#29 Kevin Harvick
After he became so successful in the go-cart circuit Harvick became a part time driver in 1992 for the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series while he was finishing high school. When he graduated high school and began driving full time in 1995, he was named Rookie of the Year. In 1997, Harvick went from the AutoZone Elite Division to the Grand National Division and became champion of that same division in the following year. In the winter months of 1997-1998, Harvick got public recognition on ESPN2 when the television station covered the NASCAR Winter Heat series at the Tucson Raceway Park. In October of 1999, Harvick began racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series starting with the Kmart 200 at the Rockingham Speedway driving the number 65 Chevrolet. He started in the 24th position in the but finished in the 42nd position because of engine failure. When that season was over he signed with Richard Childress Racing and began racing the number 2 AC Delco Chevrolet. This was his first full season in the Nationwide Series. Even though he missed the second race that season he won three races and was in the top five 8 different times and named Rookie of the Year. It was not until 2001 that Harvick began racing in the NASCAR Cup Series. He took over driving the Chevrolets that were owned by Richard Childress Racing after the tragic death of the racing legend Dale Earnhardt Sr. at the Daytona 500. Harvick had his first win in the Cup series in only his third career start at the Atlanta Motor Speedway when he beat Jeff Gordon by mere inches. He won another race in 2001 at the Chicagoland Speedway and was named Rookie of the Year for the third time in his racing career. Harvick's career highlights include victories in some of NASCAR's biggest races including winning the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2003 and in 2007 winning the Daytona 500 at Daytona and the All-Star Challenge at Lowe's Motor Speedway both of those wins included a winning payout of over $1 million each. Harvick is known as an aggressive driver on the track yet off the track his nickname is 'Happy'. His aggressive driving style is what led Richard Childress to hire him and his 'Happy' personality make fans cheer for him. Away from the track Harvick contributes to many charitable causes such as the
Victory Junction Gang Camp.
But his time away from the track is not really away from racing. He and his wife Delana own Kevin Harvick Incorporated, a race team that races two trucks in the NASCAR Truck Series and one full time car in the Nationwide Series. He also has HEE-HAW Speedway behind his house where he and his friends race go karts. The fact that his spare time is filled with racing related activities proves that Harvick is just a racer at heart.
Kevin Harvick's WinsAtlanta(1)Bristol(1) Chicagoland(2) Daytona(2) Indianapolis(1) Michigan(1) New Hampshire(1) Phoenix(2) Richmond(1) Talladega(1) Watkins Glen(1) Return from Kevin Harvick to Speedway Guide
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