As tough as it is to rise to the highest tier of NASCAR, it is even more difficult to win the championship. Though several drivers have done it multiple times, the process still did not get any easier for them with every successive attempt.
However, with the new playoff format, many argue that winning the championship has become easier than it was back in the day. While the current system may be more advantageous for the drivers, winning the tournament is far from easy.
NASCAR icon and champion, Kevin Harvick, vouched for this in his latest podcast and revealed the critical role of sacrifice for a driver to win the Cup Series championship.
What is Kevin Harvick’s Secret Sauce for Drivers To Win the NASCAR Championship?
In the latest edition of “Happy Hour,” Harvick sat down with Mamba Smith and Kaitlyn Vincie to break down the final race of the regular season. Along with that, the room also discussed the upcoming playoffs.
As Smith highlighted the heightened competitiveness in the sport around playoff time, Harvick emphasized the need for drivers to break past their comfort zone. He said:
“You’ve got to be willing to do things that are outside of your comfort zone. It’s taking chances here and there to achieve things that you may not have done before and push through the hard moments.”
Following this, Harvick highlighted the certain degree of sacrifice required for NASCAR drivers to achieve glory. He added, “The ones that are willing to make the most sacrifices over the next 10 weeks are going to achieve the most results.”
The 2014 championship winner shed more light on the sacrifices and said, “That’s telling your family that I might not be home as much. It’s putting in the extra time. It’s a big commitment to go out and win this championship.”
As Harvick and Co. dissected the secret sauce that separated champions from the rest, the trio also gave their picks of drivers most likely to win the championship this year. While Harvick picked Christopher Bell, Smith backed William Byron, and Vincie rooted for Larson to clinch the title.
It is worth noting that even though Harvick only won the championship once, he came painfully close to winning it on a few occasions. So, it can be safe to assume that the former driver knew a few things about the path that leads to a NASCAR championship.
Though Harvick retired from racing in 2023, he is still one of the most respected figures in the sport. Harvick was one of the most reliable, versatile, and aggressive drivers in the sport, one of the most formidable opponents in his prime.
Besides, his 60 wins in his 23-year-long career make him one of the sport’s winningest drivers.