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Kevin Harvick honored with renamed Kern Raceway, new role at Bakersfield track

JHby:Jonathan Howard•11/30/23•

Jondean25

Kevin Harvick
© Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The honors just keep coming for Kevin Harvick as he enjoys the early days of his retirement from the NASCAR Cup Series. Back home in Bakersfield, California, the folks there are doing the most to honor their hometown hero.

Kern County Raceway Park has a new ownership group. With that, Kevin Harvick is set to take on a big role with the leadership to improve the venue and grassroots racing. Tim and Lisa Huddleston, the new track owners, are doing more than just working with Harvick.

The track will now be known as Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway. That’s quite the honor for the 2014 Cup Series champion. A new era in California grassroots racing, for sure.

“Bakersfield is my home, and I am committed to giving back and ensuring a bright future for motorsports in our community,” Harvick said in a statement. “Together with Tim and Lisa, we will do everything in our power to make racing in Bakersfield as strong as it has ever been.”

Harvick tweeted much of the same sentiment when the news came out.

The Huddlestons are very excited to work with Kevin Harvick in this new venture.

“Kevin Harvick’s involvement is a game-changer for Kern Raceway,” said Tim Huddleston, CEO of Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway. “His expertise and commitment will propel us to new heights. Together, we aim to create an electrifying racing experience for fans and competitors alike.”

Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway is a 120-acre facility. It features a 1/2 mile asphalt oval as well as a 1/3 mile dirt oval.

Kevin Harvick showered in honors following retirement

So, we’re officially in the post-Harvick era. The last of the Winston Cup drivers. Imagine that, folks. When we look back on this season and the end of Harvick’s career, it will include a multitude of awards and honors.

From renamed Turn 4s to the 4EVER 400, Kevin Harvick has been given his roses, so to speak. Kern Raceway is just the latest in that long line. While the Busch Light finishing tank was cool, this has to be up there with the best moments of the year.

What is even more exciting is that we are going to see Harvick in the Fox booth next season. He’s going to be an amazing asset to broadcasts and will hopefully, be able to bring the level of production up. Fans have gotten a little upset with Fox in recent years for lackluster coverage of the sport.

It’s been a few weeks since Kevin Harvick’s last race, but he’s still riding off into the sunset. And he’s making stops to pick up trophies and plaques and apparently, race tracks.