Christian Rasmussen Goes To Washington, plus NASCAR Great Kevin Harvick

Bruce Martin:
IndyCar fans, it's time to start your engines. Welcome to Pit Pass Indy, a production of Evergreen Podcast. I'm your host, Bruce Martin, a journalist who regularly covers the NTT IndyCar Series. Our goal at Pit Pass Indy is to give racing fans and insiders view of the exciting world of the NTT IndyCar Series in a fast-paced podcast featuring interviews with the biggest names in the sport. I bring nearly 40 years of experience covering IndyCar and NASCAR, working for such media brands as NBCSports.com, SI.com, ESPN Sports Ticker, Sports Illustrated, Auto Week, and Speed Sport. So let's drop the green flag on this episode of Pit Pass Indy. Welcome to Pit Pass Indy presented by Penske Truck Rental as we continue our sixth season of giving IndyCar fans an inside look at the most exciting form of racing on the planet, the NTT IndyCar Series. We welcome back our friends from Penske Truck Rental who return as the presenting sponsor of Pit Pass Indy. Penske Truck Rental helps Pit Pass Indy bring you the inside stories of IndyCar from the paddock, to the racetrack, to the highways and streets of America. And this season, Penske Truck Rental and Pit Pass Indy will help celebrate Team Penske's 60th anniversary. One of the biggest races during that 60th anniversary season will be in Washington, D.C. from August 22nd to the 23rd, the Freedom 250 Grand Prix. Our nation's capital will host an NTT IndyCar Series race for the first time, and the course will be around the National Mall in the summer of celebration for the 250th birthday of the United States. There is plenty of work underway to organize and stage that race, and on Friday, April 10th, IndyCar driver Christian Rasmussen of ECR went to Washington to check out the streets that will make up the course layout, as well as meet with local media and government officials involved with the race. Although Rasmussen is from Copenhagen, Denmark, he understands the importance of Washington, D.C. and what it means to the United States. It was a busy day as Mr. Rasmussen went to Washington, but Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental, was able to catch up with the young driver for this exclusive interview. Joining us now all the way from the streets of our nation's capital, Washington, DC, it's Christian Rasmussen of ECR. Christian, you're in town to tour the racetrack, the proposed layout for the Freedom 250 Grand Prix. The big IndyCar race is going to happen in Washington, DC. August 21st through the 23rd. What do you think so far?

Christian Rasmussen: Well, I'm, you know, like you say, I'm right in the middle of it, currently looking at the Washington Monument. First time here in D.C. and yeah, I'm quite impressed with everything here. I think we're in for an exciting event, for sure.

Bruce Martin: For a first-time visitor to the capital of the United States, especially when you're from Copenhagen, Denmark, a lot of your nation's capitals in Europe are much, much older than the buildings in Washington, D.C. and the cities in the United States. So what type of feeling do you get when you see Washington, D.C. and realize that what goes on there and what that city represents?

Christian Rasmussen: Yeah, it's… It's honestly very different from anything that I have experienced before. The feeling I get when I look at all the buildings here is that everything kind of has a purpose, you know, where I feel like in other countries and other cities I've experienced, it's more, I feel like spread out in a way where everything here seems very, yeah, looking at the White House here, I think. So, yeah. Um, so everything seems very, very purpose built, which is, uh, pretty impressive.

Bruce Martin: But yet the design is still classic architecture. So when you see that classic architecture, do you see a little bit of European influence in it, or does it strictly look American to you? Yeah, I mean, I guess a little bit. It looks pretty American to me. I know that people from the United States, when they go there, it's kind of a get-your-attention-type moment. I don't want to say spine-tingling, but yes, it is spine-tingling. You do realize all the historic names and the history that have happened there. Do you get that same feeling?

Christian Rasmussen: Yeah, for sure. It is very impressive to look at everything here.

Bruce Martin: Now, the reason you're there is to tour the layout and see what the race is going to be like and do some promotion there for the event. So far, what do you think? Have you driven the layout yet in a passenger car to see how the course, can you visualize what the course is going to look like when IndyCar is there in August?

Christian Rasmussen: Yeah, we're currently doing that. It's obviously quite hard to visualize with all the cars and none of the walls and whatnot, but just seeing the scenery out here, all the historic monuments and whatnot that's around here, historic landmarks, it definitely creates a cool scenery for an IndyCar race, which is quite unique as well. Track layout itself is a little hard to visualize right now.

Bruce Martin: You drive at ECR, the team owner is Ed Carpenter, Hoosier hero, hometown boy from Indianapolis. Even though he's from Marshall, Illinois, he grew up in Indianapolis. Another teammate is Alex Rossi from California. So you're surrounded by a lot of Americans. Did they help prepare you? for your trip to Washington in terms of what the experience would be like?

Christian Rasmussen: Honestly, no, not much. But this trip also came about very late. I didn't know about it until a couple of days ago. So I've been thrown right in.

Bruce Martin: Well, speaking of being thrown right in, from what I see of the course, it looks like there's going to be a lot of left-handers. And when you have a street race with a lot of left-handers, what type of race does that usually produce?

Christian Rasmussen: Well, hopefully a good one, you know. It's a very short trek. It's got to be the shortest on the calendar. Pretty close to Detroit, but it'll be interesting to see what we get once we get out here and get to actually drive the Billy out of the track. Um, but yeah, I'm excited for adding, uh, adding a new street course to, to the schedule, uh, new for everyone, obviously. And, um, so it's always, it's always interesting to see how everybody handles that.

Bruce Martin: Unlike Detroit though, the course is going to be wide because one thing that Bud Danker, the president of the Penske corporation, who's been the man who's been in charge of helping to organize and get this race approved and and have the race happen, says the streets are much wider in Washington DC than at other street courses. So how will a wide course really help the racing in terms of the fact that, as you just said, it's going to be a shorter street course?

Christian Rasmussen: Yeah, hopefully it opens up some, some opportunity for passing, right. Um, having some, some nice wide open, open turns. Um, so yeah, hopefully the, the racing product will be, uh, will be good.

Bruce Martin: And when you have a wide course, does that allow the drivers to be even bolder in the way that they race?

