the four drivers, it often seems like Harvick is carrying the team all on his own.
Coming to the Indianapolis race, the 2014 Cup Series champion has won at the track before. However, he has only won on the oval layout, so he has yet to reach Victory Lane on the road course layout. This weekend will pretty much be his last chance to finally snatch an Indianapolis road course win. If he does win here or any future races, it will take his Cup Series tally to 61 wins.
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The Stewart-Haas Racing legend will probably leave his team in a fix
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Considering that he has been the organization’s top driver, Harvick’s retirement will leave a massive void. Teammates Aric Almirola, Chase Briscoe, and Ryan Preece will have to step up to the plate as team leaders. On the other end of the scale, Harvick’s successor Josh Berry could also try and assert himself as the leader.
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Berry is talented and showed some decent pace this year. This was when he drove as a substitute for Hendrick Motorsports when they had their driver issues with injuries and suspensions. Needless to say, Stewart-Haas Racing noticed him immediately and struck while the iron was hot.
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