Two decades of competition, 60 NASCAR Cup Series wins, the 2014 NASCAR Cup Series championship trophy and a pair of NASCAR Xfinity Series titles to his name, driver Kevin Harvick announced Thursday that he will retire from full-time NASCAR Cup Series competition at the end of the 2023 season, leaving an important and long-lasting impact on the sport that reaches well beyond the driver’s seat.
Harvick’s arrival into NASCAR’s big leagues in 2001 represented a huge career opportunity for the young Californian but came with the emotional and daunting responsibility to follow the late legend Dale Earnhardt at Richard Childress Racing. Then 25-year-old answered that big-time challenge winning his first NASCAR Cup Series race in Earnhardt’s car only three weeks after Earnhardt’s passing and Harvick being tabbed to drive the car (the team’s Chevrolet number changed from No. 3 to No. 29).
kAm%96 677@CE 2?5 DF446DD F?56C :?E6?D6 4:C4F>DE2?46D H2D 2 D:8? @7 E9:?8D E@ 4@>6 7C@> E96 q2<6CD7:6=5[ r2=:7] ?2E:G6 H9@D6 6>@E:@?2= 2?5 4=FE49 A6C7@C>2?46 E92E 563FE D62D@? 42>6 E@ 492C24E6C:K6 w2CG:4<’D >@IJ E9C@F89@FE 2 564@C2E65 42C66C] %96 cf\J62C\@=5 92D 364@>6 <?@H? 2D “%96 r=@D6C” 7@C 36:?8 2E E96 C:89E A=246 2E E96 C:89E E:>6 — 2C8F23=J 3@E9 @?\EC24< 2?5 @77\EC24< 2D 2 G@42= DA@<6D>2? 7@C 4@>A6E:E@CD]k^Am
kAmp?5 ?@H 27E6C ab D62D@?D[ E96 5C:G6C @7 E96 }@] c $E6H2CE\w22D #24:?8 u@C5 H:== 4=@D6 E96 A286D @? 2 C6>2C<23=6[ 46CE2:? w2== @7 u2>6 42C66C]k^Am
kAm“%96C6 :D 23D@=FE6=J ?@E9:?8 6=D6 :? E96 H@C=5 E92E x 6?;@J 5@:?8 >@C6 E92? 8@:?8 E@ E96 C246EC24< 2?5 x’> 86?F:?6=J =@@<:?8 7@CH2C5 E@ E9:D D62D@?[Q w2CG:4< D2:5] “qFE 2D x’G6 8@?6 E9C@F89 E96 J62CD[ x <?6H E96C6 H@F=5 4@>6 2 52J H96C6 x 925 E@ >2<6 2 564:D:@?] (96? H@F=5 :E 36 E:>6 E@ DE6A 2H2J 7C@> E96 42Cnk^Am
kAm“x’G6 D@F89E @FE A6@A=6 2?5 A:4<65 E96:C 3C2:?D] (96? x 2D<65 E96>[ H96? E96J <?6H :E H2D E96 C:89E E:>6[ E96J D2:5[ ‘:E’== ;FDE 92AA6?[ 2?5 J@F’== C62=:K6 E92E’D E96 C:89E >@>6?E] *@F’== >2<6 2 A=2? 2?5 564:56 H96? :E’D J@FC =2DE J62C]’k^Am
kAm“xE’D 567:?:E6=J 366? 92C5 E@ F?56CDE2?5 H96? E92E C:89E >@>6?E :D 3642FD6 H6’G6 366? D@ 7@CEF?2E6 E@ CF? H6==] qFE D@>6E:>6D E96C6 2C6 ;FDE @E96C E9:?8D 8@:?8 @? E92E 364@>6 >@C6 :>A@CE2?E 2?5 7@C >6[ E92E E:>6 92D 4@>6]Qk^Am
