On the final lap of the Daytona 500, Brad Keselowski got tagged out. After bumping into teammate Joey Logano, the Penske duo triggered a massive accident. Of course, it would be easy to blame Keselowski, because he was the trigger. However, Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick refused to pin the entire blame on the #2 driver. Speaking about the Penske man, Harvick said [https://twitter.com/bobpockrass/status/1361350651020800006], “Everybody has to make their own decisions. That was his [Keselowski’s] decision. I don’t think he was going to win from there. He definitely has the best pusher behind him, with the broken spoiler there. I think he thought he was in a good position and that was probably his best chance to win.” KEVIN HARVICK DID NOT BLAME BRAD KESELOWSKI Kevin Harvick insisted that Keselowski cannot be blamed for his actions. According to the 2014 Cup Series champion, he is only doing what he needed to do. Of course, it was far from an ideal situation for Harvick himself. This was all down to positioning, as the #4 car was between the race-leading car and the car setting up the move. Brad Keselowski [https://www.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-173449153.jpg]LOUDON, NH – JULY 14: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Ford, looks on during driver introductions prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Camping World RV Sales 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 14, 2013 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) Of course, he is insinuating that anybody else in Keselowski’s position would have done the same. Since this was the last lap of the race, desperate times called for desperate measures, and Harvick understood that. In other words, Brad Keselowski was quite justified in trying to lunge down the inside of Logano for the lead. Had he succeeded, it would have been his first-ever Daytona 500 win. This would have made him get rid of an unwanted statistic, that he shares [https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-can-kyle-busch-get-rid-of-this-unwanted-stat-at-the-2021-nascar-daytona-500/] with Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. As it stands, the trio continues to be the only champions, along with Chase Elliott, to not win a Daytona 500. With him, Busch, and Truex Jr in the late stages of their careers, time is running out for them. READ MORE – WATCH: Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Kyle Busch, Bubba Wallace in Horrific Final-Lap Crash in NASCAR Daytona 500 [https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-watch-brad-keselowski-joey-logano-kyle-busch-bubba-wallace-in-horrific-final-lap-crash-in-nascar-daytona-500/]

During the Daytona 500, a desperate move from Brad Keselowski went wrong and
caused a massive wreck, but Kevin Harvick defended his actions

Dhruv George is a senior Formula One and NASCAR analyst for EssentiallySports,
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“That Was His Decision” – Kevin Harvick Defends Brad Keselowski Over Last-Lap
Move in NASCAR Daytona 500

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Richard Childress’ Grandson

NASCAR Community Gives Up on FOX as Fans Expose “Horrible” Broadcasting Tactics
in COTA

Kevin Harvick’s Son Upset As He Announces 4-Word Exit From Dream Debut With Dale
Jr.

Livid Fans Corner Austin Dillon After He Throws a Wrench in Kyle Busch’s Dream
Run at COTA

Ross Chastain’s Awkward Silence After ‘Fu— Up’ in COTA Offends NASCAR Veterans

<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>What is the Daytona 500?</strong></h2>
For any NASCAR fan, the Daytona 500 race holds a special place in their hearts. The most prestigious race in the Cup Series, a win at the revered race bestows limitless repute and honor to its victor. Often referred to as the unofficial "birthplace of speed", Daytona Beach, where the race has been held for over six decades, has a long and storied history. Currently, it features on the <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/nascar-cup-series/">NASCAR Cup Series</a> schedule as one of the four crown-jewel races and also features the highest winning prize among all Cup races.

[caption id="attachment_1627382" align="alignnone" width="1"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-1627382" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago1024835900h.jpg" alt="Daytona 500" width="1" height="1" /> Daytona International Speedway plays host to the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series for the Daytona 500 in Daytona Beach, FL, USA. Daytona Beach United States of America - ZUMAc04_ 20230219_zaf_c04_386 Copyright: xWalterxGxArcexSrxActionxSportsxPx[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Origins of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
While many stories about the origin of Daytona races date back to 1903 when two men challenged each other to a race to decide whose horseless carriage was the fastest, the sturdy stock car race at the iconic location came into being in 1959, courtesy of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. And on February 22, in front of 41,000 people, the revered race planted its seed to mega-stardom. The inaugural race was the only instance when both hard top and convertible vehicles were allowed to race. Since then, the Daytona 500 has been much-awaited by stock car racing fans every year.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-2632995 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/DoBedrfXoAAjZ5P-1.jpeg" alt="" width="3000" height="2400" />

And while the Daytona Beach, Florida location is already iconic, the track that hosts the Daytona 500 race is just as well-thought out and executed. Wanting to give fans an edge-of-the-seat thriller, Bill Frances Sr brainstormed alongside engineers to create a track that would have the highest banking, allowing cars to reach topmost speed. And soon the prospect presented itself in the form of a tri-oval with 31 degrees banking at turns and 18 degrees at the start/finish lines. With 2.5 mile in length, today, the race lasts 500 miles/200 laps.

The first-ever Daytona 500, called the <b>1959 First 500 Mile NASCAR International Sweepstakes at Daytona</b> back then, saw 59 cars competing.Â The winning purse of the inaugural race had a steep value of $53, 050, out of which Lee Petty took home $19,050 for his victory while the runner-up Beauchamp secured $7,650.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><span style="font-weight: 400"><strong>Why is the Daytona 500 called â€˜The Great American Raceâ€™</strong></span></h2>
As one of the most iconic spectator sports events in America, the Daytona 500 definitely takes the cake when it comes to being NASCAR's crÃ¨me de la crÃ¨me. Throughout history, the event has often been compared to the Super-Bowl, the crown jewel of the NFL. However, many NASCAR enthusiasts haven't been too keen about that description and have placed the crown-jewel race way above the Super Bowl.

The Daytona 500 has also been synonymous with the President's Day weekend in every NASCAR fan's heart. From 1968 to 2011, the race was held on President's Day weekend every year. However, NASCAR decided to change that in 2012 with news of an NFL schedule revamp doing the rounds. As per reports, NFL was planning to expand its 18-game regular season and as per the new roster, the Super Bowl was to be held on the same day as the Daytona 500. Sensing a dent on viewership numbers, the stock car racing organization move the race. However, as the NFL season-expansion plans failed to reach fruition, the Daytona 500 was moved to its original calendar spot. Now, that's definitely a win-win!

While the winning purse of the Daytona 500 is already a stuff of legends, sitting atop with the largest return, the trophy being awarded to the victors isn't any less prized either. Called the Harley J Earl trophy, the prize has been named after legendary automobile designer, Harley Earl, who was also a close friend of Bill France Sr and a General Motors executive back in the day. Earl is most significantly known for being the Father of the Corvette. He has also been credited for designing the Firebird I prototype. The Daytona 500 race is full of prestige and perks for sure.

One other aspect that the race victor gets to experience is their car being showcased at the Daytona 500 experience, for one year in its race-winning condition. For the uninitiated, the Daytona 500 Experience is a museum and gallery situated next to the Daytona International Speedway.

[caption id="attachment_1948603" align="alignnone" width="1800"]<img class="wp-image-1948603 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago0004296892h.jpg" alt="Daytona 500" width="1800" height="1200" /> Teilnehmerfeld der Daytona 500, v.li.: Martin Truex Jr., Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, David Ragan, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards, Brian Vickers und David Stremme - (ZUMAse4)[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Highlights of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
The inaugural Daytona 500 race in 1959 was won by Richard Petty's father, the legendary Lee Petty. The patriarch of the NASCAR royalty family clinched victory driving a 1959 Oldsmobile for Newton Chappell at the inaugural event outperforming Johnny Beauchamp. Charley Griffith, representing Red Bank, finished P3, while Cotton Owens and Joe Weatherly wrapped up the Top-5 positions.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-2491357 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/lee-petty.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1262" />

&nbsp;

Lee Petty's son isn't much far behind on the Daytona 500 record book either. With seven wins, <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/richard-petty/">Richard Petty</a> sits atop the most-wins list at the venue. What makes his feat even more legendary is the fact that Petty managed to clinch four of those titles in a single decade, in 1971, 1973, 1974 and 1979. The rest of his victories came in 1964, 1966 and 1981.

While the initial years of the Daytona 500 didn't see much vehicle policing, it soon became apparent that certain rules and restrictions would have to be put in place. One of the biggest instances of a change came in 1988 when former stock car racing driver and NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison's car went airborne and hit the catch fence at 200 mph at Talladega in May, the previous year. As a result, restrictor plates were made mandatory in hopes that they would stunt speed, which in turn would stop vehicles from going airborne.

Speaking of Bobby Allison, he also became the oldest driver to win the race at 50 years, 2 months and 11 days, in 1988. On the other hand, Trevor Bayne is the youngest Daytona 500 winner. Bayne was 20 years and 1 day old when he won the event in 2011.

