By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief
Chevrolet is the only manufacturer Kevin Harvick has ever known in NASCAR, but once the checkered flag waves on the 2016 season this Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway, so does the long marriage between the two.
With the exception of the 1999 Camping World Truck Series season when he drove for Ford, Harvick, the 2007 Daytona 500 champion, has been exclusive to the bowtie brand for his entire career and has enjoyed numerous wins and championships across all three of NASCAR’s national touring series.
However, with Stewart-Haas Racing switching to Ford next season it puts an end to the 40-year-old Californian’s that and adds a huge unknown.
Harvick, who sits on pole for Sunday’s Ford EcoBoost 400, will be trying for a 36th Sprint Cup Series win in what will be his 574th start – all spanning over 16 seasons and all with Chevrolet. He took a moment to recall the near two decade relationship, being appreciative of the time but anticipating what lies ahead.
“Yeah, I think as you look at the relationship that I’ve had with Chevrolet for a lot of years, I think as you look at whether it be the three owners championships that DeLana (Harvick, wife) and I had in the Truck Series, I think we won two or three owners championships in Chevrolet’s with Richard (Childress) and a couple of driver’s championships in the Busch Series (now Xfinity) with Richard and the Cup championship at SHR (Stewart-Haas Racing) – We have won a lot of championships and races,” Harvick said.
“It is kind of bitter sweet ending, but as much as you’ve been able to accomplish in a Chevrolet in the past we are also excited about things to come in the future.”
The pair have teamed for the following collection of accolades:
2014 Sprint Cup Series Championship
Two-time Xfinity Series Championship (2001, 2006)
Two-time Camping World Truck Series Championship (2007, 2009) – both as team owner
2007 Daytona 500 Champion
2003 Brickyard 400 Champion
2014 Southern 500 Champion
Two-time Coca Cola 600 Champion (2011, 2013)
35 Sprint Cup Series Wins
56 Xfinity Series Wins – 10 as team owner
57 Truck Series Wins – 43 as team owner
