If the name Keelan Harvick sounds familiar, it’s because he’s spent the last two seasons showcasing his talent and living up to the Harvick name like his Dad, 60-time Cup champion Kevin Harvick. But that’s not the only reason the racing world is paying attention. The 14-year-old’s name is now on the ARCA Menards Schedule for 2027, giving the young driver his first opportunity to compete on the national stock car stage with Nitro Motorsports and Toyota.
The move is now official, adding another major step to his rapid rise through the short-track ranks. The young phenom has spent the 2026 season racing Late Models with Rackley W.A.R. and Kevin Harvick Inc. while continuing to grow under the Toyota Racing Development umbrella. Toyota announced its long-term commitment to Harvick in February, adding another piece to a career that is moving well beyond the grassroots level.
With that relationship now cemented and ARCA plans in the works, Harvick is set to enter another important stage of his development. But Harvick already has plenty to be proud of. In 2024, he won the INEX Young Lions National Championship and brought home seven combined victories between the Cook Out Summer Shootout and INEX Winter Heat.
The season also included his first Limited Late Model Start, where he finished P8 in a 96-lap race at Florence Motor Speedway. The following year, 2025, brought an even bigger rise for Harvick. The youngster won four CARS Tour Pro races and two CARS Tour West Pro Late Model events before making history at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola. Among other notable wins that year, he battled back from a P15 start in the Snowflake 125 and worked his way through a tumultuous field to be the youngest winner in the event’s history at 13.
The win marked his eighth in his first full season competing in full-bodied stock cars. His development has not slowed in 2026. Harvick has continued to race Late Models across the United States while gaining experience in various types of stock cars. He also made his CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series debut at Virginia International Raceway in September, giving him another chance to learn in a different car and discipline.
An ARCA move, by contrast, would signal a bigger adjustment. The series features heavier stock cars, longer races, and competition against drivers with substantially more experience. A part-time schedule could let Harvick learn those demands without immediately putting himself under the expectations of a full-fledged season.
With the Toyota Racing Development deal now official and Harvick set to join Nitro Motorsports, the move gives him a clear path into the ARCA Menards Series. The organization is also known for producing results fielding drivers like Thomas Annunziata, who has 1 victory, 11 top-five finishes, and 18 top-10s during the 2026 championship season.
Nitro also earned its first ARCA Menards Series Championship. But the bigger story is what comes next for Keelan Harvick. His trajectory has moved from Legend Cars to Late Models, major short-track victories, and now additional stock car disciplines. Therefore, 2027 could mark the next chapter in that progression as Harvick prepares for his ARCA Menards Series debut. For now, the next step awaits, and the teen’s results have shown he’s ready to take it.
Original article
Comments