Kevin Harvick hits Son Keelan with Wake-Up Call

Epic Battle in CARS Tour West Season Opener

 

Keelan Harvick will one day have his day in the sun; Saturday at Tucson Speedway was not the time nor the place. His father, 2014 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick, reminded him that his “maiden voyage is over.”

 

The Harvicks headlined the field for the CARS Tour West Pro Late Model class season opener at Tucson Speedway. Keelan and Kevin banged doors and traded paint late in the race, the 13-year-old initiating it and the 50-year-old ending it. The elder Harvick took the checkered flag with Keelan coming in second, making it a father/son 1-2 finish.

 

“It got a little physical, but I was like, ‘You know what, buddy, you’ve moved me out of the way today, your maiden voyage is over, you’re gonna get the bumper back.’ I’m glad he didn’t wreck, but I would have been fine with that, too, today,” Kevin Harvick told Short Track Scene. “It was fun. Hopefully the crowd enjoyed it, it’s fun to be in Victory Lane.”

 

It was an entertaining duel between father and son, one of many we could see as Keelan Harvick continues to rise through the ranks of motorsports. Keelan Harvick put up a fight but came up just short going up against an experienced wheelman in his dad, a 60-time Cup Series winner.

 

“I had him the first time and we kind of got hung together there off of [Turn] 4 door-to-door and it kind of shot me down the racetrack just a little bit, and I didn’t get a great entry into [Turn] 1,” Kevin Harvick said. “I lost that battle there and the second time, I think he thought I was gonna roll the top or he thought I was at the top and tried to cross me over, I don’t remember exactly what happened right there. He didn’t get there, and then he moved me in the next corner. From there, it was game on.”

 

Pole sitter @KeelanHarvick breaks down his early battle with Colton Hale and finishing second to his dad, @KevinHarvick, in @CARSTourWest Pro Late Models at Tucson Speedway.@ST_Scene | #SoundGear125 pic.twitter.com/cd102y5Ctq

— Rence Brown (@rencethefence) January 18, 2026

Keelan Harvick really wanted to beat his dad. That being said, he enjoyed the battle.

 

“It was really fun,” Keelan Harvick said. “Hate that I couldn’t win but still really fun racing him.”

 

 

 

source: ON3 Media

Smoke Returns to NASCAR

Tony Stewart Joins Ram’s Free Agent Program with Kaulig Racing at Daytona Truck Race

 

NASCAR fans, get ready: Tony Stewart, three-time Cup Series champion and motorsports icon, is officially returning to the NASCAR stage at Daytona in 2026. Stewart will team up with Ram Trucks and Kaulig Racing as the first competitor in Ram’s groundbreaking Free Agent program within the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. 

 

Stewart, known to fans as “Smoke,” last competed in the NASCAR Truck Series in 2005 and the Cup Series in 2016 before shifting his focus to NHRA drag racing with Dodge. His return marks a monumental moment for the sport—blending Stewart’s legendary competitive spirit with Ram’s bold re-entry into NASCAR.

 

 

“I’ve raced just about everything with four wheels at Daytona, but never a truck.

 

So when a seat in the new Ram was offered up for their first race back in NASCAR, I didn’t hesitate,” said Stewart, a 19-time winner at Daytona across the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and IROC.

 

“Ram’s Free Agent program is another great way for me to stay sharp and have a little fun.”

 

The Free Agent program is designed to bring legendary drivers and rising stars into the spotlight, giving fans a unique mix of experience and fresh talent behind the wheel of Ram trucks.

 

“We’re not just returning to the track; we’re rewriting the playbook. Bringing Tony in as the first Free Agent will generate a crazy amount of excitement, which is exactly why we created the program—allowing fans to watch an all-time favorite driver get back into the seat, but this time, it’s a Ram truck,” said Tim Kuniskis, Head of American Brands, SRT Performance, NA Marketing and Retail Strategy at Stellantis. “This is about honoring a legacy. Tony represents grit, determination, and the spirit of racing—pure adrenaline for the fans.”

 

Ram will field five trucks in the 2026 season with Kaulig Racing, signaling a major investment in NASCAR. Stewart’s involvement and the Free Agent Program underscore Ram’s innovative approach on and off the track.

How 'bout a 360º look at Smoke's No. 25! @TonyStewart | @RamTrucks pic.twitter.com/bMQKVk8A4t

— Kaulig Trucks (@Kaulig_Trucks) January 19, 2026

“Having Tony Stewart in one of our Ram trucks is the kind of thing you dream about,” said Matt Kaulig, Founder and Owner of Kaulig Racing. “He’s a legend—his name alone brings energy to the sport. We couldn’t be more fired up to have him in our camp as we roll into Daytona for our first race. This is going to be a ride worth watching.”