Another revamp that hit NASCAR and the Daytona 500 was during the 50th anniversary of the Daytona 500 race, when 'Cars of Tomorrow' debuted for the first time in the stock car racing circuit. While the name might throw some people off, 'Cars of Tomorrow' simply entailed that the same roll cage, frame and body would be used in all kinds of race tracks as opposed to how crew members would need to build different cars for different tracks like superspeedways, road courses and short tracks.

The Daytona 500, being such a grand event, has often been associated with high-profile names. In a bid to make the event even more exciting, every year, the organizers bring in popular figures to serve as a Grand Marshal. While 'Captain America' famed Chris Evans graced the event in 2014, Nicholas cage stopped by in 2007. Even former US presidents Donald Trump and George W Busch served as the event's grand marshal in 2020 and 2004, respectively.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Â Qualifying Format of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
Currently, the Daytona 500 sees 40 cars competing, out of which 36 sports belong to drivers whose teams have their own charters. The rest of the 4 spots, which are referred to as open cars and constitute teams that do not own a charter.

In its 65 year history, the Daytona 500 has had many revamps to its qualifying format. From two timed laps, the better of two laps, to the average of two laps, the crown jewel race has explored several avenues to decide its starting grid. However, what stuck and is currently in place is a two-race qualifying. The first race is a single-car qualifying where each driver takes up one lap. The Top 10 drivers from that round advance to the second round where their order in the main event starting grid is determined. The single-car runs decide the front row of the Daytona 500. They also decide the lineup for the qualifying races also referred to asÂ <em>"the duels".Â </em>The starting grid is eventually decided on the basis of the duels.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>The Black Sunday of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
The Daytona 500 was perhaps one of <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/dale-earnhardt/">Dale Earnhardt</a>'s greatest achievements. After chasing an elusive win at the track for about two decades of his career, the driver finally succeeded in finish P1 in 1998. However, just three years later, the same race would claim his life. It all happened on February 18, 2001, when the driver was competing in the final lap of the race. <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-nerve-wracking-crashes-that-changed-nascar-forever-edition-five-dale-earnhardt/">The driver slammed head-first into the retaining wall</a> after contact with Ken Schrader and Sterling Marlin. The driver had suffered from a basilar skull fracture and had died instantly upon contact. Earnardt's death triggered a wave of safety improvements in stock cars and are seen even today.

[caption id="attachment_2105958" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-2105958 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago1029986512h-e1699811493626.jpg" alt="Dale Earnhardt Sr" width="1920" height="1080" /> US PRESSWIRE Sports-Historical Unknown date Daytona Beach, FL, USA: FILE PHOTO NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Winston Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Sr 3 waits in his car in the garage area at the Daytona International Speedway. Daytona Beach Florida UNITED STATES, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xUSAxTODAYxSportsx 5145564<br />Image Credits - Imago[/caption]

&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>The changes of the name of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
The Daytona 500 has seen a plethora of name changes till date. While the first-ever edition of the race was called the 1959 First 500 Mile NASCAR International Sweepstakes at Daytona, the name was changed the very next year to the Inaugural 500 Mile International Sweepstakes. The race, then, went on to be known as the Daytona 500 by STP from 1991 to 1993. On the year of Dale Earnhardt's passing in 2001, it was known as the Daytona 500 by Dodge. In 2007, a new name was coined yet again and this time, the race was called Daytona 500 by Toyota. From 1961 to 1990, 1994 to 2000 and from 2002 to 2006, the race was called Daytona 500 and since 2008, that's the very name that has stuck around.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Daytona 500

What is the Daytona 500? For any NASCAR fan, the Daytona 500 race holds a special place in their hearts. The most prestigious race in the Cup Series, a win at the revered race bestows limitless repute and honor to its victor. Often referred to as the unofficial &#8220;birthplace of speed&#8221;, Daytona Beach, where the race has been held for over six decades, has a long and storied history. Currently, it features on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule as one of the four crown-jewel races and also features the highest winning prize among all Cup races. Daytona International Speedway plays host to the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series for the Daytona 500 in Daytona Beach, FL, USA. Daytona Beach United States of America &#8211; ZUMAc04_ 20230219_zaf_c04_386 Copyright: xWalterxGxArcexSrxActionxSportsxPx Origins of the Daytona 500 While many stories about the origin of Daytona races date back to 1903 when two men challenged each other to a race to decide whose horseless carriage was the fastest, the sturdy stock car race at the iconic location came into being in 1959, courtesy of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. And on February 22, in front of 41,000 people, the revered race planted its seed to mega-stardom. The inaugural race was the only instance when both hard top and convertible vehicles were allowed to race. Since then, the Daytona 500 has been much-awaited by stock car racing fans every year. And while the Daytona Beach, Florida location is already iconic, the track that hosts the Daytona 500 race is just as well-thought out and executed. Wanting to give fans an edge-of-the-seat thriller, Bill Frances Sr brainstormed alongside engineers to create a track that would have the highest banking, allowing cars to reach topmost speed. And soon the prospect presented itself in the form of a tri-oval with 31 degrees banking at turns and 18 degrees at the start/finish lines. With 2.5 mile in length, today, the race lasts 500 miles/200 laps. The first-ever Daytona 500, called the 1959 First 500 Mile NASCAR International Sweepstakes at Daytona back then, saw 59 cars competing.Â The winning purse of the inaugural race had a steep value of $53, 050, out of which Lee Petty took home $19,050 for his victory while the runner-up Beauchamp secured $7,650. Why is the Daytona 500 called â€˜The Great American Raceâ€™ As one of the most iconic spectator sports events in America, the Daytona 500 definitely takes the cake when it comes to being NASCAR&#8217;s crÃ¨me de la crÃ¨me. Throughout history, the event has often been compared to the Super-Bowl, the crown jewel of the NFL. However, many NASCAR enthusiasts haven&#8217;t been too keen about that description and have placed the crown-jewel race way above the Super Bowl. The Daytona 500 has also been synonymous with the President&#8217;s Day weekend in every NASCAR fan&#8217;s heart. From 1968 to 2011, the race was held on President&#8217;s Day weekend every year. However, NASCAR decided to change that in 2012 with news of an NFL schedule revamp doing the rounds. As per reports, NFL was planning to expand its 18-game regular season and as per the new roster, the Super Bowl was to be held on the same day as the Daytona 500. Sensing a dent on viewership numbers, the stock car racing organization move the race. However, as the NFL season-expansion plans failed to reach fruition, the Daytona 500 was moved to its original calendar spot. Now, that&#8217;s definitely a win-win! While the winning purse of the Daytona 500 is already a stuff of legends, sitting atop with the largest return, the trophy being awarded to the victors isn&#8217;t any less prized either. Called the Harley J Earl trophy, the prize has been named after legendary automobile designer, Harley Earl, who was also a close friend of Bill France Sr and a General Motors executive back in the day. Earl is most significantly known for being the Father of the Corvette. He has also been credited for designing the Firebird I prototype. The Daytona 500 race is full of prestige and perks for sure. One other aspect that the race victor gets to experience is their car being showcased at the Daytona 500 experience, for one year in its race-winning condition. For the uninitiated, the Daytona 500 Experience is a museum and gallery situated next to the Daytona International Speedway. Teilnehmerfeld der Daytona 500, v.li.: Martin Truex Jr., Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, David Ragan, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards, Brian Vickers und David Stremme &#8211; (ZUMAse4) Highlights of the Daytona 500 The inaugural Daytona 500 race in 1959 was won by Richard Petty&#8217;s father, the legendary Lee Petty. The patriarch of the NASCAR royalty family clinched victory driving a 1959 Oldsmobile for Newton Chappell at the inaugural event outperforming Johnny Beauchamp. Charley Griffith, representing Red Bank, finished P3, while Cotton Owens and Joe Weatherly wrapped up the Top-5 positions. &nbsp; Lee Petty&#8217;s son isn&#8217;t much far behind on the Daytona 500 record book either. With seven wins, Richard Petty sits atop the most-wins list at the venue. What makes his feat even more legendary is the fact that Petty managed to clinch four of those titles in a single decade, in 1971, 1973, 1974 and 1979. The rest of his victories came in 1964, 1966 and 1981. While the initial years of the Daytona 500 didn&#8217;t see much vehicle policing, it soon became apparent that certain rules and restrictions would have to be put in place. One of the biggest instances of a change came in 1988 when former stock car racing driver and NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison&#8217;s car went airborne and hit the catch fence at 200 mph at Talladega in May, the previous year. As a result, restrictor plates were made mandatory in hopes that they would stunt speed, which in turn would stop vehicles from going airborne. Speaking of Bobby Allison, he also became the oldest driver to win the race at 50 years, 2 months and 11 days, in 1988. On the other hand, Trevor Bayne is the youngest Daytona 500 winner. Bayne was 20 years and 1 day old when he won the event in 2011. Another revamp that hit NASCAR and the Daytona 500 was during the 50th anniversary of the Daytona 500 race, when &#8216;Cars of Tomorrow&#8217; debuted for the first time in the stock car racing circuit. While the name might throw some people off, &#8216;Cars of Tomorrow&#8217; simply entailed that the same roll cage, frame and body would be used in all kinds of race tracks as opposed to how crew members would need to build different cars for different tracks like superspeedways, road courses and short tracks. The Daytona 500, being such a grand event, has often been associated with high-profile names. In a bid to make the event even more exciting, every year, the organizers bring in popular figures to serve as a Grand Marshal. While &#8216;Captain America&#8217; famed Chris Evans graced the event in 2014, Nicholas cage stopped by in 2007. Even former US presidents Donald Trump and George W Busch served as the event&#8217;s grand marshal in 2020 and 2004, respectively. Â Qualifying Format of the Daytona 500 Currently, the Daytona 500 sees 40 cars competing, out of which 36 sports belong to drivers whose teams have their own charters. The rest of the 4 spots, which are referred to as open cars and constitute teams that do not own a charter. In its 65 year history, the Daytona 500 has had many revamps to its qualifying format. From two timed laps, the better of two laps, to the average of two laps, the crown jewel race has explored several avenues to decide its starting grid. However, what stuck and is currently in place is a two-race qualifying. The first race is a single-car qualifying where each driver takes up one lap. The Top 10 drivers from that round advance to the second round where their order in the main event starting grid is determined. The single-car runs decide the front row of the Daytona 500. They also decide the lineup for the qualifying races also referred to asÂ &#8220;the duels&#8221;.Â The starting grid is eventually decided on the basis of the duels. The Black Sunday of the Daytona 500 The Daytona 500 was perhaps one of Dale Earnhardt&#8216;s greatest achievements. After chasing an elusive win at the track for about two decades of his career, the driver finally succeeded in finish P1 in 1998. However, just three years later, the same race would claim his life. It all happened on February 18, 2001, when the driver was competing in the final lap of the race. The driver slammed head-first into the retaining wall after contact with Ken Schrader and Sterling Marlin. The driver had suffered from a basilar skull fracture and had died instantly upon contact. Earnardt&#8217;s death triggered a wave of safety improvements in stock cars and are seen even today. US PRESSWIRE Sports-Historical Unknown date Daytona Beach, FL, USA: FILE PHOTO NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Winston Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Sr 3 waits in his car in the garage area at the Daytona International Speedway. Daytona Beach Florida UNITED STATES, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xUSAxTODAYxSportsx 5145564Image Credits &#8211; Imago &nbsp; The changes of the name of the Daytona 500 The Daytona 500 has seen a plethora of name changes till date. While the first-ever edition of the race was called the 1959 First 500 Mile NASCAR International Sweepstakes at Daytona, the name was changed the very next year to the Inaugural 500 Mile International Sweepstakes. The race, then, went on to be known as the Daytona 500 by STP from 1991 to 1993. On the year of Dale Earnhardt&#8217;s passing in 2001, it was known as the Daytona 500 by Dodge. In 2007, a new name was coined yet again and this time, the race was called Daytona 500 by Toyota. From 1961 to 1990, 1994 to 2000 and from 2002 to 2006, the race was called Daytona 500 and since 2008, that&#8217;s the very name that has stuck around. &nbsp; &nbsp;

