Like father, like son: Kevin Harvick, a NASCAR champion, and son to race Saturday at Stateline Speedway

Interviews by JERRY VICK 

Kevin Harvick, the 2014 NASCAR Cup Series champion and now a semi-retired driver, will race against his 13-year-old son, Keelan, as part of the Road to the Idaho 200 on Saturday at   MØDE Stadium Stateline Speedway. 

On Thursday, they checked out the Speedway, in advance of the race. 

The Road to Idaho 200 is the next stop in the CARS (Championship Auto Racing Series) Tour West, which has a nine-race schedule on racetracks in Idaho, Washington and Colorado. The field for The Road to Idaho 200 has 37 drivers, including Harvick father and son. 

“The excitement is overwhelming,” Speedway general manager Matt Alexander said. “The first time we’ve had a NASCAR Cup champion not just show up, but race at Stateline. That’s pretty big for our little town here.” 

Now an analyst for Fox Sports, Kevin Harvick is the owner of the Kevin Harvick Incorporated race team. The team’s No. 29 late model is driven part time on the Cars Tour by Kevin himself. Keelan's car is No. 62, an ode to his grandfather John Linville, who drove on the Xfinity Series circuit. 

Kevin and Keelan have competed against each other several times before. 

“It’s really cool, because I’ve watched him my whole life,” Keelan said on Thursday, during practice at Stateline Speedway. “And all the things that he’s teaching me, it’s really cool to apply those on the track with him.” 

Keelan is 14th in points on the Cars Tour West Series after two of the nine races. 

As for sharing racing information as teammates, Keelan said, “We try to help each other, but he’s mostly helping me.” 

“It’s fun,” Kevin said Thursday at Stateline, of racing against his son. “Yeah, we have a good time doing that. Obviously we do it a fair amount so traveling all over and having a good time learning different racetracks and different things, it is enjoyable.” 

Kevin Harvick’s resume includes the 2001 and 2006 Xfinity Series championships, as well as the 2007 Daytona 500. His 121 combined national series wins currently rank him third all-time in NASCAR history, behind Richard Petty and Kyle Busch.    

“The competitiveness and enthusiasm from competitors should make for a great show,” Kevin Harvick said of Saturday’s event. 

Gates on Saturday will open at 4 p.m. Alexander said most reserve seating has sold out, but general admission tickets are available at RaceIdaho.com. 

“Show up. Tell a friend. Bring a friend,” Alexander said. “We’re locally owned. We’re a small staff that puts on great events.” 

    Photo by JERRY VICK Keelan Harvick, 13, son of former NASCAR Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick, chats with a crew member Thursday during practice at MØDE Stadium Stateline Speedway, in preparation for Saturday's Road to the Idaho 200.