Kevin Harvick’s status as NASCAR’s “closer” became legendary over more than two decades, but with Harvick’s retirement, the spotlight is shifting. At Kansas Speedway, following Sunday’s AdventHealth 400, Joey Logano emerged as a primary candidate to inherit Kevin Harvick’s renowned legacy, according to NASCAR analyst Jordan Bianchi. Despite never driving the absolute fastest car or frequently leading in laps, Logano’s racecraft and consistent ability to seize late-race opportunities signal a new era for the “closer” role that Kevin Harvick defined.
Bianchi emphasized on “The Teardown” podcast the significance of this transition, stating,
“Kevin Harvick is retired now. We need to take that ‘closer’ nickname that he had, and we should just give it to Joey Logano. Like, Logano is the new version of the ‘closer.’ Hands down, that is just what he does.”
This reflects a broader sentiment in the racing world that Logano’s resilience and decisiveness match what Kevin Harvick brought to NASCAR for years.
At Kansas, Logano’s performance showcased those qualities yet again. Starting the Lap 207 restart on the outside of the front row against Kyle Larson, Logano was not expected to dominate, especially since Larson controlled the race by leading 221 out of 267 laps and clinched his third win of the season. Nevertheless, Logano maneuvered his way to a strong finish, ending ninth—his third top-10 of the season—after intensely battling through the pack. This ability to challenge in late stages and maximize results echoes the pattern Kevin Harvick established throughout his career.
Logano’s own words reflected both determination and satisfaction with his team’s progress:
“This Shell-Pennzoil team battled all day long. We had a chance to control the race on a couple of those late restarts, but we’ll take a top-10 and build on it. The 22 crew was on it today and got us the track position we needed to have a shot at the front. Great day for those guys on pit road,”
he told Dustin Long of NBC Sports. The teamwork and strategic execution—qualities often associated with Kevin Harvick’s tenure—played a major role in Logano’s result.
With Kevin Harvick’s exit from the sport, the question of who will carry on the “closer” moniker is more compelling than ever. Logano’s consistent late-race prowess, combined with his ability to capitalize when it matters most, suggests he is poised to inherit and evolve the NASCAR “closer” legacy Harvick made famous. As the season progresses, eyes will remain on Logano to see if he can fully step into the shoes that Kevin Harvick leaves behind, continuing a tradition of thrilling conclusions and masterful race management in the Cup Series.
