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Kevin Harvick reveals he nearly ran over track worker during Darlington pace laps

Brian Jones Profile Picby: Brian Jones04/08/25brianjones_93
Kevin Harvick
Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images

Kevin Harvick revealed that he nearly ran over a track worker while driving a classic car from Wood Brothers Racing during the pace laps at Darlington. On Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour, Harvick talked about how he was having issues with the brakes while driving the 1971 Mercury that NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson drove to a Darlington win in his debut in 1972.

“Apparently, the people on the front stretch that were taking down the stage and doing everything didn’t realize that we were going to do two laps,” Harvick said. “Well, when we got back around to the front stretch, they were not paying attention, and we were approaching them at a high rate of speed, and I went to hit the brake pedal, and the brake pedal had no friction… it freaked me out.”

Harvick added, “I was thinking to myself, ‘my God, I’m gonna mow this guy over, and the truck in front of me that’s leading us around this pace lap and all those people on the front straightaway taking these cables up are in harm’s way.”

Kevin Harvick loved driving the classic car at Darlington

Despite the near mishap, Kevin Harvick loved driving the classic car during NASCAR’s throwback weekend. “What an honor to go out and drive those cars,” Harvick said. “You talk about the history and throwback week and having these cars at the racetrack for people to see the evolution of the race car. …That thing had power.

Harvick drove the car before Denny Hamlin won the Goodyear 400 at Darlington while driving in the Carl Edwards throwback scheme. On Monday, Hamlin spoke to Harvick about how the pit crew helped him get the victory.

“Last week, the pit crew got a lot of attention on different things they were doing and for them to get to showcase it at the end of this race in a green-white-checkered situation where they know that if they get you out with a lead, your chances of winning are pretty high,” Hamlin told Harvick. “They were salivating at that opportunity, and they took advantage of it.”