Kevin Harvick thought the emotion of his ultimate NASCAR Cup Sequence weekend as a driver was over by the point the race was run till there got here a query about his youngsters.

On the tempo laps earlier than the beginning of Sunday’s race at Phoenix Raceway, son Keelan and daughter Piper came visiting Harvick’s staff radio. The 2 got the headsets to want their dad properly and congratulate him on what was a Corridor of Fame profession.

“Properly that’s not regular,” Harvick mentioned. “I do know that they in all probability beloved that, so…”

At that time, Harvick started to get choked up. He gave a thumbs-up after which turned to be along with his household, staff, and others who had gathered at his automotive.

Harvick completed seventh in his ultimate Cup Sequence race. It was one final aggressive exhibiting for the veteran, who led 23 laps and earned his twenty first consecutive top-10 end at Phoenix (courting again to 2013).

“Simply sort of a reduction, to be trustworthy with you, there with simply a lot occurring earlier than the race and this week,” Harvick mentioned. “It was fairly cool to steer some laps there within the final race, although. I’m simply pleased with everyone at Stewart-Haas Racing, everyone that works on this automotive and has labored on this automotive for a very long time.

“I’ve simply bought to thank all of the followers and NASCAR, my household and everyone for all of the help. It’s been an amazing journey, and I can’t complain.”

Harvick may solely chortle and say he “figured” the gang available Sunday reacted properly when he took the lead. The automotive bought too tight because the solar went down, and he didn’t problem for the victory within the ultimate stage. It was a winless season for Harvick, simply the fifth tie that’s occurred in his profession.

“The followers have been nice, simply wishing us properly [and] to do the perfect we are able to on the racetrack,” he mentioned. “It’s been an up-and-down 12 months, however we’ve had some good runs, and we had been at the least aggressive. We didn’t journey round within the again. That’s the primary factor, simply doing all we are able to do.”

A 23-year profession ends with 60 victories, together with in all 4 crown jewel occasions. Harvick gained at Indianapolis in 2003, 2019 and 2020, the Daytona 500 in 2007, the Coca-Cola 600 in 2011, and the Southern 500 in 2014 and 2020.

He gained the Cup Sequence championship in 2014.

“This complete 12 months has been unbelievable with the followers and the storage and everyone [with] all of the help,” Harvick mentioned. “We wished to inform a narrative of 30 years, and I believe we did a fairly good job at that.”

It took greater than an hour for Harvick to depart pit highway after the race. Tyler Reddick, teammates Ryan Preece and Chase Briscoe had been amongst those that got here to spend time with him. Stewart-Haas Racing co-owner Tony Stewart additionally made his method into what might be described as a mosh pit of individuals across the No. 4 automotive.

Within the pre-race driver’s assembly, Harvick was given a standing ovation. There was additionally a bunch picture taken earlier than everybody dispersed for the ultimate time forward this season.

“It actually hasn’t been about wins or losses, however you by no means need to flop round,” Harvick mentioned of his season. “To have the ability to lead laps within the final race sort of tells you the way aggressive we nonetheless are and I believe with some tweaks and changes to a number of the issues at Stewart-Haas, you possibly can go proper again on the market and be the place it’s good to be with all the things that now we have occurring. Josh [Berry] goes to do an amazing job. I can’t wait to see Josh drive this automotive round.

“Busch (Beer) remains to be on this sport. Mobil remains to be on this sport. It gave everyone time to do and consider what they wished to do, and that’s actually what I wished. I wished to depart right here and be capable of take a look at all of you guys, take a look at the followers, stroll within the TV sales space, and stroll into any trailer in that storage, whether or not it’s a driver, a crew chief, NASCAR, whoever it’s, and be capable of finish on good phrases and I believe we did that.”

Harvick might be within the Fox Sports activities sales space starting in 2024, and that chapter of his life begins this week.

“I do have already got calls subsequent week with the parents from Fox and beginning to work on finish of the 12 months issues for what we need to do there,” Harvick mentioned. “However I nonetheless assume the accountability is simply as huge to go up there and attempt to give the followers as a lot data as attainable and do job for Fox and everyone with this sport to inform the perfect story that we are able to. We’ve a number of nice drivers, a number of nice personalities, and I hope everyone will get to see that.”