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<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Who is Brad Keselowski?</strong></h2>
If the 2023 Cup Series season was anything to go by, Brad Keselowski looks to be on his way to becoming one of the few people to taste success in NASCAR's highest division as a driver and a team owner. The veteran motorsports athlete is a former Cup champion and currently, a driver-co-owner of <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/roush-fenway-racing/">Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing</a>. Several fans and pundits suggest that his joining the team has massively elevated RFK and Keselowski only just seems to be getting started. He has won several honors in his racing career and is unsurprisingly one of the wealthiest drivers in the competition today.

[caption id="attachment_2651464" align="alignnone" width="3848"]<img class="wp-image-2651464 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-02-16T010809Z_1536907231_MT1USATODAY22532113_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-BLUEGREEN-VACATIONS-DUEL-1-AT-DAYTONA.jpg" alt="" width="3848" height="2565" /> Feb 15, 2024; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Brad Keselowski (6) before the Bluegreen Vacations Duel 1 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Brad Keselowskiâ€™s Early Life and Family</b></h2>
The 2012 Cup Series champion is of Polish descent and the youngest child of five born to Kay and former motorsports athlete Bob Keselowski in Rochester Hills, Michigan, on February 12, 1984. The family has been involved in motorsports for several years now. Brad is also the nephew of former race car driver Ron Keselowski. His four older siblings are former race car driver Brian Keselowski, Ginger Hoffman, Dawn Nicholas, and Kathy Samborski.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Brad Keselowskiâ€™s Wife and Children</b></h2>
Brad Keselowski is a married man who tied the knot in 2017 with <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-is-brad-keselowski-married-meet-nascar-drivers-wife-paige-keselowski/">Paige White</a>. It is unclear how the couple met. Their first child, Scarlett was born when they were still dating in 2015. In August 2019, the couple had their second child, Autumn. The Keselowski family welcomed their third member and first baby boy in the family on November 4, 2023, named Maize.

[caption id="attachment_553759" align="aligncenter" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-553759 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/20210216112103/GettyImages-1132664807.jpg" alt="Brad Keselowski with his wife Paige White and daughter Scarlett" width="1920" height="1280" /> MARTINSVILLE, VA - MARCH 24: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Reese/Draw Tite Ford, celebrates with his wife Paige and their daughter Scarlett in Victory Lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway on March 24, 2019 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong><b>Brad Keselowskiâ€™s Net Worth 2024</b></strong></h2>
Brad Keselowski's main source of income is obviously as a racing driver and co-owner of RFK Racing but that is not all. His numerous sponsorship deals also play a big role in that aspect. According to Celebrity Net Worth, the veteran motorsports athlete currently has a net worth of $45 million. Reports suggest that his current contract with RFK makes him approximately $9.4 million in a year. Being a successful driver and a team's co-owner, Keselowski has several sponsorship deals. Some of these deals are with prominent companies like Castrol, Miller Lite, Discount Tire, Autotrader, Alliance Truck Parts, and Wurth.

[caption id="attachment_2000894" align="aligncenter" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-2000894 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2023-07-17T210102Z_9680063_MT1USATODAY21049124_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-CRAYON-301.jpg" alt="Brad Keselowski" width="1920" height="1280" /> Jul 17, 2023; Loudon, New Hampshire, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Brad Keselowski (6) is introduced before the start of the Crayon 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Brad Keselowski Partnerships and Endorsements</b></h2>
In January of 2023, RFK Racing extended their contract with lubricant bran Castrol. The company's colors and logo appeared on Brad Keselowski's #6 car in several important races, including 3 in the playoffs - Bristol, Charlotte, and Phoenix. Other companies that have sponsorship or endorsement deals with the 2012 Cup Series champion are Miller Lite, Discount Tire, Autotrader, Alliance Truck Parts, and Wurth. Being one of the co-owners of RFK, Keselowski also shares a relationship with the team's partners which include names like Ford Performance, Fastenal, and Siemens to name a few.

Recently, in January 2024, it was also announced <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-brad-keselowski-joins-partnership-with-consumer-cellular-as-roush-fenway-keselowski-racing-announces-new-sponsor/">that the driver-owner would be sponsored by Consumer Cellular for a handful of Cup Series races during the 2024 season</a>. In another exciting development, just a few days later, <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-solomon-plumbing-return-for-rfk-racing-and-brad-keselowski-for-the-current-season/">Solomon Plumbing also returned as a sponsor for the #6 driver for four Cup Series for 2024</a>.

[caption id="attachment_553768" align="aligncenter" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-553768 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/20210216112352/GettyImages-1206720533.jpg" alt="Brad Keselowski prior to the NASCAR Cup Series 62nd Annual Daytona 500" width="1920" height="1281" /> DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 16: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Discount Tire Ford, is introduced prior to the NASCAR Cup Series 62nd Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 16, 2020 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Brad Keselowskiâ€™s Investments</strong></h2>
In July 2021, it was announced that Brad Keselowski would be joining Roush Fenway Racing as a minority team owner and would be replacing <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/ryan-newman/">Ryan Newman</a> to drive the No. 6 vehicle. Subsequently, Keselowski debuted as a driver-owner in the 2022 season with the team that was rebranded as Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing. After the new name and logo for the team was unveiled in November 2021 at the <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/charlotte-motor-speedway/">Charlotte Motor Speedway</a>, the 2012 Cup Series Champion spoke of the rebrand in detail. He mentioned how the rebrandÂ <em>"is more than a fancy new logo".Â </em>
<p style="text-align: left"><em>"It's an acknowledgment to our heritage, a renewed commitment to our people and a stake in the ground that says we are here to operate top-tier race teams in the sport of NASCAR for decades to come,"</em> he added.</p>

<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Brad Keselowski NASCAR Career Stats</strong></h2>
Brad Keselowski's career graph till now certainly speaks volumes. He has clinched 35 wins in 521 races in the <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/nascar-cup-series/">Cup Series</a> along with 249 Top-10 positions and 18 poles. Apart from that, he secured 39 wins in 257 races in NASCAR's second division, in addition to 174 Top-10s and 22 poles. As for his <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/nascar-truck-series/">Craftsman Truck Series</a> career, Keselowski has one win in 66 races, 15 Top-10s and one pole position.

