Kevin Harvick is ready to push his son “a little too far” though the same attitude from his father that made a big wedge between them

Kevin Harvick will retire from NASCAR at the end of the 2023 Cup season.

Kevin Harvick is ready to push his son “a little too far” though the same attitude from his father that made a big wedge between them

Kevin Harvick and Keelan Harvick

Kevin Harvick’s journey from a young cart racer from California to one of the modern-day greats of the sport has been a hard-fought battle. Mike Harvick, the No:4 SHR driver’s father, played a major role in ensuring his success in the racing world.

Mike was a pretty strict man who sighed to see his son achieve greatness and was ready to push him beyond the edge to earn glory. Though Harvick Sr. successfully led his son to greatness, it cost him big time. The father and son developed a wedge which resulted in them not speaking to each other for 10-15 years.

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Kevin Harvick is now 47 years old and will retire from NASCAR at the end of the 2023 season and is shifting his focus full-time to his son Keelan Harvick and his racing future. Keelan currently runs in competitive kart racing series in Europe and USA. The Ford driver is strict with his son, like his father, though he has found some balance and is ready to push him to the limit though he knows the after-effects of it.

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“It got to a point with my dad where I didn’t speak to him for 10-15 years so it was a big wedge but there were a lot of things that were right as far as handling things and pushing past barriers. I’m pretty strict with Keelan as far as being responsible for the things he does and sometimes it’s a little too far but I think we’ve found a pretty good balance,” Kevin Harvick said in Stacking Pennies show.

Harvick believes in the philosophy that you to first go for the limit to learn where it is. He said, “How do you know you are pushing your kid too far unless you push him too far? You don’t know how it’s going to affect him unless you get right up to that edge,”.

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Kevin Harvick’s children are dreaming of racing glory

Keelan Harvick and Piper Harvick
Keelan Harvick and Piper Harvick

It’s not just the 10 years old Keelan Harvick who is chasing their father’s footsteps in motorsports, his 5-year-old daughter Piper is also into racing. They have one of the best teachers one could ask for in the 2014 Cup series champion, and his presence does make the young Harvick’s race better.

“In the last year, I think I’ve seen Keelan race three times while he’s been in Europe. I go to the go-kart track with Piper, and she makes twice as many strides in a day while I’m there than she would in a day when I’m not there. It takes a lot of time to organize the level of racing they’re doing, and to be around that is important to me,” The SHR driver said.

Though it is great to see Harvick sharing his wisdom and expertise with his heirs, he should remember that most times, second and third-generation drivers fail to better their predecessor’s performance on the track.

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