Kevin Harvick names three drivers who need to win a race in 2025

The 2025 NASCAR season will start next month, and Kevin Harvick has made predictions on three drivers. On Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour, Harvick revealed that Ty Gibbs, Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin need to win a race this upcoming season.

Harvick broke down all three drivers and began with Gibbs. He said the grandson of Joe Gibbs Racing owner Joe Gibbs needs to win a race with his new crew chief Tyler Allen.

“I know that seems like of lot of pressure with a new crew chief but at some point, you got to get into victory lane and just get the monkey off of your back,” Harvick said.

For Briscoe, Harvick said he is “in that same boat.” Briscoe is the newest member of Joe Gibbs Racing, taking over for Martin Truex Jr. who has retired from full-time competition. And with a new team, Briscoe has a new crew chief in James Small.

“I’m a James Small fan because of the fact he’s got that fire,” Harvick revealed. “…I think Chase Briscoe is in a position where he needs to go out like a ball of fire and make something happen from the driver’s standpoint.”

Kevin Harvick shares more on 2025 expectations for Joe Gibbs racing

When Harvick mentioned Hamlin, he said, “Internally, I think they’ve made their organization stronger, but now you’re going to have to make it function at the racetrack with the driver and the crew chief. …I believe they have a lot of pressure on them. The expectation is to win at Gibbs. In order to do that, they’re going to have to do it quick. None of them did in the second half of the year. Now you’ve got all these changes, but you will have a lot of enthusiasm. A lot of time and effort because nobody there wants to fail.”

Hamlin’s new crew chief is Chris Gayle and he takes over for Chris Gabehart who was promoted to Joe Gibbs Racing’s competition director. Before that move was made it was announced that FedEx would not return to sponsor Hamlin’s No. 11 car in 2025.

Of the three drivers Harvick mentioned, Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin were the two who won races in 2024. All three drivers qualified for the playoffs, but Hamlin made it the furthest as he reached the Round of 8. Gibbs and Briscoe were eliminated after the Round of 16.