LINCOLN, Ala. – When Kevin Harvick straps in for the start of the GEICO 500 on Sunday afternoon at Talladega, he will do it for the 800th time in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Following Dale Earnhardt’s passing in the 2001 Daytona 500, Harvick had the unenviable task of succeeding the former’s Richard Childress Racing ride.
Little did anyone know that a Hall of Fame career was off and running. Even though Harvick was more than ready, it was not the way he wanted to make his foray into the Cup Series.
Since that time, Harvick has become one of the greatest to drive a NASCAR Cup Series car.
With 60 career wins, Harvick hopes to add at least one or two more before hanging it up in November along with a Cup Series championship. He has cemented his name in the ranks of the all-time greats.
However, one thing he can hang his hat on was his involvement in helping keep his former car owner, Richard Childress, and the Richard Childress Racing team afloat following that day in Daytona.
800 Starts For Harvick at Talladega. (Photo: Stephen Conley | The Podium Finish)
Childress talked about how much Kevin meant to his team.
“He jumped in that car, no questions and did a great job. No one expected him to go out and win in his third race,” Childress said.
Moreover, Harvick’s 2001 Golden Corral 500 victory at Atlanta was more than a self-healing experience.
“It helped so many after the loss of Dale. That win helped not only the sport, but the fans, this team and even the sponsors that supported RCR and Dale for all those years. But it really helped me,” Childress said.
When Harvick was asked about his first start and his career, it is fair to wonder if he envisioned reaching this level.
“It really is never something you can predict, with all the twists and turns this sport takes.” Harvick said. “Getting to 800 is incredible, but it’s really a full body of work.”
That work he talks about is finding sponsors and partners that wanted to stay with him and RCR for as long as they did, having success on the race track and building solid relationships.
Those relationships have carried Harvick for a 22-year career and even onto his latest team, Stewart-Haas Racing.
Harvick has persevered through the ups and downs, taking the crazy roller coaster ride with his fans through the good and bad.
“I think as you as you look back at it and you look at all the scenarios and situations and things that have happened and everything that comes with that, it’s been quite a ride,” Harvick said.
Harvick, preparing for his 800th start, sits 10th on the all-time NASCAR Cup Series starts list. He will move to eighth by the end of the season.
Right now, Harvick sits five starts behind Jeff Gordon in ninth, and will make pass the latter’s mark on June 11 at Sonoma Raceway. Then, he will pass another Hall of Famer in Darrell Waltrip at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in July.
As Harvick looks back on his career, he reflects with a bit of sentimentality.
“You really don’t look back on the journey until you get close to the end,” he said.
While everyone asks what a driver’s dream is when they start, he maintains that a realistic approach is healthy even for idealists.
“You really can’t dream that big,” he said. “You don’t really think about the broad scope of things unless it’s a specific conversation. So I think for me, being able to to kind of step back and look at a lot of those things this year has been has been fun.”
Kevin Harvick ready’s for his 800th career start. (Photo: Stephen Conley | The Podium Finish)
Over 22 years of Cup racing and 800 starts, Harvick has meant a lot to fans and those in the racing circles. He is a fan favorite, a sponsor’s dream and, more importantly, a family man that takes great pride in the time he spends with his wife, Delana, and kids, even when they are doing their own racing.
Harvick will have plenty of time to focus on his kids’ futures.
Whether it is racing or other types of activities once this year is over, there is still plenty of racing to do and hopefully one more championship. Plus, he will get a lot more recognition as the year goes progresses during his “4Ever” tour.
After qualifying, Harvick considered the significance of his 800th Cup start.
“I think being reminded about all the cool things that you’ve been able to be a part of, I’m honored to to be able to to get to this point,” Harvick said. “I think we’ve been fortunate to experience a lot of great things at a great time period in our sport.”
