Toyota Racing Development has announced the signing of 13-year-old Keelan Harvick, the son of retired NASCAR champion Kevin Harvick, to a long-term contract. This move signals a significant step in the young driver's career as he aims to follow in his father's footsteps and potentially compete in prestigious events like the Daytona 500 by 2031.
From European Karting to American Motorsports
Keelan Harvick's journey to this point has been marked by a pivotal shift from racing in Europe to pursuing opportunities in the United States. He previously participated in karting events across Europe, but a memorable incident at a race in Italy, attended by Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc, influenced his decision. "I was in Italy racing and Charles Leclerc's nephew raced on my team, and Leclerc came to watch the race and all the fans followed him there and they broke down the tent," Keelan explained. "It was just a lot of people and just not for me. There was like hundreds of people at a go-kart race just trying to meet him." This experience led him to believe that a racing career in the U.S. would be a better fit for his aspirations.
Toyota's Strategic Development Plan
Under the new agreement, Toyota has outlined a detailed schedule for Keelan, partnering him with RACKLEY W.A.R. and Kevin Harvick, Inc. to compete in late model races throughout the United States this year. Late model racing serves as a crucial stepping stone for drivers aiming to reach the NASCAR Cup Series, featuring purpose-built cars that headline both dirt and asphalt tracks. Keelan will drive the No. 62 Toyota Camry, with ExxonMobil serving as his primary sponsor.
Interestingly, Kevin Harvick, who never raced for Toyota during his 23-year career with Chevrolets and Fords for teams like Richard Childress Racing and Stewart-Haas Racing, endorsed this move. "We've concentrated a lot on development and have a theory on how it should go, and I felt like the Toyota process matched what we would do," Kevin stated. "I think that the effort that Toyota puts into, not only the driving piece of it, but the human piece of it is very important to us as a family. That was really one of the biggest reasons on why we went this direction." Kevin retired after the 2023 season with 63 Cup Series wins and the 2014 championship, later transitioning to a role as an analyst for Fox Sports in 2024.
Proven Success and Future Aspirations
Keelan Harvick has already demonstrated impressive talent and achievement in various racing series. In December, he became the youngest-ever winner of the Snowflake 125 at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida, a victory where his team instructed him to proceed directly to Victory Lane without any celebratory burnouts. He followed this with another milestone in early February, winning the Icebreaker at Florence Motor Speedway and earning his first career Late Model victory as the youngest winner of that event.
His accolades include being the 2024 INEX Young Lions National Champion and transitioning from Legends to Late Models, where he secured four zMAX CARS Tour Pro Late Model events and two CARS Tour West Pro Late Model Series races in 2025. Keelan is notably the first driver to win Pro Late Model events in both series during the same season.
When asked about his goals to reach the Cup Series and emulate his father's legacy, Keelan emphasized a collaborative approach with Toyota. "I think whatever Toyota thinks I'm capable of, the talent that they think I have, and whenever they think I'm ready to move up," he said. This partnership highlights Toyota's track record of developing drivers, with current NASCAR Cup competitors like Christopher Bell, Corey Heim, and John Hunter Nemechek being alumni of their program.
As Keelan Harvick continues to build his career under Toyota's guidance, the motorsports community watches closely, anticipating his potential rise to the highest levels of NASCAR racing.