Christian Rasmussen: Uh, yeah, I think so. You know, with, um, with there being more space, uh, and, and Obviously the, if everything is wider, ultimately it'll open up, um, up the corners, which will have been like, which will make them a bit faster.

Bruce Martin: So it'll be, uh, yeah, so it should be good. So what are some of the things that you've had to do promotionally today while you're in Washington, DC?

Christian Rasmussen: Uh, yeah, we've, uh, we've been at a couple of TV station, uh, uh, Fox and, uh, CBS, um, as, uh, as well as a radio station. And then we have some. Some social media content planned here for here in a little bit. And then we're going to the Wizards game tonight versus Miami Heat, which will be very interesting. We'll have an IndyCar out there as part of the promotion. I'll do some interviews out there as well as some, I believe we'll have an on-court appearance as well. So I'm very excited about that.

Bruce Martin: Even though you're from Denmark, you live in Indianapolis, so you have to be well familiar with basketball because Ed Carpenter is a huge basketball fan, whether it be Butler university or the Indiana Pacers of the NBA. So going to an NBA game, I guess, isn't anything new for you. What do you think when you go to a game like that? You're an athlete, they're athletes, different type of athleticism used in both sports, but yet it's still competition. So what do you think? as one athlete who excels in competition seeing the best of the best that participate in the NBA?

Christian Rasmussen: Yes, it's obviously very impressive. I've been to a only a couple NBA games back in Indy, so I think this will probably be my third or fourth NBA game. But yeah, it's always impressive to see how those guys move very effortlessly across the court and see what they can do with a basketball. And yeah, like you say, see how they They excel under pressure. I think there's a lot of parallels you can draw between, between racing and basketball and really any competitive sport. Um, so being up close and personal with, with all of those guys is, uh, is always a cool experience.

Bruce Martin: The final four was in Indianapolis. I'm sure you caught some of the buzz that was happening in that city, especially with. culminated with the University of Michigan winning the national championship. Did you go downtown any during the weekend if the Final Four was in Indianapolis? And if so, what did you think of that as a major sporting event, how the city really shows itself off?

Christian Rasmussen: Yeah, I didn't go downtown. But yeah, that's one thing that Indianapolis does very well is hosting sports. You know, whether that be the Final Four, the Indy 500. always good for good sporting events in Indianapolis.

Bruce Martin: They call that March Madness, but IndyCar had their own version of March Madness this past month, where they had four races over five weekends. Generally, the season doesn't start off with that fast of a pace. So now that it's over, you as a competitor, what did you think of it? Was it a lot busier than you thought it would be, or is that exactly the way that you would like to see every season start?

Christian Rasmussen: Yeah, I personally loved it. I think the busy start has been really good. It's been a tough start for us on the 21 crew this year. We obviously had a good showing in Phoenix, but ultimately didn't get the result we thought we deserved. In terms of the business of the schedule, I really liked that part.

Bruce Martin: And now it's going to be off to the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, which is one of the big major events on the IndyCar schedule. It's the second biggest race of the season. The D.C. race in Washington, D.C. may rival it later this year in terms of impact on the schedule. But from an annual basis, the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, huge event for IndyCar. What's your outlook going into that? What do you think of that event?

Christian Rasmussen: Yeah, correct. Always excited to go to Long Beach as well. Like you say, it's been a staple on the IndyCar schedule for a long, long time. A lot of history there as well. So yeah, I love Long Beach. It's always a cool event. And like you say, but I also think that Uh, that the DC race is, is going to be a good competitor to that. So we'll see how, how all of that turns out. But for now, we're, we're excited to go to Long Beach and, and, and to DC later this year.

Bruce Martin: There's only one race on the IndyCar schedule in April. Long Beach is going to be pretty important in terms of getting ready for the Sanzio Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which kicks off the month of May. and then everything focuses on the Indianapolis 500. It's really the biggest reason why every driver in IndyCar competes in IndyCar is to be able to race in the world's greatest race, the Indianapolis 500. Do you feel it coming? Do you feel the Indianapolis 500 approaching?

Christian Rasmussen: Yeah, it's starting to brew. It definitely is. Like you say, the Indy 500 is obviously the biggest event of the year. Definitely a big part of why, why we're, why we want to do IndyCar or why we do IndyCar. Um, so yeah, you're starting to, it's starting to brew out there in the future, but obviously we still have a, a couple of events we need to, to knock out before, before that one.

Bruce Martin: And even though the sample size is still small, it's been four races. And if you'd thrown in a victory there at Phoenix, you're position in the standings would be much higher. But how would you evaluate your driving so far this year? If you take out some of the breaks that have happened in certain races, where do you see your improvement coming? What are you doing better in the car this year than maybe you did your first couple seasons in IndyCar?

Christian Rasmussen: Yeah, we're, we're continuing to build as a team, uh, you know, and we've, we've definitely had some, some unfortunate moments, uh, this year. But, um, you know, everything is starting to come together as a team where we're improving all the time. Uh, even though we've had an unfortunate start with, uh, on the 21 crew, Alex has, has, has had a decent showing in, uh, on the, on the 20 cars. So, um, we're continuing to build, we're continuing to, to be better, uh, as well. And we got some. some exciting stuff also brewing behind the scenes too that should even further improve our ability to go out and compete for podiums and wins and good results in the future. So we're excited for the rest of the season and again the way that the team is going because I think we're yet to see Uh, where this team can go, um, and, and what, uh, what opportunities lie ahead.

Bruce Martin: Also your owner, Ed Carpenter gets back into the car for the 110th Indianapolis 500. He runs the Indy 500 every year. Do you start to see the excitement building for him?

Christian Rasmussen: Yeah, for sure. You know, I, I see him in the gym every morning working out and, and, and obviously that there's a lot of emphasis for him on, on the 500, uh, partly being a hometown hero and, and, um, also being the only event that he, that he does throughout the year. So yeah, definitely can see the excitement in his eyes around the Indy 500. Um, as well as, uh, as well as me and Alex, you know, it's, uh, it's always the, the top event of the year. Um, and, uh, and a lot of preparation goes into that. So. And then being part of ECR, you know, always have, we always go to the Indy 500 expecting good cars. So it'll be, again, interesting to see what we can do this year. I think we'll be, again, we'll have a good showing and see where we can end up. You know, I think we have great opportunity to, we have as great of an opportunity to go out and win the race as anybody else. And that's obviously the goal.

