Kevin Harvick, a nine-time NASCAR race winner at Texas Motor Speedway, will be the 2025 inductee into the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame at Texas Motor Speedway. Photo credit: Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway.

By John Sturbin, Raceday San Antonio

FORT WORTH – Retired NASCAR Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick will be honored as 2025 inductee into the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame on Friday, May 2, during ceremonies at Texas Motor Speedway.

Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John’s Ford. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)

Harvick compiled a stellar 23-year Cup Series career during his tenures with Richard Childress Racing and Stewart Hass Racing, including three victories on TMS’ high-banked/1.5-mile oval. Harvick will be honored during a program scheduled for 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (CDT) in The Speedway Club Ballroom, with local FOX 4 sports anchor Mike Doocy serving as emcee and PRN lead anchor Brad Gillie as moderator.

The TMS Luncheon presented by WÜRTH will feature a candid “Fireside Chat” with Harvick hosted by Gillie, a panel discussion regarding the impact of motorsports on the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and lunch prepared by Levy Restaurants.

Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Busch Light Ford. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

The event is open to the public with individual tickets on sale for $125 and VIP table options also available for purchase. All proceeds from the luncheon will benefit Speedway Children’s Charities Texas Chapter, whose mission is to care for children via educational, financial, social and medical needs in a bid to help them lead productive lives.

“We are thrilled to induct Kevin Harvick into the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame,” said Marissa Chaney, executive director, Speedway Children’s Charities. “He has not only left an incredible legacy on Texas Motor Speedway, but also on the community with his unwavering support of Speedway Children’s Charities.” Click HERE for more information and to purchase tickets.

Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Mobil 1 Ford. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Currently working as an analyst for NASCAR on FOX broadcasts, Harvick concluded his full-time racing career in 2023. Nicknamed “Happy” _ ironically due to his occasional temper outbursts _ Harvick’s 121 combined victories across NASCAR’s three national touring series currently ranks third all-time behind only “King” Richard Petty and Kyle Busch. Harvick’s 60 Cup wins are 10th in series history. Harvick also scored 47 victories in the Xfinity Series (NXS) and 14 in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS).

Nine of Harvick’s combined victories were recorded at “The Great American Speedway,” highlighted by a run of three in a row in the fall NCS race from 2017-19. Harvick also posted five NXS wins (2001 spring race, fall race in 2005, ‘06, ‘07 and ‘12) and one in the NCTS (2011 fall race).

Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Busch Beer/National Forest Foundation Ford, celebrates winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 21, 2019 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

A 49-year-old native of Bakersfield, Calif., Harvick became an enduring figure in NASCAR history as the driver who replaced seven-time Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt after his fatal crash on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500.

NASCAR Nation was still mourning “The Intimidator” on March 11, 2001, when Harvick drove the No. 29 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet Monte Carlo to an emotional victory in the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a sister Speedway Motors facility to TMS. Harvick scored his first career Cup victory in just his third series start, edging then three-time Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports by six one-thousandths-of-a-second (0.006). Harvick capped the 2001 season by earning NCS Rookie of the Year honors.

Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Busch Beer/Ducks Unlimited Ford, stands on the grid during the Salute to Veterans Qualifying Day Fueled by The Texas Lottery for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 02, 2019 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Harvick’s list of major achievements include his 2014 Cup championship; 2007 Daytona 500 winner; three-time Brickyard 400 winner (2003, ‘19 and ‘20); two-time Coca-Cola 600 winner (2011, ‘13); two-time Southern 500 winner (2014, ‘20); 2007 NASCAR All-Star Race winner and two-time NXS champion (2001, ‘06). Harvick also recorded 31 NCS poles driving for Richard Childress Racing (2001-2013) and Stewart-Haas Racing (2014-2023).

Founded by NASCAR Hall of Famer O. Bruton Smith in 1982, Speedway Children’s Charities is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization providing funding for hundreds of organizations that meet the direct needs of children. Speedway Children’s Charities has distributed more than $72.6-million in grants.

Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Busch Light Harvick Ford, waves to fans as he walks onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 05, 2023 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

Since 1997, the Speedway Children’s Charities chapter at Texas Motor Speedway has distributed more than $12.3-million in funding to non-profits in Collin, Dallas, Denton and Tarrant counties. Distributed funds are raised via special events held throughout the year including the annual NASCAR tripleheader weekend, Tony Stewart’s “Smoke Show,” Celebrity Clay Shoot, Geared for Greatness, Laps for Charity and others.

The Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame induction is part of the May 2-4 WÜRTH 400 presented by LIQUI MOLY NASCAR tripleheader. The weekend will begin with the NCTS SpeedyCash.com 250 on Friday, May 2, at 7 p.m. The NXS Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 will be held Saturday, May 3, at 1 p.m. and the weekend will conclude with the NCS WÜRTH 400 on Sunday, May 4, beginning at 2:30 p.m.

Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Mobil 1 Ford, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond Raceway on August 14, 2022 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

The weekend schedule also includes two days of Kubota High Limit Racing Sprint Car competition, May 1 and 3, on the half-mile Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track.

Event tickets and camping passes for the 2025 WÜRTH 400 presented by LIQUI MOLY NASCAR tripleheader weekend are now on sale. Click HERE for more information and to buy tickets.

Texas Motor Speedway’s current 2025 events calendar includes Mopar Heaven and Bubble Run (both events March 22), POWRi Sprint Cars (March 28-29 at the TMS Dirt Track), Pate Swap Meet (April 24-27), Goodguys LMC Truck Spring Lone Star Nationals (April 25-26), Kubota High Limit Racing (May 1 and 3 at the TMS Dirt Track), WÜRTH 400 presented by LIQUI MOLY NASCAR tripleheader weekend (May 2-4), C10 Nationals (May 9-10), Holley LS Fest Texas (May 16-17), Bandas y Trocas (May 24), Solar Car Challenge (July 17-23), Goodguys Summit Racing Lone Star Nationals (Sept. 26-28), Texas World Dirt Track Championship (Oct. 3-4 at the TMS Dirt Track), October Truck Madness (Oct. 11), Kubota High Limit Racing All-In Championship (Oct. 17-18 at the TMS Dirt Track), FuelFest (Oct. 25), POWRi Sprint Cars (Nov. 7-8 at the TMS Dirt Track) and Xtreme Xperience (Dec. 11-14).

Fans can keep track of TMS’ busy schedule on Facebook, X and Instagram. The latest track information also is available on the Speedway’s website and TMS mobile app.