Watch: Ending His NASCAR Career on a High Note, Kevin Harvick Raises One Last Toast With His Family & SHR Crew

It was not just another normal day in Kevin Harvick‘s life. After driving his #4 Mustang for 312 laps on Phoenix Raceway, he took off his helmet and gloves and got out of his car. What’s different about it is that he knew it was his last time sitting behind the wheel of the Stewart-Haas Racing Ford.

A long and eventful career for over two decades came to a glorious end for the 60-time NASCAR Cup Series winner, Kevin Harvick. The 47-year-old had already declared at the start of the season that he would become a broadcaster in the FOX Sports booth. But before that, Harvick still had another day, perhaps his last day behind the wheel. And it ended with everyone sharing a piece of cold beer with the legend.

Kevin Harvick raises a toast with his crew

It’s no surprise that Harvick was competitive on Sunday and finished 7th. After all, Phoenix has always been one of his strongest suits. He even took the lead briefly after passing HMS star William Byron on lap 93, while fans roared from the grandstands. After it was all done and dusted, he grabbed a bottle of water from his 11-year-old son Keelan and patted the boy on the back.

Harvick said, “That’s always been one of my goals…to walk out as competitive as possible. We did that. So, I wouldn’t change anything. We would balance a lot for sure. To be able to balance all that and still walk away competitive says a lot about the people that I have around me and the drive that we have to do good.” 

Harvick grabbed a Busch Light beer and so did everyone else around him. Following his cue, they all held their beers toward the sky as Harvick raised a toast, “Appreciate all the efforts. Everything that we have accomplished. All the friends that we made. Cheers to you. Thank you.”

The beautiful Sunday afternoon ended with a couple of happy moments, and a few teardrops. But Harvick had perhaps felt that his emotions were all over until it came to his children. His two kids, Keelan and Piper, were given two headsets to wish their dad well and congratulate him on his career, before the race’s start.

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When a reporter asked what he felt about that, Harvick smiled and said, “That’s not normal. They probably loved that..so…” He then choked up. His shades prevented everyone from seeing how hard he was trying to hold back his tears as he lifted his thumbs up and turned back to his family, who were gathered around his car.

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Kevin Harvick is all set to pick up the microphone for FOX Sports. And that chapter of his life begins next week. “I do already have calls next week with the folks from Fox and starting to work on end-of-the-year things for what we want to do there,” said Harvick, as reported by USA Today. However, he feels like the responsibility to be a NASCAR analyst is as big as that of being a driver.

He explained further saying, “I still think the responsibility is just as big to go up there and try to give the fans as much information as possible and do a good job for Fox and everybody with this sport to tell the best story that we can. We have a lot of great drivers, a lot of great personalities, and I hope everybody gets to see that.”

Tony Stewart spoke the world of Kevin Harvick. He said, “Kevin Harvick is probably the most well-rounded driver out there. Obviously, he’s a great racecar driver, but he knows how to build championship-winning teams, putting the right people in place, he understands the business side of it, he understands the marketing side of it.”

“I would challenge anyone to find someone in the series as a driver that can do all those aspects as well as Kevin,” he added confidently. Even Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr said, “This was an emotional day. Watching Kevin Harvick finish his career drives home just how far into this life I find myself. So many years and memories in the past.”

And with that ends what could definitely be called a Hall of Fame-worthy career. EssentiallySports extends Kevin Harvick a hearty congratulations on the completion of a fruitful career as a legendary driver, and good wishes for the days ahead.

Read more: Kevin Harvick Reveals One Thing That Is More Important Than Racing, Melts Fans Hearts