Bruce Martin: You're going to get a little bit of a break later today. Do you plan on doing some sightseeing? And if so, what are some of the sites that you want to see in, in Washington, DC?

Christian Rasmussen: Well, I think part of our, uh, our schedule here today is, uh, is sightseeing, you know, part of the social media content is, is right in the, right in the middle of everything. So I kind of get to, uh, get to see everything throughout the, the day's activities. Um, so I think the couple hours I have off, I think it's going to be spent, uh, relaxing a little bit, recharging for, uh, for this evening's activities.

Bruce Martin: And is there yet been a wow moment when you've looked around and seen something that you've seen on TV or you've seen in print or on the computer from Washington, DC, a landmark, but is there been a chance that when you see it with your own eyes, you just step back and go, wow, it's gotta be the area I'm in currently with, uh, with the national mall, the,

Christian Rasmussen: The Capitol, the white house, we're kind of right in the middle of it right now. Um, and it is, uh, it is quite impressive to, to look at and, and obviously something that. Pictures doesn't really do justice. And so it's, yeah, I'm, I'm, I'm pretty blown away, uh, being the first time here in DC for me.

Bruce Martin: Well, Christian Rasmussen, there's going to be a lot of fans blown away when they see Indy cars racing on the streets of Washington, DC around the national mall coming up here in August. It's actually August 22nd through the 23rd that the Freedom 250 Grand Prix at Washington, D.C. will be held. But good luck. We'll see you out at the Acura Grand Prix in Long Beach next week. Good luck the rest of the season. We'll catch up later. But thank you for joining us today on Pit Pass Indy presented by Penske Truck Rental. Thank you very much. We'll be right back to Pit Pass Indy after this short break.

Josef Newgarden: Hey everyone, this is two-time Indy 500 winner Josef Newgarden and you're listening to Pit Pass Indy presented by Penske Truck Rental.

Bruce Martin: Welcome back to Pit Pass Indy presented by Penske Truck Rental. On March 21, IndyCar lost one of its most important partners as Jim McCallion, an original member of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach, died at the age of 83. He was one the first employees hired by original race promoter Chris Pook, and for the next 51 years McCainlian was instrumental in helping to build the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach into the second biggest street race in the world, ranking only behind Formula One's Grand Prix of Monaco. In December 2001, McCallion was elevated to president and CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach and continued to operate the event that is the second biggest race on the NTT IndyCar Series schedule behind the Indianapolis 500. A graduate of UCLA with a BS in physics and an MBA, McCallion was also a competitive sports car racer who for more than 25 years competed in endurance racing at such tracks as Le Mans, Daytona, Nürburgring, Spa, Watkins Glen, Dubai, and Sebring, which further deepened his lifelong connection to racing. Michaelian was set to transition to a new role within the Penske Entertainment Corporation on June 30th, with Jim Liaw taking over as the president and CEO of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on July 1st. Another important partner with IndyCar was George Barber, an Alabama businessman and philanthropist who created the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum and Barber Motorsports Park near Birmingham, Alabama. Barber passed away on February 15th at the age of 85. The life and legacies of both men are remembered within the IndyCar community for their tremendous efforts. Pit Pass Indy presented by Penske Truck Rental was able to gather the thoughts of several IndyCar Series drivers recently. Four-time NTT IndyCar Series champion Alex Pillow scored his first IndyCar win at Barber Motorsports Park in his first ever race with Chip Ganassi Racing in April 2021. Pillow also scored his most recent IndyCar win at Barber in the Children's of Alabama Indy Grand Prix on March 27th. Palou shared his thoughts on both Jim Barber and Jim McCallion for Pit Pass Indy. You got your first victory here at Barber Motorsports Park, so you obviously knew George Barber quite well. The fact that we're here for the first time without him being here.

Alex Palou: Bit of a sad feeling? Yeah, I mean, you can see when you drive for the first time or every time at this facility that it's insane the amount of love and work and money that him and his team has put in. So it's sad that he's not here. I'm just hoping that we can keep this place as he wants and that we can keep on delivering great races.

Bruce Martin: And then the stunning news that the man who was in charge of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach died suddenly a week ago. Jim McCallion really meant a lot to that event.

Alex Palou: And just what are your thoughts on him? Yeah, I mean, he was running the show there, like he was hands-on sad, as always. But I feel like everybody in the paddock just had so much great times with him that we know that he's going to be happy when we're back there.

Bruce Martin: Next, let's hear from Felix Rosenquist of Meijer Shankreis. George Barber passed away in February. His stamp is all over this place, from Georgina hanging from the bridge to spiders, monkeys on the scoreboard. What are you going to miss about him?

Felix Rosenqvist: I mean, I think this place has always been kind of the standard for our series. And the thing with Barb is every year it's a little better. But I'm sure that will live on, you know, after George's passing. I feel like everything is in pretty good order. I haven't, you know, looked into the details or anything, what's going to happen after. But I know there's a trust and, you know, I feel like he would be very particular with how he wanted to run the place after his passing. So I expect it to continue, and I really hope it will. And yeah, this is just an amazing track to come to, both from, I think, a fan and walking around perspective, and just visually, but also driving. So yeah, we'll definitely miss him and make sure the place carries on with the great reputation it's had.

Bruce Martin: And another huge figure in IndyCar, Jim McCallion, who was… like the second or third person ever hired at the Long Beach Grand Prix, he passed away unexpectedly, and he won't be there, and IndyCar's next race is the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. So when you think of everything that he did for that event, what do you think of?

Felix Rosenqvist: It's the same with Jim, you know, he was one of those old school guys. It reminds me of when I used to do my COW Grand Prix, Barry Bland, who also passed, but he was… Jim was just involved in everything. I was there for a little appearance thing in the winter in Long Beach and Jim was out there talking to the fans and trying to spread the word. I feel like that's just something he always wore, that hat, so to speak, representing the Grand Prix. It's kind of rare to come across those old-school guys these days, you know, that just kind of, you know, steps in and does his thing, but in a really good way, obviously. So, yeah, we'll miss them both. They're both really, I think, two of the greatest venues we go to, so we'll just make sure we can do our part to keep it great.

