Keelan Harvick has made some famous friends. The promising racecar driver attended the Carolina Panthers’ Week 15 home game against the Dallas Cowboys with his father Kevin Harvick accompanying him. Even though the game ended 30-14 in favor of ‘America’s Team’, the spotlight was focused on the 12-year-old racing driver, who shared a wholesome moment with Panthers’ safety Sam Franklin Jr. It seems like the youngster is making a name for himself both on and off the track.

The NFL’s social media handle captured Keelan Harvick’s moment with Franklin Jr., which was then tweeted by NASCAR’s X account as well. Seems like Kevin Harvick’s son is dominating the headlines, even when he’s catching up on some NFL action.

Keelan Harvick and Franklin Jr. showcase an elaborate handshake routine

Expectations are high from Keelan Harvick and why wouldn’t they be? The youngster is following in the footsteps of his father, Kevin Harvick, who won the 2014 NASCAR Cup Series championship and a Hall of Famer. At the tender age of 12, the racer is building quite a reputation in the motorsports circles and recently made his first Limited Late Model start while driving the No. 62 Hunt Brothers Pizza Chevrolet. Despite his lack of experience, the 12-year-old finished the 96-lap race in eighth place, highlighting his immense potential.

However, Kevin Harvick’s son didn’t have racing on his mind at the Bank of America Stadium. Ahead of the 1 p.m. ET kickoff, the duo were visited by none other than Sam Franklin Jr. The 28-year-old safety orchestrated an elaborate handshake routine with Keelan Harvick, while his father looked on, smiling, albeit left hanging, as he watched the two. The moment was captured on camera, with the NFL’s X account tweeting, “Sam Franklin Jr. has an incredible handshake with this young fan 💙”, to which NASCAR responded, “We know them! 🤔🫵@KevinHarvick | @KeelanHarvick”.

Just like his father, Keelan Harvick is eager to make a name for himself in the motorsports world. He started racing in go-karts in 2020 and has achieved several career milestones since then, including championship triumphs at the SKUSA Winter Series, U.S. Legend Cars, and USPKS National Micro. The youngster also had quite a season in the INEX Young Lions Asphalt, securing 27 wins and 38 podium finishes in 49 starts, winning the national championship in the process.

When asked what were some of the difficulties he faced, the youngster candidly replied, “I wouldn’t say anything was super challenging, because I had a great team behind me and we always pushed each other to get better each race.” With Keelan Harvick’s future looking brighter than ever, the 12-year-old is also making friends away from the racetrack. As the popular saying goes, ‘Game recognizes game’ and the youngster is moving away from his father’s shadow to make a name for himself in the sporting world.

Kevin Harvick reacts to his son’s Limited Late Model debut

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It’s always a proud moment for any father to witness their kid achieving a new career milestone. In Kevin Harvick’s case, it’s an especially emotional feeling. Keelan Harvick is following in the 2014 Cup Series winner’s footsteps by achieving success on the racetrack. The 12-year-old recently made his Limited Late Model debut at Florence Motor Speedway. Driving his father’s car at the South Carolina 400, the youngster achieved an impressive top-ten finish, making his father wonder about how quickly the time has passed.

Speaking to Scotte Sprinkle of Short Track Scene after the race, Kevin Harvick said, “He surprises me all the time just with, he’s 12. So, watching him race in the car it’s weird because some days he has a hard time wiping his b-tt let alone driving a full-size stock car. From a parents’ standpoint seeing your 12-year-old kid in that full-size car is different.”

Meanwhile, Keelan Harvick showed maturity beyond his years in his post-race analysis, going on to say, “I feel really good. I can’t thank these KHI guys enough. They put in a lot of work. It’s definitely cool to get my first one under my belt, but I can’t wait for the next one.” In 2025, the father-son duo will compete in Late Model races under the Kevin Harvick Incorporated banner. They also signed a deal with Rackley WAR and both of them will also compete against each other in Pro and Limited Late Model competitions next year.