After a dramatic conclusion, Keelan Harvick scored his first CARS Tour West Pro Late Model victory on Saturday night at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway.
The 12-year-old son of Kevin Harvick inherited the lead with six laps to go, holding off Kenna Mitchell on a final restart for the victory at the Bakersfield, California half-mile.
IT’S @KeelanHarvick WINNING AT @KernRaceway!
Misfortune for @KevinHarvick and a fantastic restart for Keelan catapults the 12-year-old to his first @CARSTourWest Pro Late Model victory.#CARSTourWest pic.twitter.com/uhFy9UOONJ
— FloRacing (@FloRacing) June 1, 2025
“I can’t thank all the fans enough for coming out,” said Keelan Harvick in victory lane. “I’ve got to thank all my sponsors, Hunt Brothers Pizza, Realtree, Tree Top Apple Juice, Morton Buildings, iRacing, it wouldn’t be possible without them. I can’t thank the Rackley WAR guys enough.”
Keelan Harvick set fast time in qualifying, but it was father Kevin who led the field at the end of the first stage of the 150-lap feature. The 2014 NASCAR Cup Series champion was also in contention for the race win before a late incident.
The elder Harvick was locked in a fierce battle for the win with two of the best Late Model drivers on the West Coast, Buddy Shepherd and Jacob Gomes. However, Gomes and Harvick made contact , collecting the top four in the process.
Something had to give! @KevinHarvick spins after a tremendous battle with Buddy Shepherd and Jacob Gomes at @KernRaceway in the @CARSTourWest!#CARSTourWest pic.twitter.com/7l09slz80e
— FloRacing (@FloRacing) June 1, 2025
The beneficiary from that proved to be Keelan. The young driver was running fifth at the time and went to victory lane.
“What a race between Gomes and Buddy there,” said Kevin Harvick. “I hate that we got tangled up there, but that’s part of short track racing.
“[Gomes] just wiped me out, but I know he was going for it. Buddy was going for it, I was doing all I could do. It ended up benefitting Keelan.”
With a stellar restart, Keelan Harvick stretched out a lead of 1.6 seconds over the final six laps.
The “Battle of the Harvicks” also saw father and son battle for the lead during the first stage. Kevin snagged the top spot from Keelan on lap 36 and went on to win Stage 1.
BATTLE OF THE HARVICK’S!@KevinHarvick passes polesitter @KeelanHarvick on a restart at @KernRaceway, and now leads early in the @CARSTourWest Pro Late Model feature.#CARSTourWest pic.twitter.com/DBGjrh50pF
— FloRacing (@FloRacing) June 1, 2025
“I pushed him out of the way earlier,” said Kevin Harvick. “That wasn’t intentional, but it was dad overdriving the car and unfortunately he was on the outside. What a race.”
Earlier this season, Kevin Harvick finished second to Dawson Sutton in a CARS Tour West Super Late Model event at Kern County. The next CARS Tour West event is scheduled for next Saturday, June 7 at Stockton 99 Speedway in Stockton, California.
