In 2020, Kevin Harvick had a dream year and should have won the NASCAR Cup Series title. Unfortunately, in a case of not winning when it really counted, he missed out on a ‘Championship 4’ berth.

However, his scintillating form did not go unnoticed in the motorsport world. Recently, the National Motorsports Press Association named Harvick as the ‘Richard Petty Driver of the Year.’

In the process, he defeated the likes of Kyle Larson, IndyCar champion Scott Dixon and even reigning Cup champion Chase Elliott.

Of course, Kevin Harvick would have preferred to win the bigger prize – the 2020 Cup Series, but he would also gladly accept the Driver of the Year award.

Kevin Harvick has to do it all over again in 2021

With 2020 being a missed opportunity to bag a second crown, Harvick will be keen to correct that oversight.

The Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) driver notched up nine wins during the season, the most in the Series, but could not win when it counted. It came down to a desperate lunge to try and stay alive in the competition, but it backfired.

As it turned out, Harvick needed to get past Kyle Busch to make it into the Championship 4. So, he attempted a dive-bomb down Busch’s inside on the final lap at the final corner.

Unfortunately, he ended up tagging Busch into a spin and spinning himself, so he squandered his shot.

In 2021 though, Harvick will try his utmost to improve on those areas. However, trying to replicate his nine-win season in the coming year is easier said than done.

There are many drivers who will be eager to take the 2021 Cup Series title for themselves. The first among them is Chase Elliott, who will want to defend his crown as much as possible.

READ MORE – Dale Earnhardt Jr to Find a Place in the NMPA Hall of Fame