kAm}p$rp# !C6D:56?E $E6G6 !96=AD D2:5 @7 w2CG:4<’D ?6HD %9FCD52J[ “(:E9 492>A:@?D9:AD 24C@DD D6G6C2= }p$rp# D6C:6D 2?5 2 }p$rp# rFA $6C:6D H:? E@E2= E92E C2?<D :? E96 E@A\`_[ z6G:? w2CG:4<’D =6824J 2D @?6 @7 E96 2==\E:>6 8C62E 5C:G6CD :D D64FC6] k^Am
kAm“q6J@?5 9:D DF446DD :?D:56 2 C246 42C[ z6G:? :D 2 =6256C H9@ ECF=J 42C6D 23@FE E96 962=E9 2?5 E96 7FEFC6 @7 @FC DA@CE – 2 A2DD:@? E92E H:== 4@?E:?F6 =@?8 27E6C 9:D 5C:G:?8 52JD 2C6 4@>A=6E6] ~? 3692=7 @7 E96 uC2?46 u2>:=J 2?5 2== @7 }p$rp#[ x 4@?8C2EF=2E6 z6G:? @? 2 C6>2C<23=6 42C66C 2?5 H:D9 9:> E96 36DE @7 =F4< :? 9:D 7:?2= D62D@?]Q’k^Am
kAmw2CG:4< 2?5 9:D H:76 s6{2?2 92G6 EH@ J@F?8 49:=5C6? 2=C625J 2DA:C:?8 E@ 7@==@H :? E96:C 72E96C’D 7@@EDE6AD] $@? z66=2?[ `_[ C246D <2CED :?E6C?2E:@?2==J 2?5 52F89E6C !:A6C[ d[ 5C:G6D 2 8@\<2CE 2D H6==[ D66>:?8=J 6286C E@ A2CE:4:A2E6 :? E96 72>:=J’D 564@C2E65 =6824J 2D H6==]k^Am
kAm$E6AA:?8 2H2J 7C@> 9:D @H? C24:?8 D4965F=6 H:== 2==@H w2CG:4< E96 492?46 E@ EC2G6= 2?5 8F:56 E96>] w6 =62G6D E96 DA@CE 6286C E@ :>>6CD6 9:>D6=7 :? 9:D J@F?8 72>:=J’D AC:@C:E:6D] k^Am
kAm“x? E96 =2DE J62C[ x E9:?< x’G6 D66? z66=2? C246 E9C66 E:>6D H9:=6 96’D 366? :? tFC@A6[Q w2CG:4< D2:5] “x 8@ E@ E96 8@\<2CE EC24< H:E9 !:A6C[ 2?5 D96 >2<6D EH:46 2D >2?J DEC:56D :? 2 52J H9:=6 x’> E96C6 E92? D96 H@F=5 :? 2 52J x’> ?@E E96C6] xE E2<6D 2 =@E @7 E:>6 E@ @C82?:K6 E96 =6G6= @7 C24:?8 E96J’C6 5@:?8 2?5 E@ 36 2C@F?5 E92E :D :>A@CE2?E E@ >6]Qk^Am
kAmq6:?8 23=6 E@ 96=A 9:D 49:=5C6? H@C< E96:C H2J E9C@F89 E96 C2?<D :D :>A@CE2?E E@ w2CG:4<] w6 8C6H FA :? 2 H@C<:?8\4=2DD ?6:893@C9@@5 :? q2<6CD7:6=5[ r2=:7][ 2 E@H? E92E 2AAC64:2E65 E96 DA@CE @7 2FE@ C24:?8j 2=E9@F89 2E E96 E:>6 :E H2D 2 =68:E:>2E6 492==6?86 E@ >2<6 :E :? E96 H@C=5 @7 3:8\E:>6 DE@4< 42C 4@>A6E:E:@? @? E96 @E96C D:56 @7 E96 4@F?ECJ] k^Am
kAmw2CG:4< H2D 2 92C5\H@C<6C[ 9@H6G6C[ H:E9 2? F?4@>>@? 7@4FD 2?5 D@ >F49 ?2EFC2= E2=6?E E92E 96 BF:4<=J 7@F?5 9:D H2J :?E@ E96 }p$rp# C2?<\2?5\7:=6 b[___ >:=6D 2H2J]k^Am
