Kelan Harvick, age 13, joins Toyota Racing Development.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A well-known name could make an appearance at the 2031 Daytona 500 when Keelan Harvick reaches the age to participate in “The Great American Race,” which his father won 24 years prior.
Toyota Racing Development announced on Monday that it has secured a long-term agreement with the 13-year-old third-generation driver, as Kevin Harvick’s son has fully dedicated himself to a career in NASCAR.
“My primary objective is to emulate my Dad and strive to reach the Cup Series,” Keelan Harvick stated to The Associated Press.
This marks a slight shift for Keelan, who had been aiming for a career in Europe until a startling experience at a karting event in Italy, where he encountered Formula 1 star Charles Leclerc, led him to realize he might be better suited for a career in the premier motorsports series in the United States.
“I was racing in Italy, and Charles Leclerc’s nephew was on my team, and (Leclerc) came to observe the race, attracting a crowd of fans who overwhelmed the area,” Keelan recounted. “It was just too many people for me. There were hundreds of fans at a go-kart race trying to meet him.”
Toyota has outlined a comprehensive schedule for the young driver and will collaborate with RACKLEY W.A.R. and Kevin Harvick, Inc. this year to participate in numerous late model races across the country. Keelan will pilot the No. 62 Toyota Camry, with ExxonMobil serving as his primary sponsor for many of the events.
This development presents an intriguing turn for the Harvick family, as Kevin Harvick spent his 23-year career driving for Chevrolet and Ford, never having raced for Toyota. He concluded his career after the 2023 season with 63 career Cup Series victories and the 2014 championship. He transitioned to an analyst role for Fox Sports in 2024.
“We have focused significantly on development and have a strategy in place, and I felt that the Toyota approach aligned with our goals,” Kevin Harvick elaborated. “The commitment that Toyota invests not only in the driving aspect but also in the personal development is crucial for us as a family. That was a key factor in our decision to pursue this path.”
The Toyota Driver Development program has advanced current NASCAR Cup drivers Christopher Bell, Corey Heim, and John Hunter Nemechek, who race with Toyota-affiliated teams. Other drivers like Erik Jones and Daniel Suarez have worked with Toyota but now race for competing manufacturers.
TRD offers both on-track and off-track opportunities to aid development and provides its drivers access to the Toyota Performance Center, which supports physical fitness, sports psychology, recovery, and nutrition.
“Everyone at Toyota and TRD is eager to welcome Keelan into the Toyota Racing family,” stated Tyler Gibbs, president of TRD, U.S.A. “Keelan has demonstrated his capabilities on the track, and despite his young age, he has shown remarkable maturity with his professionalism and work ethic off the track.”
“TRD is excited to collaborate with Keelan and his family as he continues to hone his racing skills. We envision a promising future for him, and everyone at Toyota is proud to be part of his journey.”
Keelan Harvick has already achieved success across various racing series and in December claimed the most significant victory of his career thus far by becoming the youngest-ever winner of the Snowflake 125 at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida. He followed this with a win at Florence Motor Speedway’s Icebreaker in early February, where he also became the youngest victor of that event while securing his first career Late Model win.
He was the 2024 INEX Young Lions National Champion and made the transition from Legends to Late Models, where he captured four zMAX CARS Tour Pro Late Model events and two CARS Tour West Pro Late Model Series races in 2025. Keelan is the first driver to win PLM events in both series within the same season.
Regarding his ambitions to reach the Cup Series and follow in his father’s footsteps?
“I believe it’s up to Toyota to determine my potential, the talent they see in me, and when they feel I’m ready to advance,” he remarked.
Source: espn.com