 

In addition to his NASCAR and drag racing success, Stewart is the first and only driver to win all three USAC National championships (Midget, Sprint, Silver Crown) in one year (1995). He also took an Indycar championship in 1997. Stewart’s career is celebrated as a member of the NASCAR (2020) and National Sprint Car (2022) Halls of Fame.

 

Fans can expect exclusive behind-the-scenes content, new Ram Truck announcements, and immersive race-day experiences as part of this historic collaboration at Daytona in February.

 

The Kaulig Racing lineup has one more spot for Daytona:

 

• Brenden “Butterbean” Queen
• Daniel Dye
• Justin Haley
• Tony Stewart (Free Agent)
• Race For The Seat

 

source: Kaulig Racing Media

Rush Truck Centers Continues Partnership with Front Row Motorsports for 2026 Season

Rush Truck Centers to Support Noah Gragson in Multiple Cup Series Races

 

Rush Truck Centers, which partnered with Noah Gragson following his move to Front Row Motorsports (FRM) in 2025, will continue its relationship with both Gragson and FRM for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. The 2026 program marks the second year of a partnership established in 2025.

 

Rush Truck Centers will serve as the primary partner on Gragson’s No. 4 Ford Mustang Dark Horse in multiple races throughout the 2026 season.

 

Since 1965, Rush Truck Centers has been the premier solutions provider for the commercial vehicle industry, earning a reputation for excellence, fairness, a positive attitude and solutions that exceed customer expectations. Rush Truck Centers provides customers with an integrated, one-stop approach to the service and sales of new and used commercial vehicles, aftermarket parts and more, with more than 160 dealership locations across the United States and eastern Canada.

 

Gragson will represent the Rush Truck Centers brand in 12 NASCAR Cup Series races during the 2026 season, building on a 2025 season that produced two top-10 finishes and four top-15 results with the No. 4 team. The partnership will go beyond the racetrack, with all three of FRM’s NASCAR Cup Series entries transported by Peterbilt Model 389 tractors supplied by Rush Truck Centers, maintaining its role as the “Official Truck Dealer and Service Center of Front Row Motorsports.”

 

Below is the full race schedule for the No. 4 Rush Truck Centers Ford Mustang Dark Horse.

 

• 02/15 – Daytona International Speedway (Daytona, FL)
• 03/1– Circuit of the Americas (Austin, TX)
• 04/19 – Kansas Speedway (Kansas City, KS)
• 05/3 – Texas Motor Speedway (Fort Worth, TX)
• 05/24 – Charlotte Motor Speedway (Concord, NC)
• 05/31 – Nashville Superspeedway (Nashville, TN)
• 06/21 – Naval Base Coronado (San Diego, CA)
• 07/26 – Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Indianapolis, IN)
• 08/29 – Daytona International Speedway (Daytona, FL)
• 09/19 – Bristol Motor Speedway (Bristol, TN)
• 10/4 – Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Las Vegas, NV)
• 10/25 – Talladega Superspeedway (Talladega, AL)

Additionally, Rush Truck Centers will again serve as an associate partner on the No. 34 and No. 38 Ford Mustang Dark Horses driven by Todd Gilliland and Zane Smith. 

 

 

Gragson shared his excitement on the continued partnership. “I am really proud of the relationship we have with Rush Truck Centers. We showed flashes of what we’re capable of together last year with some solid top-10 and top-15 finishes, and that motivates me heading into this season. Their ongoing support motivates our entire team as we work to take the next step in 2026.”

 

Rush Truck Centers also comments on their continued relationship with FRM and Gragson. “We’re excited about this second year of our agreement with Front Row Motorsports and the No. 4 team,” said Rusty Rush, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Rush Enterprises. “Our partnership with FRM extends across the entire organization, and we’re proud to support all three teams throughout the season. This relationship speaks to the confidence we have in the team and in Noah. Beyond being a tremendous competitor, Noah is a great friend and partner — his passion, charisma and genuine love for this sport are contagious. We feel really good about where this program is headed, and I believe we have what it takes to put Rush Truck Centers in Victory Lane with Noah this season.”

 

Rush Truck Centers’ 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season will begin at Daytona International Speedway with the Daytona 500 on February 15. The race will be broadcast live on FOX at 2:30 p.m. ET, with radio coverage available on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).

 

.@FordRacing 2026 launch party with the boys! #FRSeasonLaunch26 pic.twitter.com/xr4V9wprja

— Front Row Motorsports (@Team_FRM) January 15, 2026

 

source:Front Row Motorsports (FRM) Media