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 and current commentator for NASCAR on Fox. Known for his aggressive driving style and successful career, he secured a NASCAR Cup Series championship in 2014. Harvick's career spanned multiple decades, establishing him as a prominent figure in motorsports.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

1971: Michigan Doubleheader, Became 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 a sweep of the Michigan doubleheader.

1997: Back-to-Back Championships

In 2016, If NASCAR still had a full season points format, Kevin Harvick would've won his 3rd championship in 2016 and become the first person to win back-to-back championships since Jeff Gordon in 1997 and 1998.

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: NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Champion

In 1998, Kevin Harvick was the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Champion. This signaled an early achievement for his NASCAR career.

1998: Winston West Series Championship

In 1998, Kevin Harvick won five races and the Winston West Series championship while driving for Spears.

1998: Back-to-Back Championships

2000: Signed with Richard Childress Racing

In 2000, Kevin Harvick signed with Richard Childress Racing to drive the No. 2 Chevrolet for his first full Busch Series season and won the NASCAR Busch Series Rookie of the Year.

March 11, 2001: First Winston Cup Win

On March 11, 2001, Kevin Harvick won his first career Winston Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway in just his third start, narrowly edging Jeff Gordon.

2001: Achievements in 2001 Season

In 2001, Kevin Harvick secured a ninth-place finish in the points standings, won the NASCAR Rookie of the Year Award, and also won the Busch Series championship, while driving full-time in the Winston Cup Series.

2001: Xfinity Series Championship

In 2001, Kevin Harvick won the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship.

2001: First Win Since 2001

In 2018, Kevin Harvick had his first win since 2001 at Atlanta.

2001: Celebrated in a similar manner to his 2001 victory there

In 2020, Kevin Harvick scored further victories came during the summer in the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta (where he celebrated in a similar manner to his 2001 victory there).

2002: 2002 IROC Champion

In 2002, Kevin Harvick became the 2002 IROC Champion in his first season in the Series, winning at California Speedway.

2003: Brickyard 400 Win

In 2003, Kevin Harvick, teamed with crew chief Todd Berrier, won the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis and jumped to fifth in the point standings.

2005: Food City 500 Win

In 2005, Kevin Harvick's only Cup win came at the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

September 2006: Harvick's First Pole Position

In qualifying for the 2013 Hollywood Casino 400, Harvick won his first pole position since September 2006.

October 13, 2006: 2006 NASCAR Busch Series Championship Clinched

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

2006: Xfinity Series Championship

In 2006, Kevin Harvick secured the Xfinity Series Championship, adding another major accomplishment to his racing career.

2007: Harvick wins at Sonoma, drives in K&N Pro Series West event

In 2007, Kevin Harvick drove the No. 4 for Jefferson Pitts Racing at Sonoma Raceway in the K&N Pro Series West event, his first race in the series since Iowa Speedway in 2007, winning the race after taking the lead on lap 42. A day later, he won the Toyota/Save Mart 350, his second road course win and first at Sonoma. In the chase, he struggled, finishing 36th at Loudon and 17th at Dover but managed to avoid elimination due to playoff and stage points. The second round was slightly better, despite a DNF at Talladega, where stage points again saved him. He finished 5th at Martinsville after a last-lap contact, won stage 1 and the race at Texas, securing a spot in the Championship 4 at Homestead, marking his first win at Texas. At Phoenix, he finished 5th. In the season finale at Homestead, he finished 4th in the race and 3rd in the final standings. Following the retirements of Dale Jr. and Matt Kenseth, Harvick and Jimmie Johnson became the oldest full-time drivers in the Cup Series.

2007: Nationwide Series Wins

In 2007, Kevin Harvick had multiple wins in the Nationwide Series, including the Orbitz 300 at Daytona, marking his first win in a restrictor-plate race and the first for sponsor AutoZone in NASCAR's Nationwide Series. He also won the Camping World 200 at New Hampshire International Speedway and the NAPA Auto Parts 200 at Montreal after Robby Gordon was black-flagged.

2007: Dramatic Daytona 500 Win

In 2007, Kevin Harvick started the Sprint Cup series with a dramatic final lap pass in the Daytona 500, beating Mark Martin by .020 seconds. This was the closest margin at the 500 since electronic scoring started in 1993. Harvick became the fourth NASCAR driver to sweep both the Nationwide and Cup races in the opening weekend at Daytona.

2007: Harvick wins All-Star Race for the first time in 11 years after winning it in 2007 driving the No. 29 car for RCR

In 2018, Kevin Harvick won the All-Star Race for the first time in 11 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, becoming the first active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver to win the race.

2009: Budweiser Shootout Win and Daytona 500 Finish

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, his team switched to his Shootout car, and he finished second when the race was declared official early due to rain.