In his NASCAR Cup Series career, the driver has an average start and an average finish of 12.8 and 14.09, respectively.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Brad Keselowskiâ€™s Records</b></h2>
Given how charismatic Keselowski is behind the wheel, it's only natural that the driver has garnered quite some accolades in his career till now. After he clinched his sixth career win at the Alabama track of Talladega Superspeedway, the RFK team owner tied the iconic <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/jeff-gordon/">Jeff Gordon</a> and <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/dale-earnhardt-jr/">Dale Earnhardt Jr</a> for second-most wins of all time.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Brad Keselowski </b><b>Major Achievements and AwardsÂ </b><b>Â </b></h2>
The RFK Racing driver and co-owner is one of the most experienced racers in the NASCAR Cup Series today. He has been competing in the series since 2008 and in that time, has won countless honors. He was the 2012 Cup Series champion and the 2010 Nationwide Series champion. He has won the <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/coca-cola-600/">Coca-Cola 600</a>, Brickyard 400, and the Advance Auto Parts Clash one time each. When it comes to awards, Keselowski won the Nationwide Series Most Popular Driver award three times straight from 2008 to 2010. He has also been named in NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers list.

Apart from that, the driver has shown his dominance by appearing in the Cup Series playoffs 12 times, 11 out of which have been in consecutive years.

Keselowski's career reached its peak with <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/roger-penske/">Roger Penske</a>'s team but right now, the veteran racer is putting in the effort to take Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing to the heights it once achieved. After the 2012 Cup Series champion joined in 2022, there has been a visible improvement in the team's performance. They finished the season with 3 wins in 2023, including a famous 1-2 victory at Daytona.

The motorsports veteran is also the owner and founder of Keselowski Advanced Manufacturing. As per the official website, <em>"Keselowski Advanced Manufacturing (KAM) is a vertically integrated simulation and engineering through serial production manufacturing company with Additive Manufacturing (LPBF-M) and CNC Capabilities."Â </em>
<div class="mceTemp"></div>

[caption id="attachment_903888" align="aligncenter" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-903888 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-1364505560.jpg" alt="Brad Keselowski" width="1920" height="1280" /> DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - JANUARY 12: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #6 RFK Racing Ford looks on in the garage during the NASCAR Next Gen Test at Daytona International Speedway on January 12, 2022 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Brad Keselowskiâ€™s Charity and Foundation</b></h2>
Brad Keselowski is the founder of the Brad Keselowski's Checkered Flag Foundation. The organization was founded in 2010 after the former Cup Series champion visited the Walter Reed Medical Center in 2009. He was inspired to give back to the brave women and men who served the country and were injured in the process. According to the website, the foundation has raised $3.8 million and helped out over 250 individuals and organizations. It's not only war veterans that the charity supports, but first responders and active military personnel as well.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Brad Keselowski Controversies</b></h2>
He might be one of the most talented and consistent drivers in NASCAR but that does not mean that Brad Keselowski has not seen his fair share of troubles. One of the biggest penalties he has faced came in 2022 when the RFK Racing man was fined a whopping 100 points by NASCAR. After the Atlanta race that year, officials found a tail panel modification that was illegal and cost the veteran dearly.

Keselowski was on fire the season he won his first and only Cup Series championship. However, he was involved in a controversial decision by NASCAR which involved not bringing out the caution despite there being an accident on the track. The then-Penske Racing driver hit the wall late during the race but NASCAR surprised several fans and insiders by opting against bringing out the caution as Keselowski kept his car going.

<em>â€œObviously, weâ€™re monitoring that, the 6 is in the fence. Brad is listening through his spotter and race control that we needed the 6 to get down on the apron. Once he did that, it means heâ€™s kind of out of harmâ€™s way and heâ€™s driving around. If he comes to a complete stop down on the apron at that point, then weâ€™re going to have to go get him,â€Â </em>NASCAR official Elton Sawyer had said of the incident.

[caption id="attachment_553763" align="aligncenter" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-553763 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/20210216112231/GettyImages-156521363.jpg" alt="Brad Keselowski - NASCAR Cup Series" width="1920" height="1280" /> HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 16: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Dodge, stands in the garage during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 16, 2012 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)[/caption]

The racing veteran provided a moment of comic relief in the 2023 Cup Series season at the Coke Zero Sugar 400 in Daytona. The red flag had fallen and under those circumstances, the cars were meant to be stationary in the pits. However, the #6 was seen going around in circles. Confusion and humor gripped the others on track and the fans but it was later revealed that Keselowski's car had caught on fire and he had no choice but to do what he did to put it out.

The whole controversy surrounding the car inspections is also one of the infamous moments of Brad Keselowski's career. Both his and teammate Joey Logano's cars failed pre-race inspections as NASCAR found something wrong with their rear-end housings, and confiscated them. The Penske Racing cars still managed to finish in the top 10 but the penalties were then levied. The 2012 Cup Series champion was not a happy man at the time as he lashed out at NASCAR for being partial against his team.

<em>"Our guys are innovative and we're looking at the rules, looking at areas where we can get an edge like everybody else," </em>Keselowski had said at the time<em>. "I don't think there's anything we did wrong. It's obviously a judgment."</em>

Despite these incidents, Keselowski has managed to entertain fans outside of the racing world, by dabbling his foot into the entertainment industry.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Brad Keselowski in Media</b></h2>
The former Cup Series champion made a cameo alongside Joey Logano in the movie 'Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!' He also joined several other NASCAR stars to appear in the 2017 movie 'Logan Lucky' and he has appeared several times on the sitcom 'Sullivan &amp; Son.'
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Brad Keselowski Social Media Accounts</b></h2>
Brad Keselowski is fairly active on his social media handles, especially Twitter.
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Facebook</span></td>
<td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BradKeselowski" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.facebook.com/BradKeselowski</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Instagram</span></td>
<td><a href="https://www.instagram.com/bradkeselowski/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.instagram.com/bradkeselowski/</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Twitter</span></td>
<td><a href="https://twitter.com/keselowski" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://twitter.com/keselowski</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Full Name</span></td>
<td>Brad Keselowski</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Popular Name</span></td>
<td>"Bad Brad" Keselowski</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Birth Place</span></td>
<td>Rochester Hills, Michigan, U.S</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Birth Date</span></td>
<td>February 12, 1984</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Age</span></td>
<td>39</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Height</span></td>
<td>5Â ft 10Â in</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Weight (In pounds)</span></td>
<td>177Â lb</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Parents</span></td>
<td>Kay Keselowski, Bob Keselowski</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Siblings</span></td>
<td>Brian Keselowski, Ginger Hoffman, Dawn Nicholas, and Kathy Samborski.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Nationality</span></td>
<td>American</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Ethnicity</span></td>
<td>Caucasian</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Net Worth</span></td>
<td>$45 million</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Salary</span></td>
<td>9.4 million</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Relationship/ Marital Status</span></td>
<td>Married</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Spouse</span></td>
<td>Paige White</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Children</span></td>
<td>Scarlett Keselowski, Autumn Keselowski, Maize Keselowski</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Profession</span></td>
<td>Race car driver, team owner</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Team</span></td>
<td>RFK Racing</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