Bruce Martin: And now, here are Christian Rasmussen's thoughts on George Barber and Jim McHaley. We lost a couple of giants that were in charge of some very important races. George Barber here passed away in February. And then last weekend, the man who was in charge of the Long Beach Grand Prix, Jim McCallion, passed away. He'd been there for 51 years. So what do you think of the loss of those two giants in the IndyCar industry?

Christian Rasmussen: And I think that's terribly sad, you know. I don't really have much more to say about it other than any time that lives are lost, it's horrible. And, you know, you can look at this place, you know, it looks amazing. So obviously, there's been a lot of effort put into this event. And obviously, Long Beach is the same as a stable on the IndyCar schedule. Hopefully it'll get taken over by someone very competent that can kind of continue that legacy of these two amazing venues in the future. Thank you.

Bruce Martin: Kyle Kirkwood of Andretti Global is a two-time winner of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, including last year's triumphs on the streets of the Southern California community. Here are Kirkwood's thoughts on what Jim McCallion meant to the event. You knew Jim McCallion and he was huge person behind the success of the Acura Grand Prix at Long Beach. And when you think of his legacy, it's pretty impressive.

Kyle Kirkwood: Yeah, obviously, I think the whole IndyCar community is mourning and just motorsports community in general is mourning the loss of Jim, right? He was just an absolutely fantastic guy. He had a vision in the 70s to make a giant open wheel race, and he created that, and it's been one of the longest, most historic races in North America. And he's what built the Acura Grand Prix Long Beach, right? I think everyone should be very proud of what he's built. And it's a very tough loss for us, right? Because he was one of the most personable promoters, I think, in history. He was always in the driver's meeting talking to us. He was always walking around the paddock asking how things could be better, exactly. I mean, he was just a great guy in general. So big loss for us. We appreciate his service to IndyCar and to motorsports in general, because if he wasn't around, I don't think IndyCar might not be what it is today, given that the Acura Grand Prix Long Beach has been such a big event.

Bruce Martin: Although Jim McAleen will be remembered throughout the weekend, the annual trip to Long Beach, California is a highlight for the drivers, teams, fans, and for Pit Pass Indy. Scott McLaughlin shares his thoughts on this weekend's Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach for Pit Pass Indy. After Barber, it's off to Long Beach. So how excited are you to go back, which is the second biggest race on the IndyCar schedule?

Scott McLaughlin: Yeah, no, I'm very excited. I love Long Beach, just haven't had the best results there. But it's a track that I really enjoy. And I think, yeah, we'll see what we got.

Bruce Martin: Nolan Siegel of Arrow McLaren is a native of California, but he grew up 380 miles from Long Beach. Siegel is from Palo Alto, California. And even though that would be a six hour drive to Long Beach on a good day, the California kid shares his reverence on the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. Speaking of thoughts, you're from Palo Alto, the northern part of California, but what does the Long Beach Grand Prix mean to you?

Nolan Siegel: It's a very special event for me, obviously, being from California. Laguna is really my kind of home event, but always fun to go back to my home state. It's such a historic event, one that I've gone and watched in the past as a kid, and a very special event, I think, for a lot of people. So it's always fun, and I'm very excited to get back there.

Bruce Martin: And when you live in Northern California, does Southern California almost seem like it's in a different state? A little bit.

Nolan Siegel: A little bit. I definitely kind of feel closer to Northern California. Obviously, that's where I'm from and it is different, right? The L.A. feel is very different. But not in a bad way. I like it down there and I'm very excited to get back down there. It's cool to go from Barber to Long Beach back to Indy. Like it's just so many different places with such different feels to the events. And that's kind of what makes IndyCar so special.

Bruce Martin: It's all about the vibe.

Nolan Siegel: For sure.

Bruce Martin: We'll be right back to pit pass Indy after this short break.

SPEAKER_07: Hi, I'm Scott McLaughlin, driver of the number three team Penske Chevy, and you're listening to Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental.

Bruce Martin: Welcome back to Pit Pass Indy. Although this show focuses almost exclusively on IndyCar, from time to time we like to switch gears and talk to other individuals in other forms of racing. Let's switch lanes and bring in a truly big name from NASCAR, who is one of the color analysts on NASCAR on Fox telecast of the NASCAR Cup Series. It's Kevin Harvick, winner of 60 NASCAR Cup Series races, including the 2007 Daytona 500, Three wins in the Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2003, 2019, and 2020, and the 2014 NASCAR Cup Series champion. Factor in Harvick's time in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series races, Harvick won a total of 121 NASCAR National Series races, including 47 in O'Reilly Auto Parts Series races and 14 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Harvick's last race was the final race of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season at Phoenix Raceway. Since then, Harvick has joined Mike Joy and former driver and teammate Clint Boyer in the Fox Sports booth, calling the action in the NASCAR Cup Series telecast that air on Fox. Harvick's incredible career has earned him a nomination to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, and with a record like that, Harvick should be selected when the NASCAR Hall of Fame Selection Committee convenes on Tuesday, May 19th, to select the next Hall of Fame class. In addition, Harvick has become active in the podcast world with two highly acclaimed podcasts for Fox Sports, including Kevin Harvick's Happy Hour, presented by NASCAR on Fox, and Speed with Harvick and Buxton. The second podcast includes IndyCar on Fox lead announcer Will Buxton. But wait, there's more! Kevin Harvick is also a devoted father, along with his wife Delaina, to their two children, including 13-year-old son Keelan Harvick and 8-year-old daughter Piper. On February 23, 2026, Keelan Harvick signed a long-term deal with Toyota Racing Development to help him learn the skills to one day become a NASCAR Cup Series driver. On Thursday, April 9th, Pit Pass Indy presented by Penske Truck Rental had a chance to catch up with Kevin Harvick for this exclusive deep dive interview. Hello, Kevin. How you doing? I'm doing great.

Kevin Harvick: You?

Bruce Martin: No, pretty good. Hey, first off, congratulations on the nomination for the Hall of Fame. Great career that you had. How excited were you to hear that? And with the record you've got, you've got to feel like it's quite an honor to be included in that group.

