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Kevin Harvick is scheduled to join FOX Sports’ broadcasting team as an analyst for eight races this season, lending his expertise as a former Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion to the TV booth and perhaps preparing him for the next step once his driving days are finished.
Harvick, 41, is also scheduled to join the network’s “NASCAR Race Hub” news program, joining other drivers and crew chiefs as regular contributors this year. His race coverage stint is set to begin with the NASCAR XFINITY Series opener at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 25.
“I really enjoy calling races,” Harvick said in a release provided by FOX Sports. “I enjoy the perspective of sitting up there and trying to figure out what’s going on. I also want to be a part of watching these young guys come up through the NASCAR Camping World Truck and XFINITY Series and have the experience of having been in the booth when they raced because, ultimately, it’s something I want to do down the road when I’m done driving.”
Harvick joined a host of current Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers in the FOX Sports booth for XFINITY events the last two years, adding commentary for the 2015 and 2016 openers at Daytona. He received largely positive reviews in both traditional and social media for his candor and fresh perspectives, and the experiences drove Harvick to seek more opportunities this season.
“One wasn’t enough, and I think we’ll do several NASCAR Race Hub shows this year,” Harvick added, “so it will be fun to express my opinion from the booth and from the studio.”
Harvick will work alongside lead broadcaster Adam Alexander and fellow analyst Michael Waltrip for the third straight season at Daytona. The other XFINITY Series events on Harvick’s slate are scheduled at Phoenix, Bristol, Talladega and Pocono. He’ll also contribute to live race coverage for Camping World Truck Series events at Kansas, Eldora and Talladega.
FOX Sports indicated that more announcements regarding its guest analyst lineup are forthcoming. The network began the program in 2015, with Harvick, Jeff Gordon, Brad Keselowski, Danica Patrick and Clint Bowyer in the booth rotation. Gordon, a four-time series champion, graduated to a full-time analyst with FOX in 2016.
The roster of FOX Sports guest analysts from the premier series grew last year to include Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano alongside the original five.