Kevin Harvick prepares for father–son race in Bakersfield as the former NASCAR Cup Series champion gets ready to swap the high-stakes pressure of national competition for a heartfelt battle against his 12-year-old son, Keelan Harvick, at Kern Raceway. Set in Harvick’s hometown, this unique event promises to add a personal twist to the Harvick family legacy, centering not on trophies but on fun, family, and the next chapter for both father and son.
From NASCAR Triumphs to a Family Faceoff at Kern Raceway
Harvick, no stranger to dramatic finishes, famously edged Jeff Gordon by just 0.006 seconds in Atlanta back in 2001, marking his entry as one of NASCAR’s toughest competitors. This time, instead of battling Cup Series champions, Harvick will take on a new, meaningful challenge—facing his own son in the CARS Tour West Pro Late Model competition on the familiar grounds of Bakersfield’s Kern Raceway.
The father–son matchup is more than just another race for Kevin Harvick. It represents a significant moment for a driver who made his name filling in after Dale Earnhardt Sr., and who has spent decades at the sport’s highest level. The pressure of the Cup Series has given way to a more relaxed, family-oriented mindset, where performance matters less than the experience shared between generations. Harvick articulated his new perspective in a conversation with Mamba Smith:
“I’m fully prepared to get beat, okay? I just told [Keelan], ‘Well, you know, I’m gonna probably beat you.’ I said, ‘I’m fully aware of that, but I’m here for the show and I’m here to have fun. My result doesn’t matter, your result does.’ I have set my expectations realistically, I think. Just to go there, and that’s been the great part about running the late models. I have no expectations that if I finish first, it’s fine. If I finish last, it’s fine. I’m still going to drink beer when I get done. I’m still going to have a great time. We’re going to put on a great event. The fans get to see something that they typically wouldn’t get to see. And I have no problem if I get beat. It’s not going to change anything that I do.”
—Kevin Harvick
This Bakersfield race will see Kevin in the No. 29 Hunt Brothers Pizza late model car, while Keelan will pilot the No. 62 Hunt Brothers entry. For both, it represents less a battle for hardware and more a contest for family bragging rights and the joy of competing together before their hometown fans.
A Special Significance for the Harvicks in Bakersfield
The occasion carries added weight as it marks the first time the father and son will race one another in the elder Harvick’s hometown. The nostalgia of returning to where his own racing career began only strengthens the emotional bonds at the heart of the event. According to Kevin Harvick:
“Racing Keelan in my hometown for the first time is a pretty cool dad moment. Bakersfield has meant so much in the progression of my racing career, and being able to tie that together with the beginning of Keelan’s racing career is pretty special,”
—Kevin Harvick
Keelan echoes the sentiment, expressing gratitude for his father’s guidance and revealing a bit of playful rivalry between them. The race is not only an exciting opportunity for the young driver but also a moment long anticipated in family conversations, fueling a friendly but fierce competitive spirit.
Meanwhile, the event has also caught the attention of Mamba Smith, who commented:
“I’m very proud of you for taking that approach.”
—Mamba Smith
The value of this approach—focusing on fun and family—became especially clear to Harvick after stepping away from full-time Cup Series competition. Reflecting on this change in perspective, Harvick shared:
“I’ve never been able to, since I raced go-karts as a kid, I have not been able to race for fun and not have the results matter… And then the day that I got out of the car at Phoenix, it’s like, okay, what can I do to have fun better? Because my result doesn’t matter anymore. It really does not matter.”
—Kevin Harvick
The Harvicks have made the most of their time together leading up to the event with trips to the karting track, including both Keelan and Kevin’s daughter—fostering racing passion as a true family affair.
Harvick’s Friendly Rivalry Mirrors Other NASCAR Families
The upcoming family duel in Bakersfield draws natural comparison to similar moments in racing, notably the Busch family’s father–son contest earlier this year. In March at Millbridge Speedway, two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch faced off against his 9-year-old son, Brexton, in the Beginner Box Stock division. This showdown also captured the racing world’s attention as a celebration of both legacy and youthful promise.
In a pre-race interview, Kyle Busch reflected on the milestone:
“I wouldn’t say it’s surreal. It’s just we kind of knew this day was coming,”
—Kyle Busch
He further explained the spontaneous nature of the occasion:
“I wouldn’t say it was necessarily always circled on the calendar, it just kind of popped up.”
—Kyle Busch
The race featured both father and son starting side by side. The younger Busch embraced the challenge before the green flag:
“Tonight is definitely a learning lesson,”
—Brexton Busch
Looking ahead to the outcome, he added:
“It’ll be very big if I can beat him on the first night.”
—Brexton Busch
Despite multiple cautions testing their focus, both racers held strong, with Kyle taking home the win but Brexton making a strong impression right behind him. The evening resonated far beyond the final result, highlighting the joy of family competition and the promise of racing’s next generation.
The Broader Impact and What’s Next for the Harvick Family
As Kevin Harvick prepares for father–son race in Bakersfield, the upcoming event represents much more than an ordinary competition. For the Harvicks, it’s a milestone blending memories of one of America’s great racing careers with the promise of new beginnings, all unfolding under the familiar lights of their hometown track.
The event is sure to attract attention from long-time fans, newcomers, and fellow racers alike, eager to witness the latest chapter in the Harvick family story. The emphasis on fun, family joy, and sportsmanship over sheer victory could inspire other competitors—legendary or rising stars—to embrace the same spirit in their own pursuits.
Whatever the outcome at Kern Raceway, the evening will be remembered for its emotional resonance, blending nostalgia, anticipation, and celebration. As the Harvick name once again takes center stage, racing enthusiasts in Bakersfield and beyond will be watching closely to see if young Keelan might just steal the spotlight from his famous father.
