Editorial

‘Time Has Come’: One Of NASCAR’s Best Kevin Harvick Retiring After 2023 Season

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Kevin Harvick makes a toast after announcing his retirement from NASCAR, which will come into effect after the 2023 season. [Twitter/Screenshot/Public — User: @KevinHarvick]

[Twitter/Screenshot/Public — User: @KevinHarvick]

Andrew Powell Sports and Entertainment Blogger
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It’s time to say goodbye to a legend.

Kevin Harvick, who has tallied 60 career wins and one NASCAR championship in his 22-year Cup career, announced Thursday that 2023 will be his last season.

Harvick said that he will be retiring at the end of the year. After the campaign, Harvick’s contract with Stewart-Haas Racing is set to end, however he wanted to make a decision before NASCAR‘s new season got started.

“I’ve sought out people and picked their brains,” Harvick said. “When I asked them when they knew it was the right time, they said it’ll just happen, and you’ll realize that’s the right moment. You’ll make a plan and decide when it’s your last year.

“It’s definitely been hard to understand when that right moment is because we’ve been so fortunate to run well. But sometimes there are just other things going on that become more important and, for me, that time has come.”

I grew up in Martinsville, so this retirement literally hits close to home for me.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not all boohoo about it or anything like that. I’m not a NASCAR fan anymore (I haven’t watched in years), but I remember being a kid and growing up in Martinsville, and I was a big-time racing fan then. You couldn’t help but to be in a town like that, and the house that I lived in was right beside the speedway — racing is king where I used to live. And one of the biggest enemies of the city: Kevin Harvick.

If I remember correctly, back in the day —  and I’m talking about way back in the day — Kevin Harvick said in a radio interview (that I was unable to find, probably because it’s so old) that he would prefer to see Martinsville Speedway be filled up with water (out of frustration of him sucking there). As you can imagine, the town hasn’t been the biggest fan of him since he said that, and this is honestly my biggest memory of Kevin Harvick. And as someone who loves Martinsville and is proud to be from there, yeah, I’m not exactly the biggest fan of Kevin Harvick either. (RELATED: Paige Spiranac Declares Notre Dame Football As The Worst Fan Base In Sports, And She’s Absolutely Correct)

But one thing you can’t deny: he had one hell of a career, and at the end of the day, he’s a champion. And that alone deserves respect. Congratulations on your retirement, Kevin. It’s crazy that you’re finally calling it a day.

And since you are, can Martinsville finally get an apology?