Kevin Harvick will retire from the NASCAR Cup Series at the conclusion of the 2023 season. He has won three times at World Wide Technology Raceway: in 2000 and 2001 in the Xfinity Series and 2010 in the Craftsman Truck Series. See him — and his No. 4 Busch Light Mustang — race one last time at WWTR in the Enjoy Illinois 300 presented by TicketSmarter on June 4!
Kevin Harvick’s final season in the NASCAR Cup Series began with the Daytona 500. NASCAR’s 75th anniversary season also will mark the 2014 Cup Series champion’s final visit as a driver to World Wide Technology Raceway.
At age 24, Harvick’s first win in the NASCAR Infinity Series came at WWTR on July 29, 2000.
“The thing I remember most that week, Richard (Childress, team owner) brought me into his office and told me we needed to stop crashing cars and we needed to figure out how to finish races,” said Harvick. “I think it was the 12th or 13th race of the season and he was tired of tearing stuff up. And then we go out and win that week and I remember what a relief it was to finally get that first one out of the way. From that point forward, (WWTR) was always a great track for me and we’ve had a lot of success there.”
In 2001, Harvick was to compete for the Xfinity Series championship. Then came the tragic day when seven-time Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt Sr. lost his life in an accident on the final lap of the season-opening Daytona 500. Kevin was tasked with trying to fill some mighty big shoes, taking over the seat in the fallen hero’s cars, while still competing full-time in the Xfinity Series. Harvick lifted the spirits of a heartbroken NASCAR community by winning for Childress in Earnhardt’s car in just his third Cup Series race, at Atlanta, in March. The finale was one for the record books and highlight reels, with Harvick edging Jeff Gordon by inches at the checkered flag. He also won his second Xfinity race at WWTR that year.
In 2010, he scored his third victory at WWTR, this time in the Craftsman Truck Series 200. The challenging 1.25-mile oval with two unique sets of turns suits Harvick just fine.
“Well, it’s two drastically different ends of the racetrack. I know, for us, the thing we always concentrate on is trying to make the car turn really well and through the center on both ends. Being able to do that at (WWTR) is difficult because the two ends of the track are so different, and you probably wind up downshifting in turns one and two.”
Harvick will compete in his second and final Enjoy Illinois 300 on June 4. There will be salutes and ceremonies – and hopefully one more trip to WWTR’s Domino’s Pizza victory lane. – John Bisci
Harvick leads Kyle Larson and eventual winner Joey Logana during the inaugural Enjoy Illinois 300.
Harvick’s first victory at WWTR, and the NASCAR Xfinity Series, occurred on July 29, 2000.
