Kevin Harvick Uncertain on FOX Career, Passes 7-Word Verdict on Building NASCAR Legacy Like Darrell Waltrip…
Darrell Waltrip is a certified NASCAR legend. With three Cup Series champions, 84 victory lane visits, and an intense rivalry against Dale Earnhardt, it depicts the highs he had on the racetrack. However, he was more than just a race car driver. After taking off his helmet, he picked up the mic in the FOX broadcast booth. 2001 was a milestone year for NASCAR as a whole, as they had landed the biggest TV deal in the sport’s history with FOX, and this is the race where Darrell would make his debut.
Now we know that the 2001 Daytona 500 race is one of the darkest chapters in NASCAR’s history. But this was the race where Darrell saw his younger brother, Michael, notch his first NASCAR win. He couldn’t hold back his emotions, “You got it, Mikey, you got it, man. Mikey, come on!” This feeling of elation and excitement would soon take a drastic turn as DW took a look outside of his booth an saw Dale Earnhardt’s car crashing. “I just hope Dale’s okay.”
What made Waltrip’s voice in the FOX booth so unique was that he kept it real, unfiltered, and the best part, he was himself. Although the 2001 Daytona 500 was one of the most memorable moments for Waltrip in the booth, it is also a burden he has to bear. But, this moment wouldn’t stop him from entertaining the NASCAR fans with his colorful personality in the booth, a voice that resonated with the NASCAR fanbase for 19 years, until 2017. But despite his retirement from the booth, his iconic catchphrase, “Boogity, boogity boogity, Let’s go racing, boys”, has been etched in NASCAR folklore, and another veteran driver is now looking to cement his place as best in the broadcasting business.
Kevin Harvick, much like Darrell Waltrip, brings a ton of experience and expertise to the FOX booth. After signing off from a Hall of Fame-worthy NASCAR career, Harvick joined Mike Joy and his friend Clint Bowyer in the booth in 2024. The first year was a huge learning curve for the former SHR driver, but he wasn’t under the pressure to perform like he did while driving for championships. In the second year, his opinion and command over his craft are more polished, and he seems to have settled into this new role. But does he envision calling races and sharing stories from the booth like Waltrip did?
