Kevin Harvick Uses “God” Himself to Win His Banter Battle With NASCAR Veteran at Las Vegas

The role of Grand Marshal at NASCAR’s Daytona 500 has a storied history, often filled by larger-than-life figures who kick off “The Great American Race” with the iconic command, “Drivers, start your engines!”. The tradition has seen an eclectic mix over the years  from actors like John Travolta (2003) and Nicolas Cage (2007) to presidents like George W. Bush (2004) and Donald Trump (2020). In 2008, 24 living Daytona 500 champions took the honor, while 2021 featured singer Pitbull, who returned in 2024 for a pre-race concert. The 2023 race celebrated NASCAR’s 75th anniversary with legends like Richard Petty and Kevin Harvick himself among the nine champions giving the command. At Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the Pennzoil 400, Morgan Freeman stepped into this legacy, bringing his legendary voice to the scene and Harvick saw a chance to wield it like a weapon.

Morgan Freeman stepped into the spotlight with his $250 million aura and Bubba Wallace even dubbed him “God”. Freeman’s past with NASCAR ran deep – he’d narrated documentaries, driven a car in Charlotte on his 60th birthday, and paced the 2004 Indy 500. At Vegas, he told Fox Sports he’s a “speed demon” and admitted, “I know a little bit” about racing. Harvick, though, wasn’t buying the hype. On his Happy Hour podcast, he’d called Freeman’s command “not very good” and “casual,” saying, “If you’re going to be the grand marshal, you better bring the heat.”

Kevin Harvick KOed his fellow broadcaster with the punchline in God’s voice

His compression glove, tied to a 2008 crash causing nerve damage, caught eyes too, hinting at why the 87-year-old might’ve dialed it back. The Las Vegas Motor Speedway was electric, fans buzzing for the Pennzoil 400, but Kevin Harvick had his eyes on a different prize. Enter Chris Myers, the veteran announcer who’d bragged about greeting himself in the mirror daily. Freeman’s subdued vibe was about to become Harvick’s perfect weapon against Myers. Harvick, with Clint Bowyer and Jamie McMurray, hatched a plan to turn Freeman’s quiet into a loud burn.

“He was very subdued. But the best part about meeting Morgan Freeman was the fact that somebody had a better voice than Chris Myers. We got to put Chris Myers and Morgan Freeman head-to-head at the pre-race in our interview. And myself and Clint and Jamie were definitely on the same page to make sure that it was Morgan against Chris. And we were going to set that up. And we did. And he did not. Morgan delivered. He definitely put Myers in his place. Because Clint asked Morgan Freeman if he got up in the morning and said hello to himself. Because that’s what Myers tells you. He gets up in the morning and says hello to himself.”. Here’s how it unfolded, straight from Harvick, “This is true stuff. And Morgan Freeman basically told me, when you have a voice like this, you don’t need to talk to yourself.” The crowd roared. Myers went quiet. Freeman’s line landed like a sledgehammer.

Freeman’s voice isn’t just famous, it’s a phenomenon. Time.com in 2016 broke down its calm, authoritative resonance. In roles like

March of the Penguins and Waze navigation, he taps into a rare blend of trust and gravitas. By June 2024, Freeman was fiercely guarding it, calling out “unauthorized AI” on X after TikTok scams mimicked him, saying, “I am not giving anyone permission.” That voice, a guarded treasure, carried weight at Vegas without even trying.Harvick’s knack for grabbing the spotlight was no fluke. He’d just shelled out for Ricky Bobby’s mansion from Talladega Nights, a sprawling estate that screams larger-than-life. That move alone cemented his status as a guy who doesn’t just race but dominates the narrative. At Las Vegas, he didn’t need horsepower to prove it.

The fallout was instant and brutal for Myers. While Harvick soaked it in, that grin plastered across his face like he’d just lapped the field. He’d turned Freeman’s lackluster gig into a masterstroke that echoed beyond Vegas. For a guy who’d battled the best with 43 wins and a 2014 Cup title, this was a different beast. No car, no pit crew, just pure, unadulterated wit.

Kevin Harvick’s fed-up crusade to save NASCAR’s soul

Kevin Harvick’s done holding back. NASCAR’s a shadow of itself, and he’s livid. He unloaded on Las Vegas qualifying, “What we saw yesterday at Las Vegas was absolutely ridiculous. Qualifying was a joke because the cars couldn’t even get up to speed.” His voice practically shakes and you hear a man who’s poured decades into this sport watching it sputter.

He’s got a plan, and it’s bold. “I would deregulate everything. I’d throw away half the rulebook, let the teams figure it out, and we’d see who’s got the best ideas.” It’s a raw plea to rip the shackles off a sport he sees dying under red tape. Then there’s the horsepower fight which has him pushing hard: “1000 horsepower on short tracks and road courses would bring back the thrill.” He was on fire, “They need to fix the damn problem with horsepower—it’s ridiculous we’re still stuck here.”

Harvick’s been at this awhile. In 2022, he tweeted, “1000 hp would fix short track racing in 5 laps. Current engine could do it and last multiple races.” Retired now, but not from the fight, he’s louder than ever. Fans on X are also yelling, “Give us Harvick’s NASCAR!”

This is personal. Harvick’s not just mad, he’s wounded. NASCAR’s his blood, and he’s begging it to roar again. “What we saw yesterday” isn’t racing to him, it’s a betrayal. He’s not whispering fixes, he’s shouting them, desperate to save what he loves. Will NASCAR hear him? Or will he be left howling alone? One thing’s clear that he’s not quitting. Not today. Not tomorrow.