Kevin Harvick: Yeah, well, first off, I don't like surprises. And I've learned that my friends at Fox love surprises. So any time that they can get a surprise over on me, they're pretty happy about it. But that was a pretty good surprise. And I love the fact that helped and was able to deliver the news. And he was a very instrumental part of the process of learning how to be a cup driver during my generation. And we had a lot of interaction as we went through the years. So that was fun. Mike and I have always had a good relationship and to be able to have him deliver that news was good. But anytime that you can, you know, have the honor of being recognized with the group of people that, you know, are nominated and, you know, just being mentioned in that conversation makes you realize that we did okay. So that was fun.

Bruce Martin: It seems that your career has always involved some Hall of Famers in one form of racing or another. You're from Bakersfield, California, home of the Mears Gang. You grew up watching Rick Mears win four Indianapolis 500s and have a spectacular career as an IndyCar driver. You started off as a big name in both the NASCAR Truck Series and also in what's now the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, but it was another Hall of Famer that you suddenly got thrust into having to replace when the late Dale Earnhardt was killed. To be able to follow in the paths of Hall of Famers, how important is that for somebody to learn how to become one?

Kevin Harvick: I don't know that there's really ever any thought that goes into anything like that. I think that the biggest reason that I went to RCR was because of Dale Sr. I wanted to be on the same race team and that obviously never panned out with the circumstances of the way that everything went. I think that there is a respect process that goes with driving the car and the situation and all those things that are a part of it. A lot of that goes to Richard Childress as well because of the fact that the things that go with RCR and the organization and that car in that scenario, but at 25, I never thought about much of that. There wound up being way more to it than just jumping in the car. I think the way that I was put in the car, you never really had time to think about being in the car. I think as you look back on it now and you realize the magnitude of the situation and you know, the impact of winning at Atlanta and being able to have the car back at the racetrack and, you know, make a successful career out of that being half of my career and, you know, be successful in the things that we did. That wound up being important, but I don't think you ever thought about it at the time because of the fact that at that time, I think that the thing that we didn't realize in 2001 was You know, we went to the racetrack and raced the Busch car. We raced the Cup car. In those days, you tested and you tested and you tested and you tested. So I was never home. And I never really, the thing that guarded me the most was the fact that I was never home. And I was always at the racetrack, whether it be with the Busch car or the Cup car. Really when all that started to take effect was the second year. when you had to figure out who the people were around you, what the situation was like. And for me, I always wanted things a certain way and was pretty stern about, you know, how, how I liked things to go. And so the team got, you know, moved around and switched around and, you know, to, and, you know, Richard and the team and the organization after the winter and all the, All the weeks of racing constantly, you know, you had to be at home and you had to start addressing things and you had to understand what you were dealing with and the magnitude of the situation. And, you know, in Richard's case, you know, losing one of his best friends, his driver, uh, all those things, team members, same way. And, you know, they were. There were two different generations there. You know, I was 25 and most of those guys were late forties and fifties and they were great, you know, great people. Um, but so much of this is built around relationships and people and ultimately results. So really 2002 is when all that stuff that came to a head, probably as it would have, if, if you had gone into the car and replaced him and he, you know, Dale's still been alive. Um, you know, you would have learned all that the first year and gone through all those struggles the first year. So it was a very awkward situation that we didn't really understand the magnitude of it, A, and B, the dynamics of it, of how it was going to function with me driving the car and things I said and things I did and expected. It was just get in the car, drive it, go home, go to the next race. And he just kept doing that. I think we raced 70 or 71 times that year with the two vehicles and the trucks and all the things that we did. But I think the importance of having the car on the racetrack, having to go back to victory lane and giving people something positive to, you know, to, to think about, you know, the, the influence that all those moments had on the sport, you realize a lot better now sitting here at 50, 25 years later than you did at 25. So I don't think you, I mean, there's always a respect of a, of a, you know, of a driver and a situation. Um, but I don't know that you realize those things until you get a little bit down the road.

Bruce Martin: So what season do you feel that you had adapted into the role of being a very competitive NASCAR Cup Series driver?

Kevin Harvick: Oh, you know, I think that it became became very interesting because there were so many things that were tied to Dale and the good wrench brand and the expectations and in how it was supposed to go and how it did go when he drove the car compared to how it was when I drove the car and and I'd always beat my own path, right? So trying to beat down somebody else's path was in my mind. not the way that you actually wanted to do it. You know, I think when things started to change in probably, I don't even remember the year, I guess we took, I guess Shell was the sponsor in 2007. So all that really started to change as we had different brands start to be on the car. Rhesus was always a brand of mine. So really 03 is when it all started to, feel like you were supposed to be in the car, because 2002 was just such a weird year with trying to get everything that had happened in 01, fixed in 02, and 03, we kind of settled into the role of, okay, I feel like, you know, this is… our situation that is comfortable and good and you're not relying on what somebody else's situation was and all the things that the dynamics that went with that. So by the time we got to 2003, it felt like it really felt like it was more of a situation that I was supposed to be in. And, you know, as those brands started to change on the car with Shell, you know, with Rhesus and all the different partners that we had on the car, they were all there for you. And, you know, it was it was working through those first four or five years of that dynamic.

Bruce Martin: So when you won the Daytona 500, was that really like the tentpole event to your career to where everything, you could build everything upon that?

Kevin Harvick: You know, I think that the Brickyard was really the first one, um, you know, back in, back in Oh three, but we never really consistently won until Oh six. And, you know, as even as we, as we see today, it just, in order to be a consistent winner in the cup card, sometimes it just takes time because there's just, uh, There's so many different things that happen off the racetrack, the politics of it all, how to interact with your team and develop the car. All those things just take time because it's at such a different level than you ever get to before that. But in the beginning, I mean, in 2000, I did all the testing for that three car, so I knew that group. Going in and but it was it was a lot easier just to go to racetrack test, get out of the car and do that, you know, six or seven times a year. It was a lot different than being in the car every single week. And, you know, it's kind of like being married, right? Like, when you're when you're around somebody every day, you really understand. who they are and how they operate and the things that they like and don't like. So, you know, there's there's a process that goes with it. But, you know, 07 was was I mean, it wasn't a great year. I mean, we won the we won the Daytona 500. We won the All-Star race. And, you know, we were competitive. But, you know, I think 03 we were we won the Brickyard and were competitive. But, you know, just it's so hard to get that all those things right to be able to win three to five races a year.

