NASCAR's Kevin Harvick - From Boy To Superstar

It is said that Kevin Harvick's love for the sportSeries Rookie of the Year and was able to grab
started out in 1980 when his parents presented himthree wins, eight top-five finishes and an impressive
with a go-kart after his kindergarten graduation. He16 top-ten finishes. He also went on to win at the
was born Kevin Michael Harvick on December 8th inCarquest Auto Parts 250, Bristol Motor Speedway
1975 at Bakersfield, California. His father, Mikeand at Memphis Motorsports Park.
Harvick, would sometimes apply modifications to hisThe next year he had five wins, twenty top-five
young son's go-kart which taught young Harvick tofinishes and 24 top-ten finishes. He also brought back
always be prepared for any situation. Young Harvickthe NASCAR Busch Series Championship. It was the
went on to win seven National championships andsame year that Harvick won two Winston Cups, 20
two Grand National Championships in go carting. Ittop-five finishes and five wins. He was awarded
was during that time that the racer, Kevin Harvick,Rookie of the Year with ninth place in points. The
was shaped for his upcoming battles on the racesame year, he married his best friend, DeLana Linville.
track.He also became the first NASCAR driver to run
Harvick started racing on a part-time basis in thefull-time both the Busch and Winston Cup which had
NASCAR AutoZone elite Division while he was still ina total of 70 races in one season. And amazingly the
high school in 1992. Just as he is aggressive on thefirst to have the Rookie of the Year title at the
racetracks, Harvick would spend his off-season timeWinston Cup and the Championship at the Busch
on the wrestling team at North High School in Oildale.Series.
He also managed to win in his weight class during hisSince then, Harvick has gone on to achieve more
senior year. Once he graduated from high school,winnings with his most fruitful year being 2006 where
Harvick went on to become a full-time driver andhe won his second Busch Series Championship with
grabbed the Rookie of the Year title in 1995.nine wins, 23 top-fives and 32 top-tens. His Busch win
Although he had an interest in architecture, Harvickwas the earliest ever seen in Busch history as he
decided that racing was what he wanted to do formanaged to pull it off with four more races waiting
the rest of his life and chose that over studyingto take off. He had a record number of 824 points
architecture.during the final standing. He also won the Winston
He went on to the NASCAR Grand National Division,Cup at Watkins Glen International. In 2007, he won
AutoZone West Seriesin 1997 and was crownedthe Orbitz 300 which was a first in his career in a
champion the next year. He went on to debut in therestrictor plate race during the start of the season.
craftsman Truck Series in 1995 with a best finish ofHe also won the camping World 200 and NAPA Auto
11th place. He entered full time in 1996 with threeParts 200. He made it into the record books again
top-fives and 17th finish in points. Harvick thenwhen became the driver with the most NBS wins at
started racing in the Busch Series in 1999. Despite thethe Texas Motor Speedway.
fact that he started 24th, he suffered through someHis amazing resume does not stop there as he has
engine failure and only managed to pull the 42nd spot.gone on to win various more races. It would be an
In 2000, he joined forces with legend Richardunderstatement to say that there will be a lot in
Childress. Harvick went on to win the NASCAR Buschstore for this fierce driver.