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Kevin Harvick Returns to Victory Lane, Wins at Michigan

There was no beating around the bush for Kevin Harvick at Michigan. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)

There was no beating around the bush for Kevin Harvick at Michigan. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)

BROOKLYN, Mich. – When Kevin Harvick last visited victory lane at Bristol Motor Speedway, it was on Sept. 19, 2020.

It seemed like the Bakersfield, California native was well on his way to his second NASCAR Cup Series championship. By all means, Harvick and his No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Mustang team were the ones to beat during a COVID-19 pandemic impacted season.

Little did Harvick and, much less, the racing circles, realize how the future NASCAR Hall of Fame racer would endure 65 races of frustration and futility.

Without a doubt, it was not for a lack of effort from the 2014 Cup champion. Much like their bittersweet 2020 campaign, the tenacious, gritty racer was competitive and fast at times last year.

However, he tallied his fourth winless season in his 21st year of premier stock car competition.

Sure, the No. 4 Busch Light Apple Ford Mustang may not be the dominant, fast car on the track in 2022. That said, he tied the most laps led in Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino at Michigan International Speedway.

Rolling off the grid from the 16th starting spot, Harvick placed eighth in Stage 1 before finishing 13th in Stage 2.

When it came down to the final laps of the race, Harvick and his crew chief Rodney Childers elected to stay out during a caution period with 38 laps remaining.

Suffice to say, it was a winning pit strategy for the perennial Cup race and title contender. With 35 laps to go, Harvick led the field to a frantic restart for those battling from second position on back.

This time around, Harvick was not denied a visit to the winner’s circle. Instead, it was a winning afternoon at the 2-mile superspeedway by 2.903 seconds over runner-up finisher Bubba Wallace.

After doing some celebratory burnouts for the most attended race at Michigan since 2016, and first race with a sold out infield since 2012, Harvick took a short victorious trip to victory lane with his daughter Piper.

While there’s the saying that patience never gives up, Harvick credits his children, particularly his son Keelan, for keeping him determined when the going was tough for nearly the past two years.

Moreover, he considered how fatherhood has reinforced and reinvigorated his work etiquette.

Actions speak louder than words for Harvick. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)

Actions speak louder than words for Harvick. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)

Our school is at home, so when they get up in the morning, I say, ‘Go brush your teeth and go to school,'” Harvick shared. “But I think that there’s really — I think everybody understands the expectation, so there’s not a quote or a saying or anything that’s going to motivate any of us in my opinion.

“I think it’s — the motivation comes from I don’t want to let that guy down. He doesn’t want to let me down. I don’t want to let him down. Everybody shows up knowing that when I show up, I’m going to give all I’ve got, and I know that when they show up, they’re going to give all they’ve got.”

For a driver who once spoke vociferously, particularly when challenges would seem a bit insurmountable, Harvick understands and appreciates how his children push him to new heights while placing more value on what he does versus what he says.

“It’s just super easy. It really is. It really is easy. I think I always think actions speak louder than words, and I think for me the way to show your kids how to do something is to do it and let them watch,” he said. “I think Keelan will understand more of what today means and how much work goes into it, because there are days that I’m up at 5:30 in the morning, and he will come down and say, ‘Where are you going today?’

‘”Well, I’m going to the simulator. What are you going to do today?’ He said, ‘Well, I guess I’ll go back to bed.'”

Beyond fast cars, solid teamwork and genuine confidence, Keelan and Piper continually provide plentiful inspiration for Harvick, especially as they continue to grow up.

“He knows that it’s not just show up on Sunday, win the race, lose the race, and come home,” he offered. “It’s Tuesday sitting on the calls and talking about it. It’s Tuesdays writing the notes. And he will come over during his break during school, and you shut the iPad down for 15 minutes so you can go shoot baskets or whatever they’re doing on their PE break.

“Those actions, they’re noticed. It’s kind of like they say you’re teaching your kids how to drive when they’re born, and you put them in the car seat, they see you from day one. All those habits that you have, they see. It’s not just driving, but actions speak way louder than words.”

Welcome to the 2022 NASCAR Playoffs, Kevin Harvick. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)

Welcome to the 2022 NASCAR Playoffs, Kevin Harvick. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)

On Sunday afternoon, despite a rain delay, Harvick let his crafty driving speak louder than his words at Michigan. Undoubtedly, it was well worth the wait for Harvick and his family to celebrate an overdue triumph in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Stage 1 Top 10 Finishers

Bell-Hamlin-Jones-Truex Jr.-Buescher/Chastain-Byron-Harvick-Logano-Briscoe

Stage 2 Top 10 Finishers

Hamlin-Suárez-Larson-Bell-Keselowski/Jones-Austin Dillon-Bowman-Byron-Logano

FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan Top 10 Finishers

Harvick-Wallace-Hamlin-Logano-Blaney/Truex Jr.-Larson-Jones-Bowman-Gibbs

Editor’s Notes

Jasmine Sharpe contributed to this recap directly on-site from Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan.

Rob Tiongson is a 30-something motorsports journalist who enjoys sports like baseball, basketball, football, soccer, track and field and hockey. A Boston native turned Austinite, racing was the first sport that caught his eyes. From interviews to retrospective articles, if it's about anything with an engine and four wheels, it'll be here on TPF, by him or by one of his talented columnists who have a passion for racing. Currently seeking a sports writing, public relations, or sports marketing career, particularly in motorsports. He enjoys editing and writing articles and features, as well as photography. Moreover, he enjoys time with his family and friends, traveling, cooking, working out and being a fun uncle or "funcle" to his nephew, niece and cat. Tiongson, a graduate of Southern New Hampshire University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, pursues his Master of Arts in Digital Journalism at St. Bonaventure University. Indeed, while Tiongson is proud to be from Massachusetts, he's an everywhere kind of man residing in Texas.

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