Earlier this year, Kevin Harvick announced that he would be hanging up his boots at the end of the 2023 season. After more than two decades of devoted racing and being a stalwart of the game, the legendary #4 felt like maybe it was time for him to close the racing chapter of his life. Despite that, many people held on to a glimmer of hope that he would change his mind and give the fans one last dance in the Cup Series.

But the 2014 Cup champion holds no qualms over retiring from the sport after this season. Speaking to the media personnel in a pre-race press conference in Indianapolis, Harvick broke the hopeful fans’ hearts for one last time as he confirmed his intentions of racing at the Brickyard for one last time.

Kevin Harvick dismisses any chances of a comeback

Harvick has been the harbinger of change in NASCAR in his long-spanning career in the Cup Series. Breaking into the scene amid turbulent times and replacing the late Dale Earnhardt in the Richard Childress Racing #3 was the driver chosen to kick-start a new era in NASCAR. And as we have seen, he has repaid the faith entrusted to him or maybe more than compensated for it. As NASCAR arrives at one of the country’s most iconic tracks, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will wave an emotional goodbye to one of its most celebrated drivers.

“You have three Brickyard 400 wins. With this weekend most likely being your final Cup Series appearance here, what does IMS mean to you?” questioned a media correspondent, curious about Harvick’s emotions at one of his most infatuated tracks.

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Harvick affirms the indications of the question with his evergreen smile, saying, “There’s no ‘most likely’ – it is.”

Taking a trip through memory lane and reminiscing about his countless memories from IMS, the Stewart-Haas Racing driver said, “Maybe not my last visit, but my last time on the surface as far as that goes. But, I think for me, Indianapolis Motor Speedway has been just a great place in my racing career. Grew up a kid in Bakersfield, Calif., wanting to race in the Indy 500 like Rick Mears, and to be able to come close to living out that childhood dream of winning races at The Brickyard and having some success here has been pretty special to me. It’s fun to have celebrated that, and to come back and be able to be here one last time is something that I’ll enjoy.”

Listening to Harvick takes one back to the memorable wins he has produced at the historic racetrack. His win at the venue in 2020 till date remains one of the most dominant weekends in the track’s history, leading 118 laps out of a possible 160 after starting from the pole. That win also ensured that he was the back-to-back winner after his victory in 2019. The win in 2019 was rather a long-awaited one, with his first win at IMS coming in 2003 under the tutelage of Richard Childress. In 20 starts, he has 3 wins, 8 top 5s, and 14 top 10s at one of his favorite tracks.

Harvick continues to be the ray of hope for Tony Stewart’s team

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When Harvick joined hands with Stewart-Haas Racing in 2014, followers of the sport could feel that it was a possible beginning to something explosive. With two of the brightest racing minds of NASCAR collaborating, it was deemed as the next step ahead for SHR. And indeed it was, as Harvick sped to a championship win in his first season with the team. Coming back to 2023, he continues to be a pillar of strength for a side that has been going through a rough patch for two seasons.

Consistently churning out points, Harvick has shown his plethora of experience in the #4 Mustang and is the highest-ranked driver on the table to not win a race this season. With 6 top 5s and 11 top 10s, he sits as high as fifth. But when you look at the situation of his teammates at SHR, it’s safe to say he has received no help from the other drivers. Aric Almirola, Chase Briscoe, and Ryan Preece look nowhere near a playoff spot as they are placed 24th, 31st, and 25th respectively.

Considering the numerous problems that the team has been plagued with over the past few seasons, Harvick has been doing an angel’s work for Tony Stewart. On course for the playoffs, it looks highly unlikely that he won’t be having a partner to fight alongside in the next stages of the season. On top of that, he also revealed that he was driving with an injury up until now, which is an incredible display of determination and commitment, but also highlights his importance for Tony Stewart’s side. Ever since being the first NASCAR champion in the elimination-style format, Harvick has stuck through thick and thin for the team and continues to do so.

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