Brad Keselowski

Who is Brad Keselowski? If the 2023 Cup Series season was anything to go by, Brad Keselowski looks to be on his way to becoming one of the few people to taste success in NASCAR&#8217;s highest division as a driver and a team owner. The veteran motorsports athlete is a former Cup champion and currently, a driver-co-owner of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing. Several fans and pundits suggest that his joining the team has massively elevated RFK and Keselowski only just seems to be getting started. He has won several honors in his racing career and is unsurprisingly one of the wealthiest drivers in the competition today. Feb 15, 2024; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Brad Keselowski (6) before the Bluegreen Vacations Duel 1 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports Brad Keselowskiâ€™s Early Life and Family The 2012 Cup Series champion is of Polish descent and the youngest child of five born to Kay and former motorsports athlete Bob Keselowski in Rochester Hills, Michigan, on February 12, 1984. The family has been involved in motorsports for several years now. Brad is also the nephew of former race car driver Ron Keselowski. His four older siblings are former race car driver Brian Keselowski, Ginger Hoffman, Dawn Nicholas, and Kathy Samborski. Brad Keselowskiâ€™s Wife and Children Brad Keselowski is a married man who tied the knot in 2017 with Paige White. It is unclear how the couple met. Their first child, Scarlett was born when they were still dating in 2015. In August 2019, the couple had their second child, Autumn. The Keselowski family welcomed their third member and first baby boy in the family on November 4, 2023, named Maize. MARTINSVILLE, VA &#8211; MARCH 24: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Reese/Draw Tite Ford, celebrates with his wife Paige and their daughter Scarlett in Victory Lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway on March 24, 2019 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) Brad Keselowskiâ€™s Net Worth 2024 Brad Keselowski&#8217;s main source of income is obviously as a racing driver and co-owner of RFK Racing but that is not all. His numerous sponsorship deals also play a big role in that aspect. According to Celebrity Net Worth, the veteran motorsports athlete currently has a net worth of $45 million. Reports suggest that his current contract with RFK makes him approximately $9.4 million in a year. Being a successful driver and a team&#8217;s co-owner, Keselowski has several sponsorship deals. Some of these deals are with prominent companies like Castrol, Miller Lite, Discount Tire, Autotrader, Alliance Truck Parts, and Wurth. Jul 17, 2023; Loudon, New Hampshire, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Brad Keselowski (6) is introduced before the start of the Crayon 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports Brad Keselowski Partnerships and Endorsements In January of 2023, RFK Racing extended their contract with lubricant bran Castrol. The company&#8217;s colors and logo appeared on Brad Keselowski&#8217;s #6 car in several important races, including 3 in the playoffs &#8211; Bristol, Charlotte, and Phoenix. Other companies that have sponsorship or endorsement deals with the 2012 Cup Series champion are Miller Lite, Discount Tire, Autotrader, Alliance Truck Parts, and Wurth. Being one of the co-owners of RFK, Keselowski also shares a relationship with the team&#8217;s partners which include names like Ford Performance, Fastenal, and Siemens to name a few. Recently, in January 2024, it was also announced that the driver-owner would be sponsored by Consumer Cellular for a handful of Cup Series races during the 2024 season. In another exciting development, just a few days later, Solomon Plumbing also returned as a sponsor for the #6 driver for four Cup Series for 2024. DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA &#8211; FEBRUARY 16: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Discount Tire Ford, is introduced prior to the NASCAR Cup Series 62nd Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 16, 2020 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) Brad Keselowskiâ€™s Investments In July 2021, it was announced that Brad Keselowski would be joining Roush Fenway Racing as a minority team owner and would be replacing Ryan Newman to drive the No. 6 vehicle. Subsequently, Keselowski debuted as a driver-owner in the 2022 season with the team that was rebranded as Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing. After the new name and logo for the team was unveiled in November 2021 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, the 2012 Cup Series Champion spoke of the rebrand in detail. He mentioned how the rebrandÂ &#8220;is more than a fancy new logo&#8221;.Â  &#8220;It&#8217;s an acknowledgment to our heritage, a renewed commitment to our people and a stake in the ground that says we are here to operate top-tier race teams in the sport of NASCAR for decades to come,&#8221; he added. Brad Keselowski NASCAR Career Stats Brad Keselowski&#8217;s career graph till now certainly speaks volumes. He has clinched 35 wins in 521 races in the Cup Series along with 249 Top-10 positions and 18 poles. Apart from that, he secured 39 wins in 257 races in NASCAR&#8217;s second division, in addition to 174 Top-10s and 22 poles. As for his Craftsman Truck Series career, Keselowski has one win in 66 races, 15 Top-10s and one pole position. In his NASCAR Cup Series career, the driver has an average start and an average finish of 12.8 and 14.09, respectively. Brad Keselowskiâ€™s Records Given how charismatic Keselowski is behind the wheel, it&#8217;s only natural that the driver has garnered quite some accolades in his career till now. After he clinched his sixth career win at the Alabama track of Talladega Superspeedway, the RFK team owner tied the iconic Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr for second-most wins of all time. Brad Keselowski Major Achievements and AwardsÂ Â  The RFK Racing driver and co-owner is one of the most experienced racers in the NASCAR Cup Series today. He has been competing in the series since 2008 and in that time, has won countless honors. He was the 2012 Cup Series champion and the 2010 Nationwide Series champion. He has won the Coca-Cola 600, Brickyard 400, and the Advance Auto Parts Clash one time each. When it comes to awards, Keselowski won the Nationwide Series Most Popular Driver award three times straight from 2008 to 2010. He has also been named in NASCAR&#8217;s 75 Greatest Drivers list. Apart from that, the driver has shown his dominance by appearing in the Cup Series playoffs 12 times, 11 out of which have been in consecutive years. Keselowski&#8217;s career reached its peak with Roger Penske&#8216;s team but right now, the veteran racer is putting in the effort to take Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing to the heights it once achieved. After the 2012 Cup Series champion joined in 2022, there has been a visible improvement in the team&#8217;s performance. They finished the season with 3 wins in 2023, including a famous 1-2 victory at Daytona. The motorsports veteran is also the owner and founder of Keselowski Advanced Manufacturing. As per the official website, &#8220;Keselowski Advanced Manufacturing (KAM) is a vertically integrated simulation and engineering through serial production manufacturing company with Additive Manufacturing (LPBF-M) and CNC Capabilities.&#8221;Â  DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA &#8211; JANUARY 12: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #6 RFK Racing Ford looks on in the garage during the NASCAR Next Gen Test at Daytona International Speedway on January 12, 2022 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) Brad Keselowskiâ€™s Charity and Foundation Brad Keselowski is the founder of the Brad Keselowski&#8217;s Checkered Flag Foundation. The organization was founded in 2010 after the former Cup Series champion visited the Walter Reed Medical Center in 2009. He was inspired to give back to the brave women and men who served the country and were injured in the process. According to the website, the foundation has raised $3.8 million and helped out over 250 individuals and organizations. It&#8217;s not only war veterans that the charity supports, but first responders and active military personnel as well. Brad Keselowski Controversies He might be one of the most talented and consistent drivers in NASCAR but that does not mean that Brad Keselowski has not seen his fair share of troubles. One of the biggest penalties he has faced came in 2022 when the RFK Racing man was fined a whopping 100 points by NASCAR. After the Atlanta race that year, officials found a tail panel modification that was illegal and cost the veteran dearly. Keselowski was on fire the season he won his first and only Cup Series championship. However, he was involved in a controversial decision by NASCAR which involved not bringing out the caution despite there being an accident on the track. The then-Penske Racing driver hit the wall late during the race but NASCAR surprised several fans and insiders by opting against bringing out the caution as Keselowski kept his car going. â€œObviously, weâ€™re monitoring that, the 6 is in the fence. Brad is listening through his spotter and race control that we needed the 6 to get down on the apron. Once he did that, it means heâ€™s kind of out of harmâ€™s way and heâ€™s driving around. If he comes to a complete stop down on the apron at that point, then weâ€™re going to have to go get him,â€Â NASCAR official Elton Sawyer had said of the incident. HOMESTEAD, FL &#8211; NOVEMBER 16: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Dodge, stands in the garage during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 16, 2012 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) The racing veteran provided a moment of comic relief in the 2023 Cup Series season at the Coke Zero Sugar 400 in Daytona. The red flag had fallen and under those circumstances, the cars were meant to be stationary in the pits. However, the #6 was seen going around in circles. Confusion and humor gripped the others on track and the fans but it was later revealed that Keselowski&#8217;s car had caught on fire and he had no choice but to do what he did to put it out. The whole controversy surrounding the car inspections is also one of the infamous moments of Brad Keselowski&#8217;s career. Both his and teammate Joey Logano&#8217;s cars failed pre-race inspections as NASCAR found something wrong with their rear-end housings, and confiscated them. The Penske Racing cars still managed to finish in the top 10 but the penalties were then levied. The 2012 Cup Series champion was not a happy man at the time as he lashed out at NASCAR for being partial against his team. &#8220;Our guys are innovative and we&#8217;re looking at the rules, looking at areas where we can get an edge like everybody else,&#8221; Keselowski had said at the time. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think there&#8217;s anything we did wrong. It&#8217;s obviously a judgment.&#8221; Despite these incidents, Keselowski has managed to entertain fans outside of the racing world, by dabbling his foot into the entertainment industry. Brad Keselowski in Media The former Cup Series champion made a cameo alongside Joey Logano in the movie &#8216;Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!&#8217; He also joined several other NASCAR stars to appear in the 2017 movie &#8216;Logan Lucky&#8217; and he has appeared several times on the sitcom &#8216;Sullivan &amp; Son.&#8217; Brad Keselowski Social Media Accounts Brad Keselowski is fairly active on his social media handles, especially Twitter.  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BradKeselowski  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bradkeselowski/  Twitter https://twitter.com/keselowski    Full Name Brad Keselowski  Popular Name &#8220;Bad Brad&#8221; Keselowski  Birth Place Rochester Hills, Michigan, U.S  Birth Date February 12, 1984  Age 39  Height 5Â ft 10Â in  Weight (In pounds) 177Â lb  Parents Kay Keselowski, Bob Keselowski  Siblings Brian Keselowski, Ginger Hoffman, Dawn Nicholas, and Kathy Samborski.  Nationality American  Ethnicity Caucasian  Net Worth $45 million  Salary 9.4 million  Relationship/ Marital Status Married  Spouse Paige White  Children Scarlett Keselowski, Autumn Keselowski, Maize Keselowski  Profession Race car driver, team owner  Team RFK Racing