kAmp7E6C DE2CC:?8 :? }p$rp#’D $@FE9H6DE %@FC 2?5 H:??:?8 E96 `hhg p#rp |6?2C5D $6C:6D (6DE 492>A:@?D9:A[ 96 C2465 :? 3@E9 E96 }p$rp# r#pu%$|p} %CF4< $6C:6D 2?5 }p$rp# )7:?:EJ $6C:6D WE96? 42==65 E96 qFD49 $6C:6DX 367@C6 86EE:?8 E96 42== 7C@> r9:=5C6DD E@ E2<6 @G6C t2C?92C5E’D D62E]k^Am
kAmx? 2 DA2? @7 E9C66 H66<D :? u63CF2CJ\|2C49 a__`[ w2CG:4< H2D 9:C65 E@ 5C:G6 :? E96 }p$rp# rFA $6C:6D[ 8@E >2CC:65 E@ 9:D =@?8E:>6 =@G6 s6{2?2 2?5 E96? H@? 9:D 7:CDE }p$rp# rFA $6C:6D C246 2E pE=2?E2 |@E@C $A665H2J :? @?6 @7 E96 >@DE 6>@E:@?2= 2?5 >6>@C23=6 >@>6?ED :? 2== @7 }p$rp# 9:DE@CJ]k^Am
kAm“s2=6’D A2DD:?8 492?865 @FC DA@CE 7@C6G6C 2?5 :E 492?865 >J =:76 7@C6G6C 2?5 E96 5:C64E:@? :E E@@<[Q w2CG:4< D2:5] “xE E@@< >6 2 =@?8 E:>6 E@ C62==J 86E 4@>7@CE23=6 E@ C62==J 6G6? E9:?< 23@FE H92E E92E 92AA6?65 E92E 52J]k^Am
kAm“%96 D:8?:7:42?46 2?5 E96 :>A@CE2?46 @7 <66A:?8 E92E 42C @? E96 C246EC24< 2?5 H:??:?8 E92E C246 62C=J 2E pE=2?E2 — <?@H:?8 ?@H H92E :E >62?E E@ E96 DA@CE 2?5 ;FDE E92E >@>6?E :? 86?6C2= @7 36:?8 23=6 E@ 42CCJ @?[ H2D D@ :>A@CE2?E]Qk^Am
kAmw2CG:4< H@? ab C246D H:E9 r9:=5C6DD 7C@> a__`\a_`b 2?5 EH@ )7:?:EJ $6C:6D E:E=6 :? E92E DA2? Wa__` 2?5 a__eX 367@C6 >@G:?8 E@ $E6H2CE\w22D #24:?8 H96C6 96 >256 2? :>>65:2E6 :>A24E] w2CG:4< 62C?65 E96 a_`c }p$rp# rFA $6C:6D 492>A:@?D9:A :? 9:D 7:CDE J62C H:E9 E96 }p$rp# w2== @7 u2>6C $E6H2CE’D E62>] w6 H@F=5 8@ @? E@ H:? >F=E:A=6 C246D :? 2== 3FE @?6 D62D@?[ 9:89=:89E65 3J 2 D:?8=6\D62D@? 42C66C\9:89 ?:?6 G:4E@C:6D :? a_a_]k^Am
kAmw6 2=D@ 92D cf }p$rp# )7:?:EJ $6C:6D H:?D 2?5 `c }p$rp# r#pu%$|p} %CF4< $6C:6D G:4E@C:6D — @?6 @7 E96 76H 4@>A6E:E@CD E@ 62C? 5@F3=6\5:8:E H:?D :? 2== E9C66 AC6>:6C }p$rp# D6C:6D]k^Am
kAm“x 4@>A6E65 282:?DE z6G:? 7@C 2 =@?8 E:>6[ 2?5 x H2D D@ 92AAJ E@ 7:?2==J 92G6 9:> 2 A2CE @7 @FC C246 E62>[Q $E6H2CE D2:5] “w6’D :?4C65:3=J C6=:23=6 — 4@?D:DE6?E 2?5 42=4F=2E65 @? EC24< H:E9 2 5C:G6 E@ 2=H2JD 36 36EE6C] %92E’D H92E J@F H2?E :? 2 E62>>2E6] w6 <?@HD H92E 96 ?665D E@ 36 DF446DD7F= 2?5 9:D H:== E@ H:? 96=A65 6=6G2E6 @FC 6?E:C6 4@>A2?J]Qk^Am
kAmxEVD E96 <:?5 @7 AC2:D6 w2CG:4< 92D 962C5 E9C@F89@FE 9:D 42C66C 2?5 3@F?E:7F==J D@ H:E9 %9FCD52J’D ?6HD]k^Am