2009: Starting the season same as in 2010

In 2010 season, Kevin Harvick started the same way he did in 2009 by winning the Budweiser Shootout.

2010: Harvick finished second six times since winning there in 2010

Coming into Michigan in 2018, Kevin Harvick had finished second six times since winning there in 2010.

2010: Successful 2010 Season

In 2010, Kevin Harvick had a bounce-back year, starting by winning the Budweiser Shootout. He placed second in the Gatorade Duel to Jimmie Johnson. He won the Aaron's 499 and the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona. On August 15, Harvick captured his third win of the year by winning the Carfax 400 at Michigan. He finished third overall in the Chase.

2012: Win at Phoenix

In 2012, Kevin Harvick made the Chase through consistency, despite being winless in the regular season. At Phoenix, Harvick won the race, his only win of the season and the 19th of his career. He went on to finish 8th in points.

2013: Victories and Accomplishments in 2013

In 2013, Kevin Harvick won his Budweiser Duel. He tied Tony Stewart's and Dale Jarrett's record for wins in the Clash/Shootout/Unlimited. Harvick won his first race of the season at the 2013 Toyota Owners 400 and he dominated the Hollywood Casino 400. Harvick won his fourth race of the year at the Phoenix race. He finished the season third in points.

2014: Cup Series Championship

In 2014, Kevin Harvick won the NASCAR Cup Series championship.

2014: Harvick Sweeps Phoenix Races

In 2014, Kevin Harvick won the race at Phoenix, sweeping both 2014 races at Phoenix, which allowed him to transfer into the final round of the Chase at Homestead.

2015: Back-to-back wins since 2015

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

2016: 2016 Season

In 2016, Kevin Harvick started at the rear of the field at Chicagoland. Harvick's third win of the season would come at the very next week at Loudon, where he passed Matt Kenseth on a late-race restart with 7 laps to go. Harvick would lead 267 laps to victory in Kansas. He would wrap up his 2016 season by winning the pole and finishing 3rd at Homestead-Miami.

2017: Stewart-Haas switches to Ford

In 2017, Stewart-Haas Racing transitioned from Chevrolet to Ford. Kevin Harvick won Stage 2 and led the most laps at the Daytona 500, ultimately finishing 22nd after a wreck. He later captured the pole position at Atlanta, leading 292 laps and sweeping both race stages, but a pit road penalty relegated him to 9th place. Despite the setbacks, Harvick led the points standings due to his stage wins and consistency.

2018: Harvick's 2018 Season

In 2018, Harvick started the season with a DNF at the Daytona 500 but followed with dominant wins at Atlanta (first since 2001) and Las Vegas, marking his 100th career win across NASCAR's top three series. His Las Vegas win was penalized due to a rear window issue, resulting in points deductions and fines. Despite the penalty and his crew chief's absence, Harvick won at Phoenix, securing three consecutive wins for the first time in his career. He continued with a string of strong finishes, including a win at Dover and Kansas, tying his season-best win record. He won the All-Star Race for the first time in 11 years and achieved his sixth win of the year at New Hampshire. Harvick finished the season with seven wins, including a victory at Michigan after numerous second-place finishes, a best in his career.

2019: Harvick's 2019 Season

In 2019, Harvick started by winning Duel 1 at Daytona but finished 26th in the Daytona 500 after a late crash. He then achieved six consecutive top-10 finishes, including three top-fives. After race #19, he experienced mixed results, including a 13th-place finish at Bristol, 4th at Richmond, and a DNF at Talladega. He secured the pole at Kansas but finished 13th due to a poor pit stop and finished second in the All-Star race. Despite challenges like a loose wheel at Pocono and a wreck at Chicagoland, Harvick added wins at New Hampshire, Michigan, and Indianapolis later in the season. In the Playoffs, he advanced to the Round of 12 with strong finishes and won at Texas to secure a Championship 4 appearance, ultimately finishing third in the standings.

2020: Harvick's 2020 Playoff Performance

In 2020, Harvick won his second Southern 500 and the Bristol Night Race, becoming the first driver since Carl Edwards in 2008 to win at least nine times in a season. Despite these achievements, Harvick was eliminated in the Round of 8 after finishing 17th at Martinsville. He finished fifth in the points standings, and went the entire season without a DNF for only the fourth time in his career.

2022: Harvick's 2022 Season and Career Finale

In 2022, Harvick began the season with a 30th-place finish at the Daytona 500. He won at Michigan, ending a 65-race drought and secured his 60th and final career victory at Richmond. He was eliminated in the Round of 16 after the Southern 500 due to a fire in his car. Childers was suspended and fined US$100,000, and the No. 4 team was docked 100 points. Harvick finished the season 15th in the points standings, his first points finish outside the top 10 since 2009.