Bruce Martin: Well, that's a good point about the brickyard going back to the Oh three brickyard, 400 victory. What was it like? Because we've talked in the past that you knew the mirrors family quite well. What was it like to win at the Indianapolis motor speedway at a time when the brickyard. They used to pack them in there. And that was one of the ones where the crowd was packed. It looked like an Indy 500 type event, the way they used to fill that place up. What was that victory like for Kevin Harvick?

Kevin Harvick: Well, yeah, at that particular time, it, you know, it was treated like the Indy 500 and they would, you know, they would almost purposely not put enough seats in there to make it bigger than the, than the Indy 500 at that time. Um, so, you know, still one of the moments I remember the most is the, is the pace car ride after the race with Richard and Delana. and Richard and Delaina riding around the racetrack afterwards, because that's what they do at Indy. We don't really do that anymore. But to really take that all in, because I didn't really want to race NASCAR because I didn't know anything about it. And everything that I had been around in my hometown was all about the Mears family. So, uh, you, you wanted to race, you wanted to race Indy car. So that's as close as you can come to living out your childhood dream to, to go to the Brickyard and, and, you know, everything that you had talked about to that point was, was winning, you know, wanting to race in the Indy 500. And, and so to go there and win at the Brickyard was pretty high up on my list.

Bruce Martin: How soon after that Brickyard 400 victory did you hear from a member of the Mears family, whether it be Rick Mears, Roger Mears, you were racing against Casey. So Casey was kind of a contemporary of yours, but how soon afterwards did you get a call or maybe hear, you know, from Rick or Roger?

Kevin Harvick: I don't, I have a hard time remembering what I did yesterday. So I don't remember. I don't remember anything like that happening.

Bruce Martin: But I know they were both very thrilled to see a member of the Bakersfield Racing gang end up winning at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Going back to the Daytona 500 victory, there's a little bit of an odd symmetry there. And you win the race. Meanwhile, upside down on fire is Clint Boyer. Here you are in the booth together. That was kind of an odd way, uh, I don't want to say with the premonition, maybe you guys would be working together later, but what do you recall that last lap of that victory? Cause it was pretty dramatic. It was almost like, it was almost like a stroke or ace type finish for, for Clint at least, but you won the race and it was, it was right down to the wire and a tremendously exciting finish.

Kevin Harvick: Yeah, well, you know, the race itself was was, you know, I think I was 30 something with we had we had a pit with like 15 laps to go. And, you know, to come back and win the race and in the way that we did was was obviously pretty dramatic. And, you know, to win the the biggest race in our sport is definitely when you look at that Harley J. Earl trophy and you look at the names and understand the magnitude of what it means to our sport, it's it's great to and special to have your name on that list. But as far as the Boyer dynamic, it's exactly the same now. He's upside down on fire. And we try to do things as professional as possible from our side. And he's still upside down on fire. So it tells the exact story of how our booth operates. And that's the way that it's always been. And I've known Clint since the first day that he walked into RCR, and that's what makes it fun. And that dynamic has not changed one bit in the booth and how we communicate and talk to each other. you know, that it's always been that type of relationship. So it's fun to be able to have somebody that you've known that long. You know, when I say something that I shouldn't be saying or doesn't, he doesn't like or doesn't make sense, usually that's what it's more about. It's like something that doesn't make sense. He's going to be the first one to be What the hell were you talking about? Or why did you say this? And so I'll do the same to him. And, you know, when you can have that open conversation with somebody and the other side not get mad, you know, that that just that that makes it a lot easier because the dynamic of the booth and the things that we talk about has to be pretty open, you know, in order for that to to. to progress and stay somewhat entertaining to be able to keep up with all the things that are happening. It takes a lot of people and it's not just my perspective, it's so many different perspectives because the things you see on the couch compared to your neighbor's viewpoint of how things look while they're watching the race are drastically different. There's a great relationship that makes that process a lot easier when you know the other person standing next to you that well.

Bruce Martin: Is Clint Boyer like the buddy that you go out with maybe on a Friday night? You don't know how the night's going to end because he's capable of all sorts of mayhem unexpectedly.

Kevin Harvick: And always looking for it.

Bruce Martin: yes he's always looking for it so um yes you're you're exactly right do you see a little bit of that dynamic with the indycar booth at fox because you've got james hinchcliffe and you got townsend bell and a lot of times they don't see eye to eye on a lot of things and that kind of leads will buxton to be a little bit of a uh Referee there between those two. I know you don't get a chance because you're calling a race pretty much the same day the same time Yeah, but from the times you have seen the IndyCar telecast on Fox you see a little bit of that dynamic with them

Kevin Harvick: Yeah, well, in my opinion, you have to have that dynamic. Otherwise, it's just the, it's the same, the same point of view from everybody isn't going to be entertaining for everybody. So, you know, having people that, that somewhat disagree on, on who was right and who was wrong or how that situation should have gone is, is in my opinion, healthy. Uh, we've got to spend a lot of time with, with those guys, obviously. With Speed, I've gotten to know Will a little bit better than what I did to start the year. You add Will's opinion in there, too. He's not like Mike, but Mike still has an opinion of how things looked or should go. That's the great thing about working at Fox is they don't tell you what exactly they're looking for other than we want you to give your opinion, but they also want everybody together. We spend more time together with the whole Fox family than I would have. I would have never imagined of how this operates. But that's really, you know, those interesting dynamics of views are what create the stories and the conversation to help things be entertaining and be able to explain it to the fans and people in ways that come from different perspectives. So it's… You know, having that dynamic in the booth from all three guys is important, in my opinion, and now being around this for a few years.

Bruce Martin: We'll be right back to Pit Pass Indy after this short break.

Scott McLaughlin: Hi, I'm Scott McLaughlin, driver of the number three team Penske Chevy, and you're listening to Pit Pass Indy presented by Penske Truck Rental.