Brad Keselowski Archives

Brad Keselowski Archives - EssentiallySports

<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>The Daytona 500 2025</b></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>What is the Daytona 500?</strong></h2>
For any NASCAR fan, the Daytona 500 race holds a special place in their hearts. The most prestigious race in the Cup Series, a win at the revered race bestows limitless repute and honor to its victor. Often referred to as the unofficial "birthplace of speed", Daytona Beach, where the race has been held for over six decades, has a long and storied history. Currently, it is featured on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule as one of the four crown-jewel races, and it also features the highest winning prize among all Cup races.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Why is the Daytona 500 called the Great American Race?</strong></h2>
As one of the most iconic spectator sports events in America, the Daytona 500 takes the cake as NASCAR's creme de la creme. Throughout history, the event has often been compared to the Super Bowl, the crown jewel of the NFL. However, many NASCAR enthusiasts haven't been too keen on that description and have placed the crown-jewel raceway above the Super Bowl.

The race is also called 'The Great American Race' and given the storied history of the Daytona International Speedway and its roots in racing, the moniker is surely a well-deserved one. Notably, the iconic race has been the season opener since 1982.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>When is the Daytona 500 2025?</strong></h2>
The 2025 Daytona 500 <span style="margin: 0px;padding: 0px">will be held on <strong>Sunday, February 16,</strong></span> at<strong> 6:30 p.m. GMT/1:30 p.m. ET</strong>.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>What is the format of the Daytona 500?</strong></h2>
In its 66-year-long history, the Daytona 500 has had many revamps to its qualifying format. From two timed laps, the better of two laps, to the average of two laps, the crown jewel race has explored several avenues to decide its starting grid. However, what stuck and is currently in place is a two-race qualifying. The first race is a single-car qualifying where each driver takes up one lap. The Top 10 drivers from that round advance to the second round where their order in the main event starting grid is determined. The single-car runs to decide the front row of the Daytona 500. They also decide the lineup for the qualifying races also referred to as <em>"the duels". </em>The starting grid is eventually decided based on the duels.

[caption id="attachment_1948603" align="alignnone" width="1800"]<img class="wp-image-1948603 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago0004296892h.jpg" alt="Daytona 500" width="1800" height="1200" /> Teilnehmerfeld der Daytona 500, v.li.: Martin Truex Jr., Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, David Ragan, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards, Brian Vickers und David Stremme - (ZUMAse4)[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Who are the past winners of the Daytona 500?</strong></h2>
The inaugural Daytona 500 race in 1959 was won by Richard Petty's father, the legendary Lee Petty. The patriarch of the NASCAR royalty family clinched victory driving a 1959 Oldsmobile for Newton Chappell at the inaugural event outperforming Johnny Beauchamp. Charley Griffith, representing Red Bank, finished P3, while Cotton Owens and Joe Weatherly wrapped up the Top-5 positions.

Since then, 43 drivers have won the iconic Harley J. Earl Trophy, and the most successful among them is Lee Petty’s son. With seven wins, Richard Petty sits atop the most-wins list at the venue. What makes his feat even more legendary is the fact that Petty managed to clinch four of those titles in a single decade, in 1971, 1973, 1974, and 1979. The rest of his victories came in 1964, 1966 and 1981.

[caption id="attachment_859313" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-859313 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-1018179224.jpg" alt="Richard Petty" width="1920" height="1280" /> BRISTOL, TN - AUGUST 17: Team owner, Richard Petty, stands on pit road during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 17, 2018 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)[/caption]

Following 'The King' on the most-wins tally is Carl Yarborough with four wins in 1968, 1977, 1983, and 1984. The current vice-chairman of Hendrick Motorsports, Jeff Gordon also won the Daytona 500 thrice in 1997, 1999, and 2005. Apart from him, Bobby Allison (1978, 1982, and 1988) and Dale Jarrett (1993, 199,6 and 2000) have also won the prestigious race thrice. The Pied Piper of Daytona, <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/dale-earnhardt-jr/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dale Earnhardt Jr</a>, and seven-time Cup Series Champion <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/jimmie-johnson/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jimmie Johnson</a> won the race on two occasions in 2004 and 2014, and 2006 and 2013, respectively.

Among the current batch of drivers, the one who clinched the most victory lane visits is <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/denny-hamlin/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Denny Hamlin</a> with three wins, two of which were back-to-back (2016, 2019, and 2020). Notably, in 2024 Hendrick Motorsport's William Byron won the race by leading teammate Alex Bowman when Ross Chastain and Austin Cindric spun behind them. However, many talented drivers like two-time Cup Series champions <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/kyle-busch/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kyle Busch</a> and <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/kyle-larson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kyle Larson</a> are yet to get their hands on the elusive Trophy.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>What is the eligibility of the Daytona 500 2025?</strong></h2>
Currently, the Daytona 500 sees 40 cars competing, out of which 36 sports belong to drivers whose teams have their charters. The rest of the 4 spots, which are referred to as open cars, constitute teams that do not own a charter. However, the newly introduced Open Exemption Provisional guarantees a “world-class driver” to race as the 41st car if he or she fails to qualify with the traditional method. Four-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves will become the first beneficiary of this rule. The Brazilian superstar will drive under Project 91 for Trackhouse Racing.

