Keelan Harvick grew up watching his father creating history on the track. As many would expect from Kevin Harvick’s son, Keelan developed a passion for racing in his youth and was set to make his CARS Tour Pro Late Model Series debut soon. But, fate had other plans as he was forced to withdraw from the mega event because of a health issue.
Kevin Harvick’s Son Left Devastated After CARS Tour Pro Late Model Series Withdrawal
Keelan’s eagerly awaited CARS Tour debut ended in disappointment just hours before the race. A stomach bug forced the 12-year-old to withdraw from his inaugural Pro Late Model race at New River All-American Speedway. The younger Harvick took to X to express his deep disappointment.
— Keelan Harvick (@KeelanHarvick) March 1, 2025
“Unfortunately, my CARS Tour Pro Late Model debut is going to have to wait… I’ve been battling a stomach bug for the last 24 hours, and I am not able to give 100% behind the wheel. I hoped I would feel good enough to race because I don’t want to let my Rackley WAR team down, but it wouldn’t be fair to them or my competitors to try to compete in this condition,” Keelan wrote in his post.
There was plenty of buzz surrounding this race, as Keelan prepared to transition into a full-time stock car career. The CARS Tour, co-owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr., is one of the nation’s most demanding late-model circuits, where many promising NASCAR hopefuls have burst onto the scene. Keelan had dedicated weeks of intense training and sharpened his driving skills. But the sudden illness threw a wrench in those plans.
Despite this hurdle, Keelan seems to be on the right trajectory to build an excellent racing career. He began his career in go-karts and swiftly gained recognition while competing across the U.S. and Europe. In 2023, he dominated the Legends Cars Young Lions division, securing numerous victories and demonstrating his ability to live up to the expectations of being Kevin Harvick’s son.
Keelan had a phenomenal 2024 with 27 wins in 49 starts. He also bagged the INEX Young Lions Asphalt National Championship last year. Keelan hit the ground running in the Limited Late Model scene with a solid eighth-place finish at Florence Motor Speedway. He only took a few more months to lift the trophy in Florence.
With a CARS Tour race under Earnhardt’s series on his calendar, the protégé was gearing up for the next major milestone in his career—but for now, that moment would have to wait.
