The 2020 NASCAR season was far from being a normal racing season. This was the year when the COVID-19 pandemic hit every major sport in the US. While NASCAR was able to kickstart the year with the Daytona 500, they had to put a halt on racing after the Phoenix event in March. There was this sense of uncertainty, fear, and doubt within the minds of people on how they were going to endure these tough times. With every major US Sport series suspended, fans had little to cheer about while being stuck within the confines of their homes.

Although the effect of virus was crippling but the spirit of NASCAR wasn’t going to wither against it. In May 2020, NASCAR announced their return to the racetracks, and this was the moment when Kevin Harvick etched history at the track “Too Tough to Tame.” It was a different setting altogether, there was no qualification, no practice, and the grandstands at Darlington Raceway were empty.

Harvick had accomplished his goal of winning by the time the checkered flag dropped. The SHR driver had bagged his 50th career win, and he tied with Junior Johnson and Ned Jarrett for 12th on the all-time wins list. Although there was no confetti or the cheer of the fans, this victory by Harvick was a vital moment for the country. It was seen as an event that inspired others to follow, with the hope of getting back to normalcy in those testing times.

Kevin Harvick’s weird but impactful race win at Darlington Raceway

On May 17, 2020, Kevin Harvick’s moment arrived at Darlington Raceway. His sole instantaneous celebration, because there were neither crew nor fans in victory lane because of the pandemic, came from spotter Josh Williams’s voice on the radio: “Good job, Harv, Harv, Harv…” It wasn’t just any win, though. As the first major American sport to resume competition, NASCAR brought with it both scrutiny and optimism. Harvick’s triumph was a step toward normalcy, not simply another trophy. He even got a call from Washington before the night was over.

Years later, Harvick discussed the odd nature of the day in his Happy Hour podcast. It was unlike anything he had ever encountered, from the eerie quiet of deserted grandstands to a hail of congratulations from government representatives. According to Harvick, “This was way bigger than a race.”

The roar of engines, the sea of spectators, and the intensity of the moment make racing a sport that overloads the senses. However, everything seemed different on that May afternoon in Darlington. Harvick likened it to a dystopian movie on Happy Hour. The roads were deserted, and the trip to the track was strangely silent. Teams had to follow tight rules, which included wearing masks, temperature checks, a cap on the number of pit personnel, and no fan engagement. Even victory lane, which is typically a place of joy, was eerily quiet.

“The strangest thing for the whole day was the national anthem. Standing next to my car, it was just hollow, nobody there, just a recording. It sounded like one of those old war movies where they would play the music in a town that had been taken over.” Harvick said on the podcast.  He only did a socially distant interview with FOX’s Regan Smith using a boom microphone from six feet away; there were no high-fives with his crew or post-race festivities. As a bizarre reminder of how much had changed, Harvick even carried his bags back to his motorhome after victory.

The sports world had come to a complete halt by May 2020. The NBA had put an indefinite halt to its season. It wasn’t clear to Major League Baseball if it could play at all. Decisions from the NFL were months away. However, NASCAR was the first sport to make a comeback because of its capacity to function in regulated environments. Neither Harvick nor the rest of the world overlooked the importance of that moment. “The things that we did to help get our nation back on track… NASCAR was a big part of that,” he said on Happy Hour.

Other sports leagues were also watching, in addition to the racing community. Later, Harvick recalls talks with prominent figures in the industry, including representatives of Major League Baseball, who observed how NASCAR managed its comeback. Perhaps other sports could follow if racing could. Harvick’s phone rang that evening while he was driving home. Kevin McCarthy, the House Minority Leader at the time, was on the other end, congratulating him on the race’s significance as well as the victory. Not long afterward, White House representatives called.

“They were just talking about how proud they were of our sport and the things we did. It was great to win that race, but it was also an impactful moment for everything we were doing in our country at that particular time,” he said. Within weeks, other major sports leagues announced their own return-to-play plans, many citing NASCAR’s model as a template. The ripple effect of Darlington’s success was undeniable.

For Harvick, the Darlington victory marked career win number 50—but it was more than a milestone. It reassured fans, competitors, and an entire nation that sports could find a way forward. The eerie silence of victory lane, the tributes to healthcare workers, and the pressure on NASCAR to get it right made this one of the most unique races in the sport’s history.

“It was great to win that race. But it was also an impactful moment for everything that we were doing in our country at that particular time. It was way bigger than a race,” Harvick later reflected. NASCAR had done what no other major league had attempted—and in doing so, it restored more than just competition. It restored hope.

With the Darlington Race weekend lined up next on the NASCAR schedule, Harvick had some interesting take on who he thinks is favorite to win. It is worth noting that he was the one who predicted Denny Hamlin would win at Martinsville after a decade long wait.

Trending

1

Calls for ‘Firing’ Mount Against FOX as Declining Broadcaster Goes Down an Ugly Slump on Live Coverage

2

NASCAR President Riles Up Entire Racing Community After Baffling 3-Word Verdict on Fontana’s Future Goes Viral

3

Amidst Bankruptcy, Chase Elliott’s Disgraced Million Dollar Sponsor Bounces Back with Bold Claim

4

Calls Mount for Dale Jr’s JRM Star’s Suspension as NASCAR Confirms Punishment for Martinsville Controversy

5

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Loses His Temper as NASCAR Community Urges to Discipline His Driver Gone Haywire

Harvick is not sold on Chris Buescher’s redemption story at Darlington

Last year’s spring Darlington race was a two-way battle between the No. 17 and the No. 45. Tyler Reddick and Chris Bueshcer both traded paints and exchanged leads. But with 10 laps to go, Reddick made a huge fumble in trying to make an aggressive pass on the leader. The next thing you know, both the drivers are wrecking, while Brad Keselowski punched on the opportunity to open his account with his first win in the Next Gen era.

Buescher even confronted Reddick after the race in a heated argument. But before emotions got the better of the two drivers, Reddick apologized and accepted his mistake. Interestingly, the RFK Racing driver has three top 10 finishes at Darlinton, and of course, there’s the missed opportunity from last year. Ideally, he would be seen as the front-runner to win the race this weekend, but Harvick doesn’t think so.

“They’ll be solid, I don’t think they will have the speed to be able to compete with the Toyotas and the Hendrick cars. I think right now those guys are very elite compared to a lot of the cars out there… I think the #5 and the #11 are going to be the ones, #5 is going to be hard to beat with how good he is up front next to the fence. But Denny Hamlin, they’ve got some momentum now, and I believe that his experience with how good he is at the racetrack, you have to lean his way as well.” Harvick added.

Last year, Hamlin settled for a P4 finish during the spring race. Whereas, Larson had a 4th place finish at the Southern 500 last year, along with a win in 2023. So, Harvick knows why he is banking on the two drivers for this weekend’s race at Darlington.