Bruce Martin: Welcome back to Pit Pass Indy. And now, here's the rest of my exclusive interview with NASCAR great Kevin Harvick for Pit Pass Indy, presented by Penske Truck Rental. You've expanded on the role with two podcasts, not just one, but two, The Launch of Speed with Harvick and Buxton, and also your Happy Hour podcast with Caitlin Vinci and Mamba Smith. As a driver, I know there were probably a lot of times where media members such as myself or others that you saw more often, probably wrong time, wrong place, let me do what I need to do, focus on what I'm doing. Did you ever envision that you would be this deeply involved in being the storyteller rather than the subject?

Kevin Harvick: I don't know that I really understood what the role was going to be, but the thing that I like about the role that I get to play with the drivers and telling the story is usually when we get the drivers or the crew chiefs, it's on a Saturday before practice or and Monday after they win. I don't have to do it from your perspective. I get to call it like I see it up in the booth and put my headset down and go home. And sometimes they like that and sometimes they don't. But they always know that, and they all know, all the drivers and team members for the most part know that what I think is what I'm gonna say. And if you do it wrong, I'm gonna say it's wrong. And I think that they've all known that. for a long time. And that's the way that I've tried to approach the television as well is what you see is what you say. And, you know, if you try to spin it into a way that is trying to create an agenda or something along those lines, people see right through that stuff. So, you know, I think it's we get the drivers and the crew chiefs and the owners in a in a situation where it's not like asking them questions after they just crashed or did something wrong immediately after the race. So our position is a little bit easier to navigate than what you guys have to do in the heat of the moment. But look, if you screw up, we're going to call it like we see it, because that's the only fair way to do it.

Bruce Martin: If you learn more about IndyCar through Buxton and have you taught Buxton more about NASCAR?

Kevin Harvick: I would say that Will Buxton had never been to the Daytona Speedway. So, you know, I think that I really enjoyed the fact that he was so intrigued with the grandstands and the size of the racetrack and everything that was happening at Daytona and you know I've followed IndyCar racing casually for the last 20 years so you know I don't know the ins and outs of it but I definitely enjoyed getting all the inside that of things that are happening on a weekend to understand more of the IndyCar dynamic from the drivers and competition and things like that. So I would like to think that he's probably learning more about NASCAR than I am IndyCar. But there's still a lot for me to understand about the things that happen internally, you know, in the IndyCar world.

Bruce Martin: Fox's relationship with NASCAR is a signature property for Fox, has been since 2001. Now, beginning last year, they've gone all in with IndyCar and have really helped elevate the ratings, the viewership with IndyCar. How exciting is that to be on a network that's so heavily involved in both series and helping to elevate and tell the stories of both?

Kevin Harvick: Our network likes motorsports. And, you know, when you look at High Limits being on FS1, you look at the cars tour on FS1 last year. You know, you've got cup racing, truck racing, indie cars. So I mean, we're very fortunate. I feel like for me, being able to work at a company that enjoys motorsports so much makes our life a lot easier than trying to explain it to a network that doesn't necessarily have the passion as deeply for motorsports and especially for so long consistently. Fox's love of racing in general really makes it easier for guys like me that have raced their whole life. You want to make it exciting, but a lot of times the race tells its story and being able to have that story told from a racer's perspective and make it entertaining is not been that difficult, you know, just because of the fact that they know how all of this works and that has made it a lot easier.

Bruce Martin: So you're an Atona 500 winner, a multiple Brickyard 400 winner, then you get the NASCAR Cup Series Championship, so you really checked off all the boxes to what would be a is obviously a hall of fame career. So how important was that to be able to check all the boxes off of the major things that you can win in NASCAR?

Kevin Harvick: Well, I mean, it definitely I was very fortunate to be able to be in a position to check all those boxes. And, you know, I think as you as you go through the years, you think about the ones that you that you hadn't won. And as you slowly checked all those boxes, Um, you know, that, that pressure of not having to answer the question of, Hey, when are you going to win the Daytona 500 or Coke 600 or Brickyard or whatever it is, uh, you know, it's, we were fortunate to, to be able to, you know, to check all those boxes throughout the years. But I was never one of those people that sat and really dwelled on, hey, we need to win at this track or win this race until I went to SHR. And Rodney was like, OK, here's our plan to win Pocono. Here's our plan to win at Dover. Those are the two places that you struggled the most at. It became very specific when Rodney came into the picture to be able to. He was very focused. And I was like, oh, maybe it is a bigger deal than I thought to get you know, to get these wins at different places. And, you know, I think that, um, being able to win in all those different places helps people understand that you were pretty versatile and being able to win at road courses and short tracks and super speedways and the marquee races and the one-off races or whatever it was. Um, and, you know, fortunately it wound up being, you know, pretty, pretty widespread, uh, you know, as far as the types of tracks that, that we want on. So. It wasn't really something that I paid attention to until Rodney came around. And then I thought about it a lot more. And it was actually pretty motivational just to go in and try to focus on some of those places. And, you know, I think that the three biggest places that we focused on in the very beginning, you know, was was Pocono, Dover and Texas, just because I was always so bad at those places and actually wound up being some of our better racetracks. So it was You know, that, that kind of, it didn't start that way, but it wound up being that way. And you thought about it a lot until you accomplished it. And then it was, you know, it just became a confidence thing to, to know that didn't really matter where we went. We were going to figure out how to be fast there.

Bruce Martin: Remember your team from going back, your wife, Delaina, how big a role did she really help in your. being part of the team and now also you earned the management of your son Keelan's racing career with his new driver development deal with Toyota. When did you realize that Keelan had some racing ability that he had inherited from his father?

