It feels like yesterday when Kevin Harvick hung up his helmet. The 2014 Cup champion’s stellar achievements are still fresh in our minds. Picking up 60 wins in NASCAR’s premier series, the former Stewart-Haas Racing driver has left a legacy of inspiration. And his next of kin is faring well under his influence.

Keelan Harvick, Kevin’s bright son, brought trophies the very first year he hit the racetracks. He won his first go-kart race in 2020 when he was only eighth. Several trophies followed, including some this year. Now 12-year-old Keelan has added another feather to his cap.

Kevin Harvick’s little racer emulates him

If you found Kevin Harvick somewhere around Charlotte Motor Speedway, a win definitely came. Over his career, Harvick excelled at the 1.5-mile intermediate oval, fetching five wins and 11 runner-up finishes. In the 2013 Coca-Cola 600, he edged out Kasey Kahne’s dominating performance and led only the final ten laps to clinch the trophy.

Now Harvick’s son is carrying forward his glittering legacy in Charlotte. In round three of Cook Out Summer Shootout at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Keelan Harvick delivered an outstanding performance. He picked up the pole and led the first four laps before rival Max Reaves overtook him. But three late-race cautions took out Reaves and gave Keelan a clear passage to the lead with two laps to go.

Keelan then held off an aggressive field to win with a 0.35-second lead. He clinched the trophy and the celebratory cake in the Night Owl Companies Young Lions Division. Kevin Harvick’s young stud also displayed great sportsmanship as he hailed his rival Reaves. “Thanks to Max Reaves for racing me clean,” Keelan said post-race. “This is my second year here and I’ve always wanted to win one of these races”.

This comes barely a month after another victory. On May 19th, Keelan Harvick found himself in Victory Lane at Wake County Speedway in Raleigh, North Carolina. He qualified P5 among 27 racers and eventually clinched the win. Unfortunately, Kevin Harvick could not witness his son’s win as Rick Hendrick called him to cover for Kyle Larson. But this time, the proud father could be seen at Charlotte, cheering for his son. 

Keelan’s maiden victory at Charlotte resembles his father’s win on the same track 13 years ago. Even then, the final two laps turned out to be crucial.

Harvick’s fortune jumped with another’s misfortune

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Before Ryan Blaney soared to victory at Iowa, he had a heartbreaking finish at Gateway Park. Just as he was about to seize the checkered flag, his gas tank cheated on him. There have been similar dramatic endings before. One example is the 2011 Coca-Cola 600 race when Kevin Harvick took advantage of someone’s miscalculated pit stops. 

Dale Earnhardt Jr was well on his way to seize the crown jewel triumph. But like Blaney, the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet ran out of gas. Eventually, Kevin Harvick became the lucky winner. Akin to Keelan Harvick’s final lap success, Harvick also led for just the last two laps. “Today, we were lucky,” Harvick said. Even Dale Jr knew luck was not on his side that day, as he regretted, “We weren’t supposed to make it. We played our hand. I tried to save a ton of gas, as much as I could. I’m disappointed we didn’t win.”

Like father, like son. Kevin Harvick laid a glittering path of victories at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Very soon his son Keelan may also embark on his own triumphant journey.