While his participation attracts massive eyeballs, some NASCAR drivers aren’t excited about it. Veterans like Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. called out authorities for the move. Hamlin even called it a publicity stunt. <em>“My opinion on this was that it was desperate, I didn’t like it. I just thought that you’re really doing everything you can to try to get a headline, and I still believe it to be true,”</em> said Hamlin. Apart from drivers and fans, the vice president of Hendrick Motorsports <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/jeff-gordon/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jeff Gordon</a> also raised his concerns. While he didn’t oppose the decision but raised questions about the selection process. He asked NASCAR to clarify how they will determine a<em> “world-class driver.”</em>
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>The entry list for the Daytona 500 2025?</strong></h2>
The charter teams that will participate in the Daytona 500 2025 are:
<table style="border-collapse: collapse;width: 53.0357%;height: 944px">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 24px">
<h3>Owner-Manufacturer</h3>
</td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 24px">
<h3 style="text-align: center">Driver-Car Number</h3>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 144px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 144px;text-align: center"><strong>Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 144px;text-align: center">No. 5 - Kyle Larson<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 9 - Chase Elliott<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 24 - William Byron<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 48 - Alex Bowman</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 96px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 96px;text-align: center"><strong>Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 96px;text-align: center">No. 11 - Denny Hamlin<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 19 - Chase Briscoe<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 20 - Christopher Bell<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 54 - Ty Gibbs</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 96px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 96px;text-align: center"><strong>Haas Factory Team, Ford</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 96px;text-align: center">No. 41 - Cole Custer</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 72px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 72px;text-align: center"><strong>Team Penske, Ford</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 72px;text-align: center">No. 2 - Austin Cindric<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 12 - Ryan Blaney<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 22 - Joey Logano</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 48px;text-align: center"><strong>Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 48px;text-align: center">No. 3 - Austin Dillon<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 8 - Kyle Busch</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 48px;text-align: center"><strong>Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 48px;text-align: center">No. 16 - A.J. Allmendinger<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 10 - Ty Dillon</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 48px;text-align: center"><strong>Legacy Motor Club, Toyota</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 48px;text-align: center">No. 42 - John Hunter Nemechek<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 43 - Erik Jones</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 48px;text-align: center"><strong>RFK Racing, Ford</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 48px;text-align: center">No. 6 - Brad Keselowski<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 17 - Chris Buescher
No. 60 - Ryan Preece</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 48px;text-align: center"><strong>Trackhouse Racing Team, Chevrolet</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 48px;text-align: center">No. 1 - Ross Chastain
No. 88 - Shane van Gisbergen<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 99 - Daniel Suarez</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 48px;text-align: center"><strong>23XI Racing, Toyota</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 48px;text-align: center">No. 23 - Bubba Wallace
No. 35 - Riley Herbst<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 45 - Tyler Reddick</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 72px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 72px;text-align: center"><strong>Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 72px;text-align: center">No. 7 - Justin Haley<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 71 - Michael McDowell<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 77 - Carson Hocevar</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 56px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 56px;text-align: center"><strong>Front Row Motorsports, Ford</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 56px;text-align: center">No. 4 - Noah Gragson
No. 34 - Todd Gilliland<br role="presentation" data-uw-rm-sr="" />No. 38 - Zane Smith</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 24px;text-align: center"><strong>HYAK Motorsports, Chevrolet</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 24px;text-align: center">No. 47 - Ricky Stenhouse Jr.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 48px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 48px;text-align: center"><strong>Rick Ware Racing, Ford</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 48px;text-align: center">No. 51 - Cody Ware</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 29.2857%;height: 24px;text-align: center"><strong>Wood Brothers Racing, Ford</strong></td>
<td style="width: 23.75%;height: 24px;text-align: center">No. 21 - Josh Berry</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
The five non-charter teams that have qualified for the Daytona 500 2025 are:
<ul>
 	<li>Corey LaJoie - No. 01 Ford Take 5 Oil Change/DuraMax for Rick Ware Racing</li>
 	<li><span class="LinkEnhancement">Justin Allgaier - </span>No. 40 Chevrolet Traveller Whiskey for JR Motorsports</li>
 	<li>Martin Truex Jr - No. 56 Toyota Bass Pro Shops for TRICON Garage</li>
 	<li>Jimmie Johnson - the No. 84 Toyota Carvana for Legacy Motor Club</li>
 	<li>Helio Castroneves - No. 91 Chevrolet Wendy's for Trackhouse Racing (OEP)</li>
</ul>
The four non-charter teams that didn't qualify for the Daytona 500 2025 are:
<ul>
 	<li>J.J. Yeley - No. 44 Chevrolet for NY Racing Team</li>
 	<li>Anthony Alfredo - No. 62 Chevrolet for Beard Motorsports</li>
 	<li>Chandler Smith - No. 66 Ford Mustang for Garage 66</li>
 	<li>B.J. McLeod - No. 78 Chevrolet for Live Fast Motorsports</li>
</ul>
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>The Grand Marshall and the Pre-race show at the Daytona 500, 2025</strong></h2>
The 2025 Daytona 500 will be a star-studded affair. This year, Falcon and the Winter Soldier fame Hollywood actor, Anthony Mackie is set to perform the duties of the Grand Marshal. Notably, Actor and producer Alan Ritchson will pace the 67th running of the Daytona 500. Apart from them, some rumors suggest that newly elected US President Donald Trump could join the event. A NOTAM issued by the Federal Aviation Administration fuelled the speculations. However, NASCAR has yet to confirm Trump's participation. Notably, this would be Trump's second appearance at the Grand American Race as sitting president after he marshaled the 2020 Daytona 500.

As for the pre-race show, Trackhouse Racing's co-owner Pitbull will return for the pre-race concert. In 2024 the Grammy-winning artist failed to perform as poor weather conditions postponed the Sunday race.

[caption id="attachment_516696" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-516696 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/20210116150513/GettyImages-1211216417.jpg" alt="Pitbull prior to the NASCAR Daytona 500" width="1920" height="1280" /> AVONDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 08: Rapper Pitbull performs prior to the NASCAR Cup Series FanShield 500 at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Tickets for the Daytona 500 2025</strong></h2>
For the second year in a row, the tickets for the Daytona 500 race have been sold out. However, fans can still get a chance to witness the coveted race in person by buying reserved grandstand seats at the event's official ticketing partner, seatgeek.com. People looking for budget-friendly options have various alternatives, with the lowest being $153 each for 1-8 tickets. For Pit Road Patios and Daytona 500 Club, ticket prices range from $545 to $2230 for 1-7 tickets. An important point to note is that the Pit Road Patios don't include catering while Club passes include Hard Rock Bet Fanzone and Pre-Race access World-class cuisine and open bar Access to Mobil 1 Victory Lane for post-race ceremonies.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Broadcasting of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
The Daytona 500 race will be broadcast live on FOX and the FOX Sports App. Users who do not have a cable connection can also watch the race on live-streaming platforms that include FOX, MRN, and SiriusXM.

Currently, the Daytona 500 sees 40 cars competing, out of which 36 sports belong to drivers whose teams have their charters.

<h1 style="text-align: center">Kevin Harvick: 2025 Net Worth, Stats, Salary, Wife and More</h1>
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Who is Kevin Harvick?</strong></h2>
Kevin Harvick is a stock car racing driver, who will perhaps always be known as the guy that succeeded <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/dale-earnhardt/">Dale Earnhardt</a>. However, he has made sure that's not the only thing he's known for after churning out more than two decades of what everybody will definitely call an iconic career.

[caption id="attachment_2070221" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-2070221 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2023-08-12T160152Z_773590676_MT1USATODAY21192103_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-CUP-PRACTICE-QUALIFYING.jpg" alt="Kevin Harvick" width="1920" height="1280" /> Aug 12, 2023; Speedway, Indiana, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick (4) during practice for the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kevin Harvick's Early Life</b></h2>
Kevin Harvick was born on December 8, 1975, to Mike Harvick and JoNell Harvick. He has a younger sister named Amber, who prefers to stay away from the limelight.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Kevin Harvick's Wife and Children</strong></h2>
Talking about Kevin Harvick is incomplete without mentioning his partner in crime, <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-who-is-delana-harvick-meet-nascar-driver-kevin-harvicks-wife/">DeLana Harvick</a>. The couple first met in the year 2000, when DeLana was working in the Public Relations department for NASCAR driver, Randy LaJoie. The couple, smitten with each other, tied the knot just a year later, shortly after Harvick's Cup Series debut, and have been going strong since then. They have <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-meet-kevin-harvicks-children-keelan-harvick-and-piper-grace/">two children together</a>, a son Keelan Paul Harvick, born on July 8, 2012, and a daughter Piper Harvick, his daughter, born on December 8, 2017.

[caption id="attachment_2312873" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-2312873 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/275072737_500811668067352_3858581679021431527_n-e1698862461270.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1142" /> Source: Kevin Harvick's Facbook Page[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kevin Harvick's Net Worth 2025</b></h2>
Having been a Cup Series driver for over twenty years, Kevin Harvick has reportedly amassed a net worth of approximately $110 million in 2025, according to Celebrity Net Worth. He was reportedly being paid $10.9 million at Stewart-Haas Racing before retiring and was one of the highest-paid drivers in his last full-time season in 2023. While the retired veteran has taken up new duties as a full-time FOX TV Analyst, his salary hasn't been disclosed.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kevin Harvick's Career Timeline </b></h2>
Kevin Harvick's relationship with the race-track dates back to his toddler days. Little Harvick was reportedly gifted a go-kart by his parents as a kindergarten graduation gift. And since that day, the racer hasn't had to look back. The driver soon started participating in go-karting events, and notably won two Grand National championships and seven national championships. However, Harvick didn't stop there as he began racing in late models on a part-time basis during his teenage days. And just three years later, in 1995, Harvick made his <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/nascar-truck-series/">NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series</a> debut at Mesa Marin Raceway, where he finished P27.

Then in 1999, he made his Xfinity Series (then called the NASCAR Busch Series) debut at Rockingham Speedway. Unfortunately, due to an engine failure, the racer had to finish at a dismal P42, despite having started at P24.

Subsequently, Kevin Harvick was scheduled to make a full-time <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/nascar-cup-series/">Cup Series</a> in 2002 with <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/richard-childress-racing/">Richard Childress Racing</a>. However, the Intimidator Dale Earnhardt's tragic death during the 2001 Daytona 500 changed all plans and Kevin Harvick had to fill in for Earnhardt for the rest of the season, starting with the Dura Lube 400 at Rockingham Speedway, where he finished P14. And 13 years later, Harvick finally won the Cup Series in 2014.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Kevin Harvick's Partnerships and Endorsements</strong></h2>
According to Kevin Harvick's official website, he is backed by brands like RealTree, Busch Beer, Hunt Brothers Pizza, Pristine Auction.com, Ezgo, and Treetop.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kevin Harvick's NASCAR Stats</b></h2>
In his elaborate Cup career, Kevin Harvick has clinched 60 wins, 444 Top-10s, and 31 pole positions in 826 races. In the <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/nascar-xfinity-series/">Xfinity Series</a>, in 349 races, the driver has 47 wins, 261 Top-10,s and 25 poles. As for NASCAR's third division, the Craftsman Truck Series, Harvick has four pole positions, 62 top-10s, and 14 wins in 124, to his name.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kevin Harvick's Major Achievements and Awards</b></h2>
There's hardly anything the driver has yet to clinch in his NASCAR career. From championship triumphs to iconic race wins, Harvick has won it all! Besides being named one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023, his biggest achievement so far is the 2014 Cup Series championship. Apart from that, Harvick also tops the list for wins at the <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/phoenix-raceway/">Phoenix Raceway</a> with nine victories.

