Faith on the Frontstretch: Harvick’s Love for Son a Driving Force in Dover Win

Harvick shares a laugh with son, Keelan, before the Atlanta race, March 1, 2015.
Credit: Charlotte Bray for Skirts and Scuffs  
“ ... and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”   ~ Hebrews 12:1b

Kevin Harvick had a colossal, career-sculpting day at the Monster Mile on Sunday. Not only did he take the checkers, leading a career-high 355 laps in one race, but it was an historic 750th win for the manufacturer, Chevrolet. Most importantly, he catapulted himself into the top 12 by conquering the concrete and moved on to the Contender round of the Chase.

After the race, Harvick claimed to be unaware of who had fallen below the Chase cutoff line, not even realizing the guy with 10 monster trophies, Jimmie Johnson, had succumbed to mechanical failure.

“You know, I don't even know who's been eliminated, so we're so narrow-minded in the approach that we take to things, it's really -- you try to stay in your garage stall,” Harvick said after his win-or-you’re-out victory. “You know, we're just happy to be able to make it to the next round and be able to keep racing for a championship.”

The driver of the No. 4 keeps his focus close to home and said he doesn’t read media stories about NASCAR and doesn’t pay attention to “chirping” on Twitter either. All the hype and attention is apparently not what drives the 2014 Sprint Cup champ. He said he and his team focus inward, into their own garage stall, not obsessing about competitors' times or the larger Chase scenario.

Despite his apparent nonchalance about other drivers, there was someone Harvick had on his mind. His biggest concern was for a tow-headed little guy with a sweet face and an inherited love of racing. While answering a routine question after the race, the real source of Harvick’s focus surfaced. What was the driving force behind his desire to master Miles the Monster? “Daddy love” for his three-year-old son, Keelan.

“I'm just happy we won because Keelan keeps asking for Miles the trophy. It'll probably be the only one we don't put in storage with the rest of them. It'll go in his playroom. That's what he asked to do with it. So I'm just glad that I didn't let him down.”

Daddy love is powerful. You and I have a doting Father who loves us, too. Our God loves each of us as if we were His only child. Our Father God will move mountains for us. Nothing can separate us from His love, not even the scary monsters of life (Romans 8:38-39).

Love for his little boy drove Kevin Harvick to put the moves on a monster track and bring home the prize. It’s a heart-warming story, for sure. The not-so-scary Frankentrophy watches over Keelan’s playroom now, a physical reminder of his daddy’s love.

God offers us a tangible reminder of His love, too, and it’s a monumental one. God gave us His Son, Jesus, who died on the cross to take the punishment for our sins. Asking Jesus into our hearts saves us from being punished for our sins – all of them. And like a trophy, the cross is a reminder of our Daddy’s love.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.    ~ John 3:16
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“Faith on the Frontstretch” explores the role of faith in motorsports and runs every 1st & 3rd Wednesday of the month during the NASCAR season. Follow Beth on twitter at @bbreinke

Want more racing devotions? When you donate $25 to Skirts and Scuffs, we’ll send you a complimentary copy of Beth’s book, Race Fans’ Devotions to Go, a month-long, pocket-sized devotional book for NASCAR fans. Or you can purchase the book in paperback & ebook here.
Faith on the Frontstretch: Harvick’s Love for Son a Driving Force in Dover Win Faith on the Frontstretch: Harvick’s Love for Son a Driving Force in Dover Win Reviewed by Beth Reinke on Wednesday, October 07, 2015 Rating: 5