Home

NASCAR

Days After Being Publicly Chastised by NASCAR, 141-YO Oil Giant Honors Retiring Icon Kevin Harvick

Published 10/09/2023, 8:37 PM EDT

Follow Us

via Getty

After a nail-biting P19 finish in Charlotte, the spotlight is now on Kevin Harvick as he gears up for his 28th electrifying appearance at Las Vegas—a track that has, time and again, favored him. As he zooms into his final season, whispers of it being his last time in a Ford fill the air. Everyone’s on their toes, eager to give him a grand curtain call.

And after that, coming up on October 22 is one of Harvick’s all-time favorite tracks, which is pulling out all the stops to salute the legend in Tony Stewart‘s team. Stewart-Haas Racing’s official page buzzed with the announcement. And, even though it’s been nearly a year since fans learned of his impending exit, saying goodbye seems an Everest-sized challenge for his ardent admirers.

Kevin Harvick will be honored by a 25-year-old race track

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

The Homestead-Miami Speedway is rolling out the red carpet for none other than Kevin Harvick. And while many might argue that Phoenix, with Harvick’s jaw-dropping nine wins, would’ve been the natural choice for such honors, it seems fate chose otherwise.

We may now start our engines as the Speedway announces the 4EVER 400, presented by the 141-year-old oil giant Mobil 1 in tribute to the racing legend to give a roaring salute to Harvick’s last lap in full-time NASCAR Cup Series racing, celebrating a legacy that’ll echo for eons to come.

It’s been a season of ups and downs for Harvick, a legend in his own right. From not securing a win to facing a disqualification at Talladega over windshield mishaps to being ousted by NASCAR for alleged foul play, the road’s been bumpy. Yet, the honor serves as a silver lining, hopefully warming the cockles of his heart.

Kevin Harvick has bagged three NASCAR National Series championships. This year, he cruised into NASCAR’s list of 75 Greatest Drivers, clinching the 10th spot with a whopping 60 victories under his belt. But it’s not just his accolades that have earned him the honor at Homestead. Instead, it’s a series of incidents that probably made the track remember all the memorable moments Kevin Harvick gave to the race track.

In a heartfelt video released by the Speedway, Harvick’s gratitude shined through. “That is really cool. The 4ever 400 Homestead-Miami Speedway. That is definitely top of the list for the surprises of the year. You never know what’s coming next, and the year has just been filled with great support from sponsors, fans, and race tracks. But to have the 4ever 400 race title is something that I didn’t really expect. So, thank you, Mobil 1, and this is going to be fun.”

“Homestead-Miami Speedway will always hold a special place for me since it’s where I won the championship in my first season with Stewart-Haas Racing,” reminisced Harvick. “It’s truly an honor to have Mobil 1 by my side to celebrate my career with the 4EVER 400 Presented by Mobil 1.”

The outpouring of love and respect for Harvick from racetracks, fellow racers, and his dedicated team has been palpable. But it wasn’t just Harvick who was awash with emotions. Fans, watching the heartwarming video reveal, found themselves on an emotional rollercoaster, their eyes glistening and hearts swelling with pride and nostalgia for their beloved racer.

Watch This Story: NASCAR’s 2024 Schedule: A New Chapter Begins

Fans get emotional realizing he has just three races left

Trending

Get instantly notified of the hottest NASCAR stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

The racing world is buzzing, and NASCAR fans are at the edge of their seats, knowing they’ll soon bid adieu to a legend on the tracks. The very thought of him hanging up his helmet post-Phoenix has hearts racing faster than cars on the final lap.

When the news dropped on Instagram, fans flooded the comments, showering Harvick with an outpouring of affection. “Man I’m gonna miss Kevin. Been a fan since he took over for Dale.” shared one fervent supporter.

Another fan, clearly demanding the best for Harvick’s final race, exclaimed, “If you guys don’t give him a rocket ship I’m gonna lose it.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Meanwhile, declarations like “Kevin Harvick will be our King Forever and Ever!!’n” echoed in the digital arena.

One particularly emotional fan gushed, “Imagine if he wins it… I would cry.” The sentimental undertones were palpable, with comments like “it hurts so much” and “Well deserved Kevin!! It’s been such a blast being a fan of yours for over 20 years!!”

Acknowledging Harvick’s indelible mark on the sport, a fan penned a heartwarming note: “4EVER AWESOME. Thank You Harvick.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

The fervor is undeniable. Fans are on the edge of their seats, fingers crossed, hoping that Harvick’s final season isn’t devoid of that coveted victory lap.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Neha Dwivedi

1,199Articles

One take at a time

Neha Dwivedi is a NASCAR Author at EssentiallySports. Using her gravitation towards the mechanical side of racing, paired with her affinity for writing, she easily brings out some of the most technical aspects of the sport in her pieces, which the readers find quite interesting. Her ability to capture the spirit of the exhilarating races and relay the enthusiasm to her audience distinguishes her as a sports journalist.
Show More>

Edited by:

Sharan Nair