Kevin Harvick: Well, there's a lot of things that he didn't. that I didn't do. I think that the qualifying thing and the speed thing for him, he doesn't have to work near as hard at it as I felt like I did. You know, I think that Delane and I, we've kind of always approached everything the same way. If you're going to do it, you've got to figure out how to do it right, have a plan, be structured, be organized. And we've approached his stuff the exact same way. Because it's just, if you're going to do it, it's too hard to do. Half-assed, to be honest. Because it just takes so much time, money, effort. And we spend a lot of time on just trying to make sure that we make the right decisions. Because the decisions and paths that you choose in this sport can put you in the wrong spot really fast. And so this is what we've done our whole life, is race. had our own teams, we've raced for other teams, we've managed drivers, we've managed sponsors, we've had so many different aspects of the sport. Now being in the broadcast booth and seeing it from a different perspective, there isn't really much that we haven't covered, haven't negotiated, haven't dabbled in, in, in the sport. So it's, you know, I think a lot of it is, is, you know, with, with Keelan, we, we kept the management company and, you know, I think in really COVID is what, what started the whole racing thing with Keelan. He was playing baseball and soccer and basketball or whatever sport was happening at the school. And, you know, for so long, we were like, ah, we don't really want to get into racing, you know, with Keelan, he needs to go do something else. It's just, you know, you get kind of, burned out on the things that you've done your whole life because it's taken up so much time. And then, you know, Keelan decided to race during COVID. And really, we haven't stopped racing since. But, you know, really, since he started racing, it kind of reminded you of why you like racing. And that's the people, the places you get to go, Karting was a lot of fun for me because that's how I started as a kid and he traveled all over the world doing it. But you remember when you see the parents and the kids and going to these different places and you remember why you love the sport. And that really helped me get through the end of my career just because of the fact that you were reminded of why you were there on Sunday. It wasn't a job. It became a job, but it wasn't a job when you started. You chased that path because you liked what you did. And I think a lot of times, you need a reminder of why you like doing what you do. And in our sport, at the highest levels, it can become a job. And I think that keel and racing really helped get through those last however many years it was, five years, three years, three years. of, it probably kept me driving longer because of the fact that, you know, he was, he was into it. And now, you know, the way that that's all cycled, I had zero intention of ever driving anything again, but having the late models and things to go to the racetrack and go to places that I've never seen, uh, all across the country and be able to, uh, see the enthusiasm from the fans and the track promoters and the competitors and, and be able to, you know, make a, um, make a true impact in the grassroots system with the cars tour and the things that we have going in the Northwest and Southwest and East Coast. And all those little areas have kind of been, they had dwindled down to be so much less than what they were 20 years ago. And to be able to see all that start to grow. So it's been a fun time because his racing career Uh, has also been hand in hand with the, with the car store stuff and everything that, that we've been working on with the grassroots system. And, and so there's just a, there's a number of things that, that Keelan's timing of, of wanting to race and racing carts and racing cars and legend cars. And all of a sudden you've learned about all these different things that you didn't really do, uh, growing up as a kid. that you've kind of been able to put him in the middle of, but also learn about. So, you know, when you go to Italy to race go-karts and you have to deal with, you know, the FIA and you know, different organizations that you never dealt with as a kid. And you see, you know, how the Enix world operates from a legend car standpoint and how it fits into the short track system and the development system of the drivers. And so being able to experience all that stuff has been great for Keelan, but also great for myself and Delana to see what actually moves the needle from how this whole system can be easily explained to parents. And I don't think as a sport we've done a good job at that, being able to say, okay, you can go race go-karts, you can race legend cars, you can go to the limited late models, pro late models, super late models, late model stocks, and understand all these different divisions of racing and have a true understanding of it from a first-hand experience while we've been doing that with Kilo.

Bruce Martin: And finally, your first full race as a Fox NASCAR analyst was the 2015 Xfinity Series race at Daytona. Did you realize then that broadcasting was in your future?

Kevin Harvick: Well, I knew I was going to quit. And I knew that when I retired, I was going to retire from driving, that I still wanted to be a part of the sport and work. And so, you know, we'd always had fun with everybody from Fox. whether it was, you know, doing fun interviews or doing unique things, they always had this approach of doing things that were outside of the box. And, you know, I think for me, I always thought that it was something that would be fun. I didn't really know that it would, you know, would kind of take on the role that it has now, but really, I mean, those experiences are what made everybody, you know, think about whether I could do it or not do it or whether I would enjoy doing it personally or, or not. But it's, um, it's not every day that, you know, there's not very many of these opportunities that you get to go straight from the end of your career, straight into a broadcasting career. And I think it's, um, you know, from, for me, I always want to be involved in the sport. I, you know, NASCAR racing is what has made my, life, what it is and career and the people that I want to be around and enjoy. And so it gave our family a lot and to be able to try to help put it in a position to keep it going is something that I learned that I wanted to do along the way. And I think that moment in 15 and as we went through the years was definitely moments that led you to believe that this was something that I wanted to do. And here we are.

Bruce Martin: Well, Kevin Harvick, I've covered that first victory of yours at Atlanta when you just edged Jeff Gordon for the victory back in 2001, was there when you won all of your Brickyard 400 victories and also the Daytona 500 win. You've always been a standout, a true hall of famer in my book, and I really appreciate you spending some time with me.

Kevin Harvick: No problem. I appreciate it. We're all getting old.

Bruce Martin: Oh yeah. Thank you and good luck.

Kevin Harvick: See ya.

Bruce Martin: That puts a checkered flag on this edition of Pit Pass Indy presented by Penske Truck Run. We want to thank our guests, driver Christian Rasmussen of ECR, Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing, Felix Rosenquist of Meijer Shank Racing, Kyle Kirkwood of Andretti Global, Scott McLaughlin of Team Penske, and Nolan Siegel of Arrow McLaren. Also, our special thanks to one of the best drivers in NASCAR history, Kevin Harvick, now with Fox Sports, for joining us on this edition of Pit Pass Indy. Along with loyal listeners like you, our guests helped make Pit Pass Indy presented by Penske Truck Rental your path to victory lane in IndyCar. On the highways, the raceways, and every pit stop in between, Penske Truck Rental keeps you moving forward. Gain ground with Penske. For more IndyCar coverage, follow me at ex, previously known as Twitter, at BruceMartin, one word, uppercase B, uppercase M, underscore 500. A special thanks to our production team. Executive producers are Bridget Coyne and Gerardo Orlando. Recordings and edits were done by me, Bruce Martin, and final mixing was done by Sean Ruhle Hoffman and Nathan Corson. Learn more at evergreenpodcast.com. Until next time, be sure to keep it out of the wall.