Kevin Harvick has been bestowed with a unique honor: his hometown track is now wearing his name like a badge of honor. This renaming ceremony comes hot on the heels of a changing of the guard, with Tim and Lisa Huddleston—the folks of ARCA Menards Series West racer Trevor Huddleston—taking the reins of the Speedway. In a recent release, it’s been revealed that Harvick will be rolling up his sleeves, working hand in hand with the Huddlestons on charting the track’s future course.

On the cusp of the grand finale in Nashville, Harvick opened up to reporters about his commitment to the track. He hailed it as an undiscovered treasure and vowed to leave no stone unturned in his quest to elevate the racing scene in his city.

Kevin Harvick relishes tackling projects like Kern County’s revival

In a recent media chat, ex-Stewart-Haas Racing star Kevin Harvick shared his sentiments about his hometown track now bearing his name. “Bakersfield is obviously my hometown and I view it as one of the biggest racing towns in the country. And you know when I look at the current facility and what it is, it’s one of the nicest short tracks in the country. It’s kind of that hidden gem that just needed a kick in the b*tt to kind of get restarted and really reintroduced to the world.”

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Kevin Harvick, enthusiastic about enhancing the track’s stature, elaborated on his vision. “So, working with Tim Huddleston and his family and hopefully getting that back to having the right events and the right weekly shows that it needs and everything that is going to happen is going to be fun. So, I am looking forward to that project and those are the types of projects that I enjoy.”

On the other side, Tim Huddleston, the new owner, is also confident that Harvick’s involvement will be a turning point for Kern Raceway: “Kevin Harvick’s involvement is a game-changer for 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.” Kern Raceway was featured on the ARCA West schedule in 2023 and is currently waiting for the announcement of its 2024 schedule.

Beyond track matters, Harvick also touched on drawing inspiration from past broadcasters, aiming to smooth his path in his ongoing NASCAR journey.

Former #4 admires the commentary styles of Greg Olsen and John Madden

As NASCAR’s TV audience gears up for the new dynamic in the three-man booth, all eyes are on what role Kevin Harvick will carve out for himself. Naturally, there’s a buzz about how his style might stack up against Dale Earnhardt Jr‘ s approach on NBC. But Harvick’s playbook draws inspiration from Fox Sports’ Greg Olsen, with a dash of John Madden’s flair for storytelling.

Harvick appreciates Olsen’s no-nonsense, bold commentary. “I like Greg’s style because it’s just very bold and to the point. I think that’s the easiest way to do it- just be who you are and tell it like it is. But Greg’s got a very strong personality and is very knowledgeable about what it is.” Harvick reflects. “I think for me, I think when you look at somebody like: I use John Madden as the example because I really like what John Madden did with football, right? He could sit in the booth, tell a great story about a game, but also go sit in the offices and make an impact on the sport.”

Kevin Harvick sees the commentator’s booth as more than just a vantage point for calling races. It’s a platform for contributing to the sport in multifaceted ways, offering insights from a unique perspective. The role, he believes, will not only keep him tethered to the sport he loves but also allow him to aid drivers and NASCAR in growing and evolving together.