Kevin Harvick’s Brutally Honest Admission Over His Performance This Weekend

Seasoned NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick has spoken of his struggles at the Late Model Stock race on the CARS Tour at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Harvick is finding his way back to grassroots motorsport this weekend and found himself grappling with a different beast.

“I learned that I’m slow. That’s what I learned the most and you know it’s hard to come in here and compete with these guys when they race all the time,” Harvick admitted in an interview with Rob Blount of FloRacing.

This statement came after Kevin Harvick was confirmed to be starting the race in a humbling 20th place out of 33 drivers, a sharp contrast from his usual front-runner status in NASCAR.

The race at North Wilkesboro Speedway, a track known for its rich history and tricky layout, presented additional challenges. It had been delayed by weather conditions, including a hold due to lightning, which paused the event until 8:15 PM EST. Despite these hurdles, the turnout was commendable with plenty of fans keen to watch.

“You see that, this is a tough weekend to come and have a makeup race with a rain date and to have this many cars show up it says a lot about our competitors and we appreciate that,” Harvick said.

Harvick’s inclusion in the CARS Tour during the NASCAR offseason was partly necessitated by his media commitments with FOX finishing earlier in the year, allowing him a temporary return to racing as other drivers seek some time to relax. This transition back to racing, albeit temporarily, has been eye-opening for the fan-favorite.

Moreover, Harvick’s part in the event wasn’t just about racing. He had a personal stake in observing the progress of younger racers like Connor Zilisch, a rising star whom Harvick noticed while his son was kart racing. Zilisch, one position ahead of Harvick, exhibits the kind of talent and promise that the NASCAR veteran recognizes as indicative of future success in the sport.

Harvick added: “The track is obviously a lot different but it’s still North Wilkesboro and for us, we’re very fortunate to have a race track like this that believes in what we do at the CARS Tour. So, I’m looking forward to tonight and learning and I’ve been able to be around the cars a lot since I got done with my yearly job at FOX and have been able to be a part of the teams and be at a lot of the races and looking to have some fun.”

Kevin Harvick’s objective was clear: soak in the experience, learn from the seasoned regulars of the circuit, and most importantly, enjoy the spirited competition unique to the world of stock car racing at a grassroots level.

Harvick finished 11th with Connor Zilisch following in P15.

CARS Tour Late Model Stock Cars at North Wilkesboro Speedway Results