Kevin Harvick's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A closer look at the biggest achievements of Kevin Harvick. Awards, milestones, and records that define success.

Kevin Harvick is an American semi-retired professional stock car racing driver. He is also a commentator for NASCAR on Fox. Known for a successful career in NASCAR, Harvick has achieved significant wins and championships before transitioning to a broadcast role.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

1971: First Driver Since Richard Petty in 1971

In 2020, Kevin Harvick became the first driver to win Cup races on back-to-back days since Richard Petty in 1971 after sweeping the Michigan doubleheader.

1997: First Driver to Win Five of the First 13 Races Since Jeff Gordon in 1997

In 2018, Kevin Harvick was the first driver to win five of the first 13 races since Jeff Gordon in 1997.

1998: Kevin Harvick - NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Champion

In 1998, Kevin Harvick won the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Championship.

March 11, 2001: First Winston Cup Race Win

On March 11, 2001, Harvick won his first career Winston Cup race in just his third start, the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, narrowly edging Jeff Gordon. He paid tribute to Dale Earnhardt after the win.

2001: Busch Championship

In 2001, Harvick teamed with crew chief Todd Berrier in the Cup Series, with whom he had won the Busch championship.

2001: Rookie of the Year and Busch Series Champion

In 2001, Harvick was awarded the NASCAR Rookie of the Year Award and secured a ninth-place finish in the points standings. He also won the Busch Series championship, becoming the first driver to win the Busch Series championship while also driving full-time in the Winston Cup Series with a top-ten finish.

2001: Xfinity Series Championship

In 2001, Harvick won the Xfinity Series championship.

2001: First Career Win at Atlanta

In 2001, Kevin Harvick had his first career win at Atlanta. The No. 29 car used a throwback paint scheme honoring this win at the All-Star Race.

2001: First Win Since 2001

In 2018, Kevin Harvick earned back-to-back wins at Atlanta (his first since 2001) and Las Vegas. It would be his one-hundredth career win across NASCAR's top three series.

2001: Celebration Similar to 2001 Victory

In 2020, Kevin Harvick won the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta, where he celebrated in a similar manner to his 2001 victory there.

2002: Turbulent 2002 Season

In 2002, Harvick's season included triggering an eighteen-car crash at the Daytona 500, a fine for a post-race incident with Greg Biffle, and a suspension for rough driving in a Truck race at Martinsville. He was banned from the Cup Series race the next day, with Kenny Wallace replacing him; he was also fined $35,000 and placed into another probation. Despite the controversies, he secured his first Cup pole position at Daytona and won at Chicagoland Speedway, finishing 21st in points and becoming the 2002 IROC Champion. In Trucks, Harvick won at Phoenix.

2003: Brickyard 400 Win and Busch Series Owners' Championship

In 2003, Harvick won the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis and finished fifth in the Cup Series point standings. In the Busch Series, Harvick and Johnny Sauter teamed up to win the NASCAR Busch Series owners' championship, with Harvick posting three wins.

2005: Food City 500 Win and Bristol Sweep

In 2005, Harvick's only Cup win came at the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. He achieved his first "sweep" at Bristol, winning both the Sharpie Professional 250 Busch race and the Food City 500 Cup race. He finished fourteenth in the Cup series standings.

October 13, 2006: Clinched the 2006 NASCAR Busch Series championship

On October 13, 2006, Harvick clinched the 2006 NASCAR Busch Series championship at Lowe's Motor Speedway in the Dollar General 300. It was the earliest clinch of the championship ever in the Busch Series, locking up the title with four races to go.

2006: Xfinity Series Championship

In 2006, Harvick won the Xfinity Series championship.

2007: Daytona 500 Win

In 2007, Harvick won the Daytona 500 race.

2007: Wins K&N Pro Series West event at Sonoma Raceway and All-Star Race

In 2007, Kevin Harvick raced in the K&N Pro Series West event at Sonoma Raceway, marking his first race in the series since Iowa Speedway in 2007. Driving the No. 4 for Jefferson Pitts Racing, Harvick took the lead on lap 42 to win the race. Later, Harvick won the All-Star Race driving the No. 29 car for RCR.

2007: Won Daytona 500 with dramatic final lap pass

In 2007, Kevin Harvick won the Daytona 500 with a dramatic final lap pass, beating Mark Martin by .020 seconds, the closest margin since electronic scoring started in 1993. He became the fourth NASCAR driver to sweep both the Nationwide and Cup races at Daytona's opening weekend. He became the sixth of eight drivers to win both the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400.

2007: Won Orbitz 300, Camping World 200, and NAPA Auto Parts 200

In 2007, Kevin Harvick won the Orbitz 300 at Daytona, his first restrictor-plate race win and the first for AutoZone in NASCAR's Nationwide Series. He also won the Camping World 200 presented by RVs.com at New Hampshire International Speedway and the inaugural NAPA Auto Parts 200 at Montreal, after Robby Gordon was black-flagged.