The California native has also won the 2011 and 2013 Coca-Cola 600, along with the 2007 NEXTEL All-Star Challenge, and the 2009, 2010, and 2013 Sprint Unlimited. But wait, there’s more! He has also secured wins in the 2014 and 2020 Cook Out Southern 500 and secured a historic triumph at the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star race, among many others.

[caption id="attachment_423928" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-423928 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/20201026190316/GettyImages-1124983304.jpg" alt="Kevin Harvick celebrates his win at Daytona" width="1920" height="1280" /> DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 14: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Busch Beer Car2Can Ford, celebrates in victory lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Gander RV Duel At DAYTONA #1 at Daytona International Speedway on February 14, 2019 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kevin Harvick's Investment</b></h2>
After retiring from full-time racing in 2021, Kevin Harvick has diversified his career beyond the racetrack through various investments and businesses. Kevin Harvick Inc., which was founded in 2001 to manage the driver’s career, has fully expanded into a motorsports operation, fielding cars in the Truck and Nationwide Series. Even though the California native chose to scale down his racing ventures in 2011, KHI continues to manage the racer’s businesses, which include licensing, merchandising, and appearances.

Harvick has also invested in real estate, including commercial properties over the years. His investments in this sector are managed by KHI Properties, which is responsible for developing and leasing real estate in the commercial sector. The former Stewart-Haas racer also owns car dealerships in North Carolina, which is his way of remaining connected to the automotive world. Kevin Harvick Inc. also has an e-commerce platform, which is used for merchandising, catering to his vast fanbase.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kevin Harvick and Dale Earnhardt </b></h2>
Kevin Harvick's foray into the Cup Series will always be a part of the history books. After showing lightning-fast performances in other NASCAR divisions, Harvick was roped in to make his Cup debut in 2002 on a full-time basis for Richard Childress Racing. However, that plan didn't see the light of day as Dale Earnhardt Jr. met his tragic end at the 2021 Daytona 500. Left with a vacant No. 29 Chevrolet, Richard Childress decided to field Harvick immediately, and he went on to compete in 35 races in place of ‘The Intimidator’.

Kevin Harvick and Dale Earnhardt shared a camaraderie like no other. Being a part of the same team back then saw the duo form a friendship where Dale Earnhardt reportedly also took up a mentorship role for Harvick, who was in his early 20s back then.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kevin Harvick Controversies</b></h2>
While Kevin Harvick has made some memorable friendships in the circuit during his long career, feuds have also followed him on quite some occasions. One of the most memorable ones dates back to 2014 when Harvick, despite not being involved in a fight directly, decided to stir the pot. The incident unfolded during the final playoff elimination round at the AAA Texas 500. Keselowski seemingly squeezed between the No. 48 of Johnson and the No. 24 of Jeff Gordon in a bid to steal the win but instead bumped Gordon, which ended up spinning him to the back of the field and finishing at a dismal 29th place.

After the conclusion of the race, Gordon stormed over to pit road to confront Keselowski, who didn't seem too interested in a feud. However, things took a turn when Kevin Harvick suddenly came up from behind Keselowski and pushed him toward Jeff Gordon. What followed was a massive fistfight. While Harvick at the time may have instigated the fight, he later expressed his regret for the shove.

https://twitter.com/NASCARONFOX/status/1190282849276104704

<em>“I know what I was thinking when I pushed him into the fight and then it caused chaos. For me, my mind was, ‘Man, we didn’t win tonight. We need chaos'”¦We needed the story to go elsewhere other than us and being out of contention. It did exactly what I wanted it to do, but it’s not the best thing for your kids to find on YouTube, starting the fight,” </em>Harvick had later shared on the Stacking Pennies With Corey LaJoie.<em> </em>

One other driver that the 2014 Cup Series Champion was seen locking horns with was Joey Logano. The duo was often seen racing hard against each other and even engaging in multiple run-ins. In 2010, at the Pocono Raceway, Harvick had nudged Logano from behind, which sent him spinning. And later, during a post-race interview, Logano didn't hold back from firing shots at both Harvick and his wife DeLana.

<em>“I don’t know what his deal is with me, but it’s probably not his fault, you know, his wife wears the firesuit in the family and tells him what to do. I don’t know what I’ve ever done to piss him off, but he’s apparently stupid,”</em> Logano had said. That's not the end of it, though. Again, in 2015, a similar incident took place, but this time it was Logano who nudged Harvick during the Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway.

https://twitter.com/NASCARONFOX/status/1134497767089303552

While the feud seemed like it would have no end, the duo have let go of the bad blood, and are even good friends today.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kevin Harvick Retirement and FOX Booth Analyst</b></h2>
Saddening news hit the NASCAR circuit in January 2023, when Kevin Harvick announced that he would retire after the 2023 season.

<em>“There is absolutely nothing else in the world that I enjoy doing more than going to the race track, and I’m genuinely looking forward to this season. But as I’ve gone through the years, I knew there would come a day where I had to make a decision. When would it be time to step away from the car? I’ve sought out people and picked their brains. When I asked them when they knew it was the right time, they said it’ll just happen, and you’ll realize that’s the right moment. You’ll make a plan and decide when it’s your last year. It’s definitely been hard to understand when that right moment is because we’ve been so fortunate to run well. But sometimes there are just other things going on that become more important and, for me, that time has come,”</em> Harvick had said in an official press release.

And, just a month later, it was announced that the veteran would be joining the FOX Sports Broadcast Booth for the Cup Series in 2024. Harvick was roped in as a part of a three-member team alongside Mike Joy and Clint Bowyer.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kevin Harvick Social Media </b></h2>
Kevin Harvick is active on all major social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and X.
<table style="width: 691px">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 76.9028px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Facebook</span></td>
<td style="width: 599.431px"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/KevinHarvick/">https://www.facebook.com/KevinHarvick/ </a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 76.9028px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Instagram</span></td>
<td style="width: 599.431px"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/kevinharvick/?hl=en">https://www.instagram.com/kevinharvick/</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 76.9028px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Twitter</span></td>
<td style="width: 599.431px"><a href="https://x.com/KevinHarvick?">https://x.com/KevinHarvick/</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="width: 54.3473%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 31.6915%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Full Name</span></td>
<td style="width: 280.878%">Kevin Michael Harvick</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 31.6915%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Popular Name</span></td>
<td style="width: 280.878%">Kevin Harvick, The Closer, Happy Harvick</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 31.6915%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Birthdate</span></td>
<td style="width: 280.878%">December 8, 1975</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 31.6915%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Birthplace</span></td>
<td style="width: 280.878%">Bakersfield, California, U.S.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 31.6915%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Age</span></td>
<td style="width: 280.878%">48 (as of March 2024)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 31.6915%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Height </span></td>
<td style="width: 280.878%">1.78 m</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 31.6915%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Weight</span></td>
<td style="width: 280.878%">175 lb (79 kg)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 31.6915%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Parents</span></td>
<td style="width: 280.878%">Mike Harvick, JoNell Harvick</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 31.6915%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Siblings</span></td>
<td style="width: 280.878%">Amber</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 31.6915%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Nationality </span></td>
<td style="width: 280.878%">American</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 31.6915%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Ethnicity</span></td>
<td style="width: 280.878%">Caucasian</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 31.6915%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Salary</span></td>
<td style="width: 280.878%">Approx. $10.9 million at SHR before retirement</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 31.6915%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Net Worth</span></td>
<td style="width: 280.878%">Approx. $110 million</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 31.6915%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Relationship/ Marital Status</span></td>
<td style="width: 280.878%">Married</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 31.6915%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Spouse</span></td>
<td style="width: 280.878%">DeLana Harvick</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 31.6915%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Children</span></td>
<td style="width: 280.878%">2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 31.6915%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Profession</span></td>
<td style="width: 280.878%">Retired stock car racing driver, FOX Analyst</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 31.6915%"><span style="font-weight: 400">Team</span></td>
<td style="width: 280.878%">Stewart-Haas Racing at the time of retirement</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

Kevin Harvick

Kevin Harvick is a stock car racing driver, and currently a NASCAR analyst who will perhaps always be known as the guy that succeeded Dale Earnhardt.

“That Was His Decision” – Kevin Harvick Defends Brad Keselowski Over Last-Lap Move in NASCAR Daytona 500

Kevin Harvick did not blame Brad Keselowski