“What I’ve Got Myself Into?” – Kyle Larson’s Ultimatum Leaves Kevin Harvick Under Pressure Ahead of HMS Debut

“I was pretty scared. He’s just an intense guy,“ Kyle Larson once said about Kevin Harvick after Harvick got heated over some racing moves of the #5. Now, it looks like the tables are turning, albeit accidentally. Kyle Larson shared that for the upcoming Cup race at Dover, none other than FOX Sports broadcaster and former Cup champ Kevin Harvick will be taking his car for a spin at North Wilkesboro Speedway to practice and qualify for the NASCAR All-Star Race.

The move has seemingly put Harvick back behind the wheel less than a year after he hung up his racing gloves, and he appears a tad nervous and unsure about it. Also, not to mention, by driving the #5 car, even if it’s just for practice and qualifying, he’s bringing an old rumor to life.

Kevin Harvick will just lean on Kyle Larson’s right hand, making sure not to let the #5 team down

Kevin Harvick himself spilled the beans during a chat with his wife, buzzing with excitement about getting behind the wheel for Rick Hendrick. He mentioned, “There’s just not too many opportunities that are presented the way that this one was presented from Rick(Hendrick) to say I need a favor.“ By agreeing, Harvick isn’t just living up to his rep as a former Cup champ; he’s also getting another shot to live his dream on the NASCAR tracks. And taking the wheel of the #5 car? That’s no small feat.

Kyle Larson, meanwhile, wasn’t shocked at all that Harvick jumped at the chance to drive his car during the practice and qualifying at North Wilkesboro Speedway, especially since Larson would be tied up at the Indianapolis 500 that Friday. He’s got high hopes for Harvick’s stint and laid it out during an interview with Bob Pockrass, saying, “As for Kevin it would be to run hard like… I don’t think any… I definitely don’t care, but… I don’t think Cliff cares if he crashes probably either so. Like… I would want him to run hard, like. it’s only what a 55 minute practice probably. Just get after it. Get after it.”

However, Kevin Harvick is starting to feel the heat. Watching Kyle Larson zip around from his commentator’s booth, where Larson nailed a 4th place in qualifying and led stage 1 for a large chunk at Kansas, Harvick joked with his fellow analyst Clint Bowyer, saying, “I‘m starting to wonder about what I’ve got myself into. Not only do I have to drive the car of the best driver on the circuit as far as talent and speed and everything he’s got going on. Now you guys are starting to put pressure on me.“ 

Despite the nerves, Harvick knows how crucial the qualifying and practice sessions are for Hendrick Motorsports and Kyle Larson, especially while Larson is pulling off double duty. Harvick is apparently gearing up to step in, mentioning,  “I’m gonna lean on that guy Cliff Daniels.“ The former SHR driver revealed that he has been in touch with Cliff Daniels to sort out the seat and everything else in the car. He acknowledges it’s a big deal for the team, but with only two weeks to go, he quipped, “I better wrap my arms around it pretty quick.”

Also, another interesting side to the whole story is the fact that Kevin Harvick driving the #5 car will make a 2016 rumor come true.

Former SHR Cup champion Rick Hendrick is gearing up to make an old rumor come true

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Back in 2016, there was some serious talk that Kevin Harvick might hop into the driver’s seat of HMS’s #5 car. Several sources revealed that he was offered a shot to jump into what was then Kasey Kahne’s ride in 2017. Although Kahne did win in the #5 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway that year, he only managed to finish P15 in the standings during what turned out to be his last year with HMS.

While Kahne was locked in until 2018, any switch would’ve meant shaking up positions within the HMS roster or buying out his contract. Meanwhile, Harvick won two races and a P3 finish in the standings that year. Fast forward, and HMS restructured: they retired the #5 car for a bit, launched the #9 for Chase Elliott, previously in the #24, and slotted William Byron into the #24.

The #5 made a comeback in 2021 with Kyle Larson, after Jimmie Johnson left the #48, which was then handed to Alex Bowman, the former #88 driver—a number that’s also been retired now. As for Harvick, he continued to thrive with SHR, notching over 20 wins post-2017, including a whopping nine in 2020 alone. Well, it’s a toss-up whether he would’ve had a better run in the #5 Chevy than in his #4 Ford during those last seasons.

Now, with NASCAR gearing up for a return to North Wilkesboro Speedway, that long-whispered rumor about Harvick and the #5 car is set to materialize in a twist that no one saw coming.