Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Harvick raced most of the summer with rib injury after falling in Italy

Originally posted on 5 GOATs | By Jonathan Howard | Last updated 8/12/23

This summer was not just fun and racing for Kevin Harvick. While in Itay watching his son race, Harvick suffered a fall. It turns out, the veteran NASCAR driver also hurt his ribs. With that accident happening back in June, it is impressive Harvick has gone on without mentioning the injury once.

While talking to the media before Verizon 200 practice and qualifying at Indy, Kevin Harvick let the news slip. He must be healed up pretty well by now. However, from the Father’s Day weekend break onward, Harvick was racing hurt.

Of course, The Closer didn’t complain, he didn’t wince on camera even once. “He’s him,” as they say nowadays. Nothing was taking Harvick out of this car, not this season. The broadcast said it was a broken rib injury, however, the media on-site reported it as simply a “rib injury” online.

Kevin Harvick revealed today that he fell in Italy in June and battled a significant rib injury for part of this summer.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) August 12, 2023

Kevin Harvick is a different breed of driver. There won’t be another like him and there are few that come close in the history of the sport. As he makes his final start at Indy, fit with a Tony Stewart tribute scheme, it is another reminder of the kind of competitor and person Harvick is.

In his practice session, Harvick wasn’t super quick. He’s not known as a road course driver. However, he’s going to make the most of his car and the most of his day, just like he always does.

Kevin Harvick’s performance while injured

The Kevin Harvick fall happened while the driver and father was in Italy watching his son race karts. Keelan has international experience under his belt already and has proven that he has a knack for this racing thing early on in his life.

Harvick suffered the fall and then returned to the Cup Series at Nashville with his rib injury. He was P24 at Nashville. Then, he finished P29 at Chicago, which he didn’t expect to do well at. In Atlanta, he ran really well until a mechanical failure doomed him to P30.

However, when you look back at the last month, he’s been fantastic. P4 at both New Hampshire and Pocono, P10 at Richmond, and P8 at Michigan. During that summer stretch, Harvick started in the top-10 three times. So, it has been a mixed bag, but a solid performance all things considered.

Now we’ll see what Harvick can do healed up and ready to go on the Indy Road Course. 44 points and he can clinch a playoff spot on points alone.

This article first appeared on 5 GOATs and was syndicated with permission.

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