Kevin Harvick Warns Denny Hamlin Against Retiring Too Late and “Ruining” His NASCAR Legacy

Ex-NASCAR Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick has shared his thoughts on how long Denny Hamlin should race before retirement.

Kevin Harvick Warns Denny Hamlin Against Retiring Too Late and “Ruining” His NASCAR Legacy

Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin (Via IMAGO)

Last Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway witnessed another Denny Hamlin Next-Gen era masterclass, as the Joe Gibbs Racing driver secured his 61st career cup win. Since then, one of the biggest questions is how long should the veteran continue to race considering he is 45 years old.

2014 Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick has shared his thoughts on the discussion in the latest episode of his podcast. He pointed out that retirement timing is a big question for every racer, as it hard to make that call when they are still at the top of the game.

That’s the big question, right? When he gets to the end of this contract, does he say, ‘Well, I’m still winning. Should I keep going?’ Or do you let it get to the point where you slide?

Kevin Harvick said on his podcast.

Furthermore, the Fox sports broadcasters has pointed out that he loves athletes that retire when they at the top. Kevin Harvick gave Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson and Darrell Waltrip as exam0le of drivers that continued racing past their prime. They ended up tarnishing their legacy buy producing winless seasons.

I always like when people go out on top and are winning and competitive. You look at the Kyle Busch situation and everything that’s happening there and that legacy. And you look back at Jimmie Johnson‘s legacy, Darrell Waltrip. So many of these legacies end losing and in my opinion it takes away from it. So if he’s going to go out, go out while you’re winning.

Kevin Harvick added via Happy Hour podcast.

The veteran specifically highlighted seven times Cup champion Jimmie Johnson’ poor final years with HMS and admitted that it is still black mark on the 83-times Cup race winners’ legacy. So, the ex-SHR wants Denny Hamlin to retire when he is on the top, to make sure the public perception of his doesn’t change.

It ends the right way. You look at Jimmie Johnson and the way that that ended, it’s just not… it just took away from everything that he did, unfortunately, in the general perception of the public and the race fans. I hope he goes out on top. He deserves it.

Kevin Harvick asserted.

Kevin Harvick discusses how many more races Denny Hamlin can win before retirement  

In the same conversation earlier, the JGR driver shared his thoughts on how many more wins the veteran can secure in the coming years. He has two years left in his JGR contract, which many expect to his final deal and the big question is can he win nine more to hit the milestone 70 mark by the end of 2027.

Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick (Via @SPEEDSPORT/X)

So, he’s got 61 right now. Says he’s going to drive this year and one more. Well, I mean, I’m just… that’s where the contract is right now. So how many wins can he get to? I mean how many do you think he can win this year? I think he can win a handful of races again this year. I think conservatively it’s five. Can he get to 70?

Kevin Harvick said.

The race wins are not just the big question, as the veteran only have probably two good years left to secure his maiden Cup championship. It would be interesting to see how everything will playout for the 23XI Racing co-owner, as he is in the most important as well as the final chapter of his racing career.

Also Read: Denny Hamlin Sets “Realistic” Career Win Goal After Vegas Triumph