kAm#@5?6J r9:=56CD 92D 366? w2CG:4<’D 4C6H 49:67 E96:C 6?E:C6 E6?FC6 2E $E6H2CE\w22D #24:?8 – E96 5F@ 62C?:?8 bf }p$rp# rFA $6C:6D H:?D[ ad A@=6 A@D:E:@?D[ bee E@A `_D[ 2 A2:C @7 qC:4<J2C5 c__ H:?D[ EH@ $@FE96C? d__ EC@A9:6D 2?5 2? p==\$E2C C246 G:4E@CJ] p?5 r9:=56CD H2D F?56CDE2?523=J A@:8?2?E FA@? w2CG:4<’D 2??@F?46>6?E @? %9FCD52J]k^Am
kAm“w6 82G6 >6 2 492?46 @7 2 =:76E:>6[Q r9:=56CD A@DE65 @7 w2CG:4< @? D@4:2= >65:2] “x? E92E 492?46 @FC C6=2E:@?D9:A 92D ?6G6C H2G6C65] xE’D 366? 62DJ[ 6G6CJ 52J] (6’G6 E2=<65 6G6CJ 52J 7@C h J62CD] ~FC A2DD:@? 2?5 AFD9 E@ 36 E96 36DE 92D ?6G6C 492?865] p?5 :D?’E 8@:?8 E@ 492?86] (6 DE:== H2?E E@ H:? 6G6CJ D:?8=6 H66< E92E H6 D9@H FA] …k^Am
kAm“qFE >@DE @7 2==[ H6 3642>6 3C@E96CD] q6DE 7C:6?5D] w6 E2F89E >6 E@ 36 2 36EE6C A6CD@?[ D>2CE6C[ >@C6 :?E6==:86?E] p?5 >@DE @7 2== H6 =62C?65 H92E 8@@5 A6@A=6 H:E9 E96 D2>6 8@2=D 42? 5@ :7 E96J C62==J H2?E :E] ~FC E62> :D @FC 324<3@?6[ 2?5 E96J 92G6 36=:6G65 7C@> 52J @?6]k^Am
kAm“…] %9:D J62C :D 8@:?8 E@ 36 7F?[ 2?5 H6 2C6 8@:?8 E@ C246 =:<6 96==]Qk^Am
kAmw2CG:4<’D 7@C>6C E62>>2E6 2E #:492C5 r9:=5C6DD #24:?8[ y677 qFCE@? D2:5[ “uC@> E62>>2E6D E@ 7C:6?5D[ z6G:? w2CG:4< 2?5 x 92G6 366? E9C@F89 :E 2== E@86E96C]k^Am
kAm“w6 D4C2E4965 9:D H2J :?E@ E9:D DA@CE U2>Aj AC@G65 9:>D6=7 2D 2 =6256C 2?5 2 492>A:@?] x’> =@@<:?8 E@ H2E49:?8 9:> :? 9:D 7:?2= D62D@? U2>Aj D66 H96C6 E9:D ?6IE 492AE6C E2<6D 9:>] %92?< J@F 7@C 6G6CJE9:?8P”k^Am
kAmw2CG:4<’D 7:?2= D62D@? 368:?D H:E9 E96 qFD49 {:89E r=2D9 2E E96 {]p] r@=:D6F> @? u63] d 2?5 9:D E62> @H?6C $E6H2CE 92D ?@E9:?8 3FE 9:89 9@A6D 7@C “%96 r=@D6C” E@ 4=@D6 @FE 9:D 492>A:@?D9:A 42C66C]k^Am
kAm“x H2?E z6G:? E@ D2G@C 6G6CJ =2A E9:D D62D@?[ E@ 4@>A6E6 =:<6 96== 2?5 E@ E2<6 :E 2== :?[Q $E6H2CE D2:5] “w6’D >256 2== @7 FD 2E $E6H2CE\w22D #24:?8 :?4C65:3=J AC@F5 2?5 H6 H2?E E@ >2<6 9:D =2DE D62D@? 9:D 36DE D62D@?]Qk^Am
Recommended for you
The Henry County Christmas Festival was held at Nash Farm Park Saturday. Here are some scenes from the event. Click for more.PHOTOS: Henry County Christmas Festival
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Please log in, or sign up for a new, free account to read or post comments.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.