Keelan Harvick has scored a milestone win. He beat his father, NASCAR Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick, during a trip to Bakersfield, California.
The 12-year-old driver and his father joined the CARS Tour West for a pair of 75-lap Pro Late Model races on Saturday night. Each logged a win in what became known as the Battle of the Harvicks.
HE DID IT!@KeelanHarvick wins the Battle of the Harvicks and scores his first @CARSTourWest victory at @KernRaceway! pic.twitter.com/2NwCcgMhCe
— NASCAR Regional (@NASCARRegional) June 1, 2025
Keelan started on the pole for the first race and led the first 40 laps, but it was the elder Harvick who took control after the competition caution. The driver-turned-Fox Sports analyst scored the win and took a 1-0 lead in the Battle of the Harvicks.
Father and son lined up next to each other for the start of the second stage/race. Keelan was on the pole, but it was his father who took the lead on the restart. However, he ultimately lost the lead to Buddy Shepherd.
Harvick continued to battle Shepherd and Jacob Gomes as the laps clicked down while Keelan drifted back to fifth place. Yet, the 12-year-old was not out of the race. He was ultimately in the best position as chaos ensued with six laps remaining.
Gomes lost control of his car while battling Harvick for the lead, which sent it sliding into the No. 29 Hunt Brothers Pizza entry. They both crashed while collecting Shepherd. Jace Hale spun from fourth place while Keelan navigated his way through the chaos to take the lead.
THE LEADERS WRECK and @KeelanHarvick takes the lead at @KernRaceway!
📺 @FloRacing pic.twitter.com/rDae1CT7hy
— NASCAR Regional (@NASCARRegional) June 1, 2025
The young driver lined up on the front row with Kenna Mitchell next to him for the final restart. Mitchell briefly took the lead, but it was Keelan who used a crossover move to get back out front exiting Turn 2 at Kevin Harvick's Kern Raceway.
Mitchell then got sideways and lost momentum, which opened up some breathing room for Keelan. The driver of the No. 62 Hunt Brothers Pizza entry went on to capture the win in his first race at the California short track.