Kevin Harvick, former NASCAR Cup Series champion and future Hall of Famer, is calling for NASCAR to bring an end to the iconic All-Star Race. Speaking on ‘Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour’, Harvick said the longstanding event, set to run its 41st edition at North Wilkesboro Speedway, has “run its course” and that the time has come to rethink its place in the schedule. As NASCAR prepares for another All-Star weekend, Harvick’s comments have sparked intense debate about the future of the race and its role in the sport.
The All-Star Race, first introduced in 1985, was once considered a crown jewel of the NASCAR calendar; however, in recent years, the event has undergone a series of complicated format changes and venue switches. After several moves, the race found its latest home at the historic North Wilkesboro Speedway in 2023, reigniting excitement among fans for the track’s return. Despite the renewed energy, Kevin Harvick believes this tradition no longer fits with NASCAR’s evolving priorities.
“I think we should nix the All-Star Race,”
Kevin Harvick said, sharing his honest perspective on the event’s future.
“I just think, with all the effort that goes into it, we can’t find a format that everyone likes. I think we should honor our guys. I think we have to figure out how to make the Clash be the Clash and the All-Star Race and make it all work together.”
His remarks reflect a growing sentiment that the event, while historically important, may be losing relevance.
Kevin Harvick went on to argue that North Wilkesboro Speedway, the current venue of the All-Star Race, deserves more than a one-off exhibition.
“I think North Wilkesboro deserves to be a points race,”
Harvick continued.
“I think it would be a fantastic points event. Four hundred laps, all the cars on the racetrack, full weekend. I don’t think North Wilkesboro should go anywhere, but I think the All-Star Race has run its course, personally.”
When asked about replacing the All-Star weekend with an off-week, Kevin Harvick noted the practical limits of the TV contracts and suggested a solution:
“I think you need the same number of races because you probably already signed your TV contracts and all the things that go with it. I think you just make it the 37th race.”
Kevin Harvick, a two-time All-Star Race winner with victories in 2007 and 2018, still values the energy and spectacle of the event, even as he questions its long-term necessity.
“I look forward to the All-Star Race, but I think we can be better,”
Harvick said.
“I think the All-Star Race is great; I think the event is great at North Wilkesboro, I think the track is great, I think everything is great. I think this weekend will be great. There are a number of things that go with the All-Star Race that will be interesting and unique to see it happen. I think all sports have gone through this All-Star question. When you look at everything that goes with the NHL, the NBA All-Star game, the Pro Bowl with the NFL. It’s a piece of the puzzle that all major sports have gone through. Do I think this weekend is going to be fun and spectacular? Yes. But I think going forward, as we have this conversation, it’ll be interesting to see where this goes.”
Other big names remain part of the All-Star narrative. Kyle Larson took the win during North Wilkesboro’s return in 2023, and Joey Logano enters the 2024 event as the defending champion after an impressive showing last year. This year’s race will go green on May 18, with coverage being provided by FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Kevin Harvick’s bold statements have arrived at a crucial moment for NASCAR, as the league faces decisions that could reshape the tradition-packed event. By suggesting the All-Star Race be replaced with a points-paying race at North Wilkesboro, Harvick is urging the sport to preserve history while also pushing for progress. The impact of his comments is likely to reverberate among fans, drivers, and executives alike, as the debate over the race’s place in NASCAR’s future continues to intensify. What happens next could redefine not only the All-Star Race but the way NASCAR honors its legends for years to come.
