Kevin Harvick confesses he was convinced podcasting “was a terrible idea” after retirement

2014 Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick shared his initial thoughts on the now successful Happy Hour podcast with Fox Sports.

Kevin Harvick confesses he was convinced podcasting “was a terrible idea” after retirement

Kevin Harvick and Happy Hour Podcast (Images via Fox Sports and IMAGO)

Ex-Stewart Haas Racing driver Kevin Harvick is one of the best racers in the history the sport, and the entire community was sad when he retired in 2023. He started a new NASCAR career, as a broadcaster with Fox Sports and a podcaster, alongside his ventures into other racing series as owner as well as driver.

The most successful post-retirement moves from Kevin Harvick was the Happy Hour Podcast which he hosts with Kaitlyn Vince and Mamba Smith. Recently in an interview with The Athletic, he admitted that he thought starting a podcast was a terrible idea and then highlighted how he was proven wrong really fast with how the show has evolved.

I thought that podcast was a terrible idea when we started, but it has evolved into exactly [that sort of outlet]. And I think it’s because on the air, you never see and hear everything that’s happening because it’s happening so fast.

Kevin Harvick told The Athletic.

Further talking about the point, Harvick highlighted that the change of pace between the race booth and the podcast is something that intrigues him. The slow pace of the latter helps him to have deeper conversation and he is impressed with how the topics shape themselves.

There is this unbelievable pace of the booth in the way that the information and things are happening, so being able to digest that after the race, listen, see everything else that was going on — the topics pretty much shape themselves.

Kevin Harvick said.

He is happy about the opportunity podcasting has given him regarding diving deep into topics and be more critical about things. Harvick cherishes being in the podcast as he can have tough conversations with drivers and other NASCAR personalities.

It’s great to be able to dive into some of the more critical things, whether it’s NASCAR, driver, track, whatever that scenario is, to be able to have those conversations that are tough.

Kevin Harvick added.

Kevin Harvick explains why the idea initially seem difficult for him

Further talking about the point, during the same conversation, he explained that initially he thought podcasting will be too difficult and too much work. But later he realized that that the podcast helps him to understand every past race week better and be really prepared for the next-race week.

Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick (Via @KevinHarvick/X)

It seemed like a lot of work, and it is, but it’s not as difficult as you think it is. And it actually helps you prepare for the week. By the time I get to my production meetings on Tuesday, I have a pretty well-rounded idea of what happened over the weekend or what you’re leading into for the next week.

Kevin Harvick said.

The comments from Kevin Harvick shows how being part of the podcast made him better in the Fox race booth and helped him to give more back to the racing community. It would be interesting to see how Happy Hour podcast is going to evolve in the coming years.

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