Since its debut on the NASCAR schedule in 2001, Kevin Harvick has witnessed the evolution of four generations of stock cars firsthand at the Kansas Speedway. Considered by many as the ideal testing ground for the ‘NextGen’s’ capabilities, the 1.5-mile oval has witnessed Harvick cruise to victory lane a record three times.

Nevertheless, figuring out SHR’s Gen-7 Ford Mustang in Kansas proved challenging for Harvick in his only two stints driving it until his retirement last year. But as a person who holds the speed record at the all-important racetrack of the moment, his opinion matters. And the 2014 champ has some thoughtful observations that might throw a wrench at NASCAR’s current NextGen narrative in Kansas.

Kevin Harvick’s Tale of Two Eras

Harvick is one of only five NASCAR drivers to win at Kansas, setting the track record during qualifying for the 2014 Hollywood Casino, where he grabbed the pole in his debut year driving a Ford for Stewart-Haas Racing. The new #4 would register a blistering 197.773 mph in that process.

Although a young Joey Logano claimed his own first out of three race wins at Kansas that day, Kevin Harvick would eventually win the next three playoff races en route to his first Cup Series championship in the premier division. And in a recent tweet, the part-time wheelman brought to light his 2014 Kansas accolades when comparing the existing differences in statistics spanning a decade alongside a whole generation of NASCAR evolution.

The infographic compares the second race of the Round of 16 last season, held in Kansas, with the best timing and speeds overall at the racetrack. On the one hand, Chase Elliott’s dominant performance in the 2018 fall race at Kansas saw him set the record for the fastest victory, while Denny Hamlin and Tyler Reddick’s Kansas victories last year spanned well over three hours and ten minutes.

Interestingly, Harvick’s 2014 track record was almost 17 miles per hour faster than William Byron’s and Christopher Bell’s qualifying runs in both races. Moreover, the year prior at Kansas, also the first year of the NextGen car, pole-winners for both the spring race (Bell) and the fall race (Reddick), registered speeds that fell short by 17mph of the existing track record.

With the statistical lap-time differences visibly clear, a popular advocate for the NextGen changes has once again provided a newer perspective on the NextGen debate. But before drawing conclusions, one must also consider another noticeable trend in these last two Kansas showcases: an advantage for the Toyota contingent heading to Kansas next weekend.

Ford to disrupt Toyota’s Kansas dominance?

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Three 23XI Racing Toyota Camry XSEs have won the last four races at Kansas, while Denny Hamlin’s Joe Gibbs Racing #11 has scored the only other trip to victory lane in the most recent race held last fall. As it currently happens, the Toyotas of 23XI Racing and JGR stand the best chance for a Japanese presence at the top spot this coming Sunday.

Hamlin, basting in some much-needed momentum gained at Dover, could repeat his fall fortunes to help JGR tie Hendrick Motorsports for five race wins this season. It is also important to note that alongside Harvick and Logano, Denny Hamlin is one of those five drivers with three race wins at Kansas Speedway. The other two are Hall of Famers Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson.

Additionally, as 23XI Racing has performed exceptionally well at the 1.5-mile tri-oval lately, either the #45 or the #23 could very well bring home this ‘NextGen’ race team’s second win of the season in the Sunflower State. But with the Blue Ovals inching for an American presence at the top of the podium, courtesy of Ford Performance, the speculations are certainly rife for a Dark Horse to emerge victorious at Kansas.

Notably, driver of the #22 Ford for Team Penske, Joey Logano, the only other active three-time Kansas winner, has come forward to express his confidence at a better overall racing display of the NextGen at Kansas, following Dover’s controversial debacle.

In a recent release by Speedway Digest, Logano stated, “I believe Kansas has become the best racetrack for the Next Gen car. You look at how wide the racetrack is and the racing that is there, the groove has moved around as it has weathered over the years since it’s been repaved. It’s been a really good race track for these cars, so I look forward to going there for sure.”

“It’s definitely one of those tracks where it takes everything,” explained Joey Logano. Breaking down the reasons for his assessment, he elaborated further, “Downforce is king. Horsepower is a big deal. You’re on the gas a lot. You’ve got to have a car that’s versatile enough to run the bottom on restarts and also be versatile enough on the long run to where you can move up or down to make passes. So the car that can do a lot of different things pretty good is usually the one that is the strongest.” 

Regardless, the Advent Health 400 emerges on the horizon, promising a fresh new display of the NextGen narrative in 2024 as the season heads for the first time to Kansas. Will the fans see more aero disadvantages on intermediates, similar to Kyle Larson’s dominant showcase in Vegas? Only time will tell.