Keelan Harvick is turning heads in the racing community, building excitement for the upcoming Throwback Classic at Hickory Motor Speedway, where he will compete in a unique No. 32 paint scheme to honor his late grandfather, John Linville. The event, a centerpiece of the zMAX CARS Tour schedule, features a $30,000 prize and is drawing attention for its blend of competition and poignant tributes—making it one of the most anticipated weekends in grassroots racing for 2025.
Keelan Harvick Steps Into the Limelight With a Powerful Family Tribute
At 13 years old, Keelan Harvick has rapidly gained national recognition within the racing world, particularly after claiming his first Pro Late Model win at Hickory Motor Speedway earlier in July. Competing against a strong lineup, including his own father, NASCAR star Kevin Harvick, Keelan proved he could not only contend with established racers but also excel under pressure. These performances have positioned him as a rising star on the grassroots racing stage in 2025.
This weekend, Keelan is set to make an even bigger impact at the throwback classic by swapping his usual No. 62 for the No. 32—a thoughtful gesture in memory of his grandfather, John Linville. Linville’s legacy runs deep in North Carolina’s racing culture, famously piloting the black-and-gold No. 32 and earning the respect of his peers with both his skill and character. The symbolic paint scheme was unveiled to the public through social media, with Keelan and his family sharing an emotional moment as they surprised his grandmother with the car’s new look.
🚨Throwback Paint Scheme🚨Surprised my GG with my Paw Paw John’s throwback paint scheme for this weekend’s @CARSTour race @hickoryspeedway!He was 32 before 62, so I’m throwing it waaaay back!#32 #throwback #keeplearnin #keepdiggin pic.twitter.com/D7gSvyhAwr— Keelan Harvick (@KeelanHarvick) July 28, 2025
John Linville’s name holds a special place in the hearts of many North Carolina race fans. He not only competed in over 130 races in what is now known as the NASCAR Xfinity Series, but also dominated short tracks statewide. Linville was a three-time Late Model Sportsman champion at Bowman Gray Stadium and took home the Limited Sportsmen championship at the State Fairgrounds Speedway in Raleigh in 1970.
The Throwback Classic: Melding Competition and Tradition
Each year, the Throwback Classic at Hickory becomes a celebration of racing history, with drivers crafting Heritage-inspired liveries to honor the legends who shaped the sport. For 2025, the stakes are particularly high, as the Pro Late Model and Late Model Stock fields are racing for $30,000 and $50,000 respectively—some of the richest prizes in the history of the CARS Tour. Every driver in the field has embraced the event’s theme, ensuring that nostalgia and fierce competition will go hand in hand throughout the weekend.
Keelan’s participation, especially with his family tribute, brings an additional layer of emotion to this year’s classic. As he returns to Hickory under the Linville banner, he is not just racing for himself but carrying forward a familial legacy. Despite his youth, Keelan has already triumphed on tracks across the country—most notably at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway in Bakersfield, California, and now at Hickory, which secured his entry into this high-profile event.
His victory at Hickory was not just a personal milestone; it also tested his talent against top-tier competition, including his father. Now, donning his grandfather’s number and color scheme, Keelan faces perhaps the most significant test so far in his budding career: chasing the $30,000 prize and the honor of adding another chapter to his family’s storied history. Kevin Harvick, though without recent luck at the races himself, remains ever present in his son’s development, while Keelan focuses on making his own name known among veterans and legends alike.
Other Drivers Embrace Personal Tribute at Hickory
Keelan Harvick isn’t the only participant using this special weekend to pay homage to family. Returning to Hickory Motor Speedway is Ronnie Bassett Jr., who made a dramatic mark at last year’s Throwback Classic by claiming victory under moving circumstances. Now, Bassett will compete in a throwback theme that honors his father, Ronnie Bassett Sr., retaining a personal and emotional significance throughout the race.
Bassett’s No. 44 car will sport the dark blue design once raced by his father at Bowman Gray Stadium, a nod that goes beyond mere appearance. For Bassett Jr., the connection to his father is the foundation of his racing journey—having grown up alongside the sport from the stands before making a name for himself on the track. As he expressed:
My dad didn’t grow up around racing. He actually got into it on the sponsorship side and decided to start racing himself. My dad has meant a lot to me throughout my racing career. He got me into racing, so it’s cool to throw something back to him and relive some of the stuff he did back in the 2000s.
Bassett’s relationship with the Throwback Classic is loaded with special memories. His unexpected win last year came at a junction where his racing career needed a shot of momentum, especially after narrowly missing out in previous events. The victory was emotional and transformative, delivering redemption at a time when he was seeking to reignite his career following a stint away from Late Model Stock racing.
Now, with a potential $50,000 reward on the line and his team gaining strength with each race, Bassett is keen to defend his title at one of grassroots racing’s crowning events. As he looks toward the intense competition and high stakes, he emphasizes the importance of consistent performance through the night, stating:
$50,000 for our program could go a long way. That keeps the car on the racetrack. We all race hard for $7,000-$10,000 pretty much every other week, so I think the fans are going to be in for a barnburner. Being consistent and making sure you have a car that can run a set pace all night long will be important.
Bassett currently stands fourth in the CARS LMSC standings, with three top-five finishes so far this season, and races like the Throwback Classic could define both his team’s prospects and his own legacy moving forward.
Legacy and Identity: Young Drivers Define Their Place in Racing History
With stories like Keelan Harvick’s and Ronnie Bassett Jr.’s, the Throwback Classic at Hickory Motor Speedway is shaping up to be an event where legacy and personal identity intersect on and off the track. These homages do more than preserve memories; they inspire participants and fans alike to connect to the roots of American stock car racing. By embracing the legacies of John Linville and Ronnie Bassett Sr., both young drivers are writing their own narratives while respecting the contributions that made the sport what it is today.
For Keelan Harvick, winning the Kevin Harvick Hickory tribute race would represent more than another trophy—it would be a powerful honor for his family, a testament to generational endurance, and a sign of his readiness to step forward as one of racing’s next stars. As the field gears up for a weekend packed with emotion, competition, and celebration, the entire racing community is watching to see which stories—old and new—will be celebrated when the checkered flag falls.