2007: Wins All-Star Race for First Time Since 2007

In 2018, Kevin Harvick continued his winning streak yet again, winning stages 1 and 3 and holding off Daniel Suárez to win the All-Star Race for the first time in eleven years after winning it in 2007, driving the No. 29 car for RCR.

July 21, 2008: TD Bank 250 Win

On July 21, 2008, Kevin Harvick won $37,300 at the 35th annual TD Bank 250 presented by New England Dodge Dealers in Oxford, Maine. He became the first active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver to win the 250, defeating Glen Luce and Joey Polewarczyk Jr.

2008: First Driver to Win at Least Nine Times in a Season Since Carl Edwards in 2008

In 2020, after a twentieth place finish at Daytona, Kevin Harvick opened the first round of the playoffs on a high note by holding off Austin Dillon to win his second Southern 500 and outdueled Kyle Busch two weeks later to win the Bristol Night Race for the second time in his career, becoming the first driver to win at least nine times in a season since Carl Edwards in 2008.

2009: Won Budweiser Shootout and finished second in Daytona 500

In 2009, Kevin Harvick started the season by winning the Budweiser Shootout with a last-lap pass on Jamie McMurray. After damaging his primary car for the Daytona 500, he switched to his Shootout car and finished second when the race was declared official early due to rain.

2009: Won the Budweiser Shootout

In 2009, Kevin Harvick won the Budweiser Shootout. He repeated this achievement in 2010.

2010: Won Budweiser Shootout, Aaron's 499, Coke Zero 400, and Carfax 400

In 2010, Kevin Harvick won the Budweiser Shootout and the Aaron's 499, setting a new NASCAR record with 88 lead changes. He also won the Coke Zero 400 and the Carfax 400 at Michigan. He finished the regular season in first place but started the Chase in third. Harvick finished third overall in the Chase.

2010: Wins Michigan for the First Time Since 2010

In 2018, Kevin Harvick had finished second six times since winning at Michigan in 2010. He won both stages and led 108 laps en route to his seventh win of the season.

2011: Won Auto Club Speedway, Martinsville Speedway, Coca-Cola 600, and Richmond

In 2011, Kevin Harvick won his fifteenth career Cup race at Auto Club Speedway. He also won at Martinsville Speedway and the Coca-Cola 600. He later won at Richmond.

2013: Wins in Clash/Shootout/Unlimited, Toyota Owners 400, Coca-Cola 600, Hollywood Casino 400, and Phoenix

In 2013, Kevin Harvick tied the record for wins in the Clash/Shootout/Unlimited, won his Budweiser Duel, and won the Toyota Owners 400, Coca-Cola 600, Hollywood Casino 400, and Phoenix race. He finished third in points for the season.

2014: Cup Series Championship

In 2014, Harvick won the NASCAR Cup Series championship.

2014: Won at Phoenix and transferred to final round of Chase

In 2014, Kevin Harvick won the race at Phoenix and swept both 2014 races at Phoenix, allowing him to transfer into the final round of the Chase at Homestead.

2015: Back-to-Back Wins Since 2015

In 2018, Kevin Harvick earned back-to-back wins at Atlanta and Las Vegas, this would be the first time Harvick would earn back-to-back wins since 2015, when he won at Las Vegas and Phoenix.

2016: Finished 4th in Daytona 500 and Won at Phoenix

In 2016, Kevin Harvick finished 4th in the Daytona 500 and won at Phoenix, beating Carl Edwards in a photo finish. This was Harvick's eighth win at Phoenix.

2016: Won at Loudon and Kansas, Eliminated in Round of 8

In 2016, Kevin Harvick won at Loudon and Kansas, securing his spot in the Chase. He was eliminated in the Round of 8 but finished third at Homestead-Miami after winning the pole.

2018: Dominant Wins and Penalties

In 2018, Kevin Harvick started the season with a DNF at the Daytona 500, but earned back-to-back wins at Atlanta and Las Vegas. His win at Las Vegas was penalized, resulting in points deduction and fines. Despite the penalty, Harvick won at Phoenix, marking three consecutive wins for the first time. He continued with more wins at Dover, Kansas, and New Hampshire, securing a spot in the Championship 4 at Homestead.

2019: 2019 Season: Gander RV Duels Win, Consistent Finishes, and Playoff Run

In 2019, Kevin Harvick started by winning Duel 1 of the Gander RV Duels at Daytona. He then achieved six straight top-ten finishes. Despite some ups and downs, he secured wins at New Hampshire, Michigan, and Indianapolis, and made his fifth Championship 4 appearance, finishing third in the standings.

2022: Victories at Michigan and Richmond, Playoff Elimination, and Penalties

In 2022, Kevin Harvick won at Michigan, breaking a 65-race drought, and then won at Richmond. He was eliminated in the Round of 16 after a DNF at the Southern 500. Childers was suspended and fined after the Talladega playoff race, and Harvick finished 15th in the points standings.

2023: Kern County Raceway Park Renamed

In 2023, Kern County Raceway Park was given new ownership to Tim and Lisa Huddleston, and the track was renamed Kevin Harvick's Kern Raceway in his honor.