Entering the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, Kevin Harvick had minimal expectations. His regular season consisted of 12 top-10 finishes, six top fives and no victories through 26 races.
After two consecutive weeks of trials to begin the Round of 16, Harvick was seven points above the cutline entering Saturday’s cutoff race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.
Preparing for retirement at season’s end and with his title hopes on the brink, the 2014 Cup Series champion said prior to Saturday’s cutoff race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway that he wasn’t worried about how it played out.
“It is what it is,” Harvick said. “You go race as hard as you can and where it falls it falls. It’s like Martin’s (Truex Jr.) situation last year. There’s nothing you can do about some things and I don’t worry about those things anymore.”
Unfortunately for Harvick, his No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford endured a disastrous night at the .533-mile concrete oval as he fell five laps down and finished 29th. The performance dropped the No. 4 team below the cutline, ending his playoff journey.
It was Harvick’s worst finish at the Last Great Colosseum since the fall of 2019, when he wound up 39th with a clutch issue.
The 47-year-old didn’t mince words when talking about his title-ending night, stating he and the team have “been like that all year.”
“Tonight, we just missed by a mile,” Harvick said. “I’ve had some good days and bad days (at Bristol), but that’s definitely the worst one I’ve had with fenders on it.
“I didn’t really have many expectations (for the playoffs) with as up and down as the year has been. It is what it is. It’s probably about what we deserve.”
While his title hopes are dashed, Harvick has seven races left in the season to soak up a career that’s lasted 23 seasons.