NEWTON, N.C.- It’s well documented that father time waits for no one, including athletes. Even the all-time greats eventually lose their edge.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It just signifies the next chapter of life for those in question, including racecar drivers.
That chapter looks different for everyone. For some, it’s team ownership, others find their home atop a pit box or in a commentary booth. Many veterans go back to the grassroots facilities where they first came up. Other curious drivers may test the waters in other tours or unique events.
While Kevin Harvick is one of those to step into commentary, the next chapter of Harvick’s life – and career – revolves around being a father. Helping son Keelan daughter Piper grow as both people – and in Keelan’s case specifically, as a racecar driver.
Saturday (July 12) night at Hickory Motor Speedway, that meant the elder Harvick watched from the driver’s seat as Keelan pulled away for his first career zMAX CARS Tour Pro Late Model win, all while Kevin fought his way up to third in the closing laps.
🏁 @KeelanHarvick is a winner with the @CARSTour!
— FloRacing (@FloRacing) July 13, 2025
He collects his first series win in the #RoadtoThrowback at @hickoryspeedway!#CARSTour @hbpizza pic.twitter.com/KHttS06Fsd
With that victory, Keelan showed that the next generation of Harvick is now.
The win for Keelan moves him to 3-0 vs. father Kevin in what the family has dubbed the “Harvick Vs. Harvick Showdown”, winning two of the three races while finishing second in the other.
Kevin Harvick the competitor wants to find his way to victory lane any time he’s behind the wheel. But Kevin Harvick the dad is more than happy to watch his son drive away with the win, knowing all the hard work that’s gone in to get him to this point.
“The first thing I didn’t want to do was cause a caution back there racing hard,” Harvick told Frontstretch post-race. “I had fun. Being able to be on the same racetrack obviously is something that I didn’t ever really think would happen. For me it’s fun because of the fact of, the conversations that we can have about the cars, the things that we’re doing, the places that we’re going. Putting on fun shows for the fans while he’s learning racing and I’m out there just having a good time.
“As a dad, that’s pretty cool, after racing your whole life to put food on the table. Now you’re just out there watching him grow and having a good time.”
During Keelan’s time racing karts, the Harvick and Maier families were always in close contact with one another, as Ben Maier worked his way through the ranks alongside Keelan. Kevin got the better of Maier for third spot in the closing laps at Hickory, another thing he never imagined he’d say.
“It’s really weird,” Harvick said. “Ben and Keelan raced go-karts together and Ben was actually a part of the coaching process with Keelan. So I know the Maier’s really well and have watched him race, and now you’re out there racing side-by-side, banging doors with him. It’s a little bit strange for me because I’m obviously old enough to be his dad, too.
“We’ve got a lot of great young kids coming up through this sport and Ben’s one of those kids. … To be able to go out there and race with him [was] something else I never thought I’d do.”
As for the Harvick Vs. Harvick Showdown, Kevin finds himself down 0-3. Race one at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway saw Keelan take advantage of Kevin’s misfortune, but Keelan has flat outrun Kevin at Evergreen Speedway and now Hickory. With five more races to go, can Kevin turn the story around for the old guys?
“I don’t know, [Keelan’s] kind of flipped a switch here,” Kevin said. “He’s just flat out faster than me right now. But that’s fun, too. I think my best chance was at Kern and I kinda got wiped out there. But we’ll go to Owosso and see what happens.”
As for the younger Harvick, he’s beaming with confidence, similar to what we’ve seen for decades from his father before. Even amidst a dominant performance leading all but one lap, the 13-year-old still found things to improve on.
“If I wouldn’t have messed up on the restart I could’ve led all 100 laps,” Harvick told Frontstretch. “That would’ve been a little bit better. Still won the race at the end of the day so it was pretty good.
“I definitely could have been a little bit better on my restarts, and just a little bit better saving the tires a little more. I know we beat them by three and a half seconds but that could’ve been four.”
How does Keelan feel about the Harvick Vs. Harvick showdown? Pretty good, considering all the ammunition for smack talk has been falling his way. The proud son was beaming when talking about his undefeated record thus far.
“Yeah, after the first one, or second one at Evergreen he knew it was coming,” Harvick said. “He’s told me he’s getting a little old and he’s getting a little out of shape. I don’t know, hopefully we can sweep him.”
The next time the CARS Tour rolls into Hickory, Keelan and the rest of the Pro Late Model field will be chasing a whole lot more money, with a $30,000 prize up for grabs. He’d love to use the money in the most 13-year-old way possible.
“A lot of Hunt Brother’s Pizza getting bought,” Keelan joked.
The next time the two will be on track together will be this Wednesday, July 16, at Owosso Speedway. They’ll close out the second half of the duel at Colorado National Speedway (Aug. 16), the Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Oct. 10), North Wilkesboro Speedway (Oct. 18) and back at Kern on Nov. 15.
Will Kevin get the better of Keelan in any of those? Well, he’ll certainly try. Kevin is a NASCAR Hall of Famer and Cup Series champion, so it’s certainly possible. But it’s just as plausible that Keelan sweeps the whole series.
Either way, the Harvicks are giving the fans a show and Kevin is watching his son grow behind the wheel – from a few car lengths back.
Chase began working with Frontstretch in the spring of 2023 as a news writer, while also helping fill in for other columns as needed. Chase is now the main writer and reporter for Frontstretch.com's CARS Tour coverage, a role which began late in 2023. Aside from racing, some of Chase's other hobbies include time in the outdoors hunting and fishing, and keeping up with all things Philadelphia sports related.