WATCH: “You two idiots will shoot your toes off!” Kevin Harvick recalls a crazy story on how Dale Earnhardt gifted him his first gun

Kevin Harvick has wild story about meeting Dale Earnhardt for the first-time in his career.

WATCH: “You two idiots will shoot your toes off!” Kevin Harvick recalls a crazy story on how Dale Earnhardt gifted him his first gun

Dale Earnhardt and Kevin Harvick (Via IMAGO)

Kevin Harvick retired from the sport last year in an emotional farewell season. The cup series winner had been involved in the sport for more than two decades and was close with Dale Earnhardt Sr. The 48-year-old recently shared an instance that he had with the seven-time champion on their first meeting and how they got gifted guns from the intimidator.

Harvick was refining his race craft in the lower divisions under the mentorship of Dale Sr. at RCR when they first met. It was a special encounter as one day Harvick and four-time NASCAR Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday entered the Senior’s office seeking permission to learn how to shoot. Earnhardt immediately criticized them saying they might get into an accident. 

What in the hell do you want to go and learn how to shoot a shotgun for? You two idiots will shoot your toes off.
Kevin Harvick qouted Dale Sr. via Harvick’s Happy Hour podcast

The conversation went on and Senior asked Ron Hornaday to get the Trucks out and then proceeded to lead Harvick into a room near his office where he kept his gun among many other things. From there, Harvick was gifted his first shotgun, something he still keeps close to his heart as memorabilia.

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Kevin Harvick replaced Dale Earnhardt at RCR in the mot unfortunate circumstances

Harvick was RCR’s development driver and was scheduled to make one-off appearances throughout the season for them in the cup series. The young gun at the time was anticipated to land a full-time seat in 2002. However, things turned south way too quickly for the NASCAR series sooner rather than later.

Kevin Harvick, Stewart Haas Racing
Kevin Harvick, Stewart Haas Racing (Credits: IMAGO)

The seven-time champion lost his life on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500 due to a huge crash. This loss of such a famous figure reminded people of the loss of Ayrton Senna at Imola in 1994 and sparked debates for more safety in motorsport worldwide. This accident left RCR with one less driver and called Harvick up to the Cup series to take the place of Earnhardt.

The American took up the role brilliantly and secured victory three weeks after joining the team. Harvick stayed with the team until 2013 and joined SHR in 2014, winning the title on his first go with the team. The 48-year-old was a contender for the title often but left a legacy behind him that will live on forever.

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