The son of a former Cup Series champion is sure to carry weight. However, not many can carry forward the family legacy effectively. For instance, 7-time NASCAR Cup champion Richard Petty’s grandson Thad Moffitt has not made much headway. However, 2014 Cup title holder Kevin Harvick may have a different story in his hands. At merely 12 years old, his son is making astounding leaps and bounds.

This year, Keelan Harvick embarked on a jaw-dropping Legend Car journey. After winning the U.S Legend Cars/INEX Road Course World Finals championship last year, Keelan charted greater paths for himself. Accordingly, he bagged the highest honor in the 2024 INEX Asphalt Nationals Young Lions series.

Kevin Harvick’s son paves the way to glory

From the moment he was born, Keelan had the spotlight on him. After all, he was the son of 60-time Cup race-winning veteran Kevin Harvick. Expectations enshrouded Keelan to be the torchbearer of this golden racing legacy. But the little Harvick tackled those masterfully. He won his first go-kart race at Trackhouse Motorplex at 8 years old and went on to gain more experience in the Micro and Mini categories. By 2024, he won at multiple short tracks across the Southeast in a Legend Car. What he showcased this year trumped all his earlier achievements.

Racing the No. 62 Hunt Brothers’ Pizza Chevrolet, Kevin Harvick’s little star laid a glittering path this season. According to a US Legend Cars Instagram post, Keelan Harvick won 27 races in 49 starts. To add to this glittering resume, he also picked up 38 Podiums. These laurels were enough to fetch the young star the 2024 INEX Young Lions Asphalt National Championship and add it to his burgeoning trophy case. Keelan’s father made no secret of his overflowing pride on Instagram: “Great way for @keelanharvick to cap off his @uslegendcars season with a national win and championship!!”

New heights await this young champion. Last month, Kevin Harvick Inc. and Rackley W.A.R. announced a partnership for 2025, where the father-son duo will race Late Models together. Rackley co-owner could not be more enthusiastic about being part of Keelan’s star-studded growth in motorsports. “Teaming up with Kevin Harvick is a game-changer for us at Rackley W.A.R… Having Keelan and Kevin join our Late Model team next season is just as exciting. We’re not just building a partnership—we’re building a future. There’s no doubt this collaboration will drive success, and I couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead.”

Besides his championship and future goals, Keelan achieved something this year which may be a sign of a future Cup Series career.

Running in bigger tracks

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Florence Motor Speedway’s South Carolina 400 witnessed veterans like Dale Earnhardt Jr. reunite with his #8 Budweiser. However, the first night of competition with a 96-lap feature saw a way younger racer create a milestone. Keelan Harvick strapped into his No. 62 car for his first start in a Limited Late Model. The race featuring 30 cars required Keelan to be composed behind the wheel, particularly for saving tires and perfecting restarts. He upheld the Harvick family name as he avoided trouble except for a slight contact with Jason Myers’ car. Keelan brought his car to an 8th-place finish.

The proud father, Kevin Harvick, heaped appreciation for his son. “I think we kind of threw [Keelan] to the wolves. I didn’t really put all this together for him to be in the biggest Limited race of the year, but it worked out really well because he got to race against a really competitive field. His race craft tonight was something I was proud of. He did an amazing job in the car.” Harvick continued that his son’s future looks bright, as the race “confirmed what we had planned next year. We’ll probably keep pushing down the road of 25-30 Late Model races for next year. Now it starts with all the little things.”

Keelan is acing in those little things, taking small steps to a possibly decorated racing career. As 2025 looms in the distance, let us see what Kevin Harvick’s little star achieves next.