2013 marks Kevin Harvick’s 13th season as the driver of the No. 29 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Harvick first climbed into the driver’s seat of the No. 29 Chevrolet following the untimely passing of Dale Earnhardt Sr. in February 2001. In the past 12 seasons, Harvick has collected 19 wins, five pole awards, 91 top-five and 188 top-10 finishes in 430 Sprint Cup Series starts, finishing as high as third in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver championship point standings in 2010 and 2011.

For kindergarten graduation in 1980, Harvick received a go-kart and began his racing career. In the 10 years that he competed on the go-kart circuit, Harvick earned seven National Championships and two Grand National Championships. During that time, he also learned the value of dedication and discovered the joy of success that has transformed into the fierce determination that now defines him.

Harvick left the go-kart circuit to begin competing in the local Late Model Series before moving on to the Featherlite Southwest Series – a regional touring division of NASCAR – in 1992. While attending high school, Harvick ran a limited schedule for two seasons and then in 1995, was back on track competing full time and earned Rookie of the Year honors.

Deciding to pursue a career in racing rather than study architecture in college, Harvick progressed to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. Two years later, Harvick won five races on his way to capturing the 1998 K&N Pro Series West championship.

A brief stint in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series introduced Harvick to acclaimed car owner Richard Childress. Childress, having seen potential in Harvick’s hard-charging driving style, offered him a ride in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Harvick accepted the offer and was named the series’ Rookie of the Year in 2000 and went on to win the driver championships in 2001 and 2006.

After losing Dale Earnhardt in a wreck on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500, Childress asked Harvick to assume driving duties for the GM Goodwrench Service Plus Monte Carlo in the Sprint Cup Series. Despite the intense schedule and difficulty of driving full time in two series, Harvick agreed and began the most incredible year of his life. In February, he married wife DeLana in a Las Vegas ceremony.

Harvick became the first driver in NASCAR history to run full time on both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series circuits, competing in a total of 70 races in one season, and the first to be named Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year in the same season that he earned the Nationwide Series championship.

2001 was filled with incredible moments including two Sprint Cup Series wins, the first coming in only Harvick’s third start, and a Nationwide Series championship, which Harvick earned on the strength of 20 top-five finishes and five wins. Harvick also earned Rookie of the Year honors in the Sprint Cup Series, finishing ninth in the driver championship point standings.

In 2002, the young driver won the International Race of Champions championship during his rookie season after securing one win, three top-five and four top-10 finishes. That same year he earned his first Sprint Cup Series pole award at Daytona International Speedway (July).

Harvick went on to win his second Nationwide Series championship in 2006, competing in all 35 events. He recorded nine victories, 23 top-five and 32 top-10 finishes, holding an average finish of 4.6, all the while competing in the Sprint Cup Series, where he earned five victories, 15 top-five and 20 top-10 finishes, and finished fourth in the driver championship point standings.

Adding to his career highlights, Harvick kicked off the 2007 season on a high note as he swept the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series events at Daytona International Speedway, claiming the elusive Daytona 500 title. Harvick also went on to win the All-Star Challenge en route to finishing the season 10th in the Sprint Cup Series driver championship point standings.

The 2008 season proved to be another year for the record books. Harvick raced to his third consecutive Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup position, capping the year off with five top-five and 19 top-10 finishes on his way to earning a fourth-place finish in the final Sprint Cup Series driver championship point standings. In addition to his seat time in RCR’s Sprint Cup Series entry, Harvick also participated in several Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series events for the team he co-owned, Kevin Harvick Inc.

Continuing his success in 2009, Harvick kicked off the Sprint Cup Series season by winning the 2009 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway and after a year of changes at RCR, ended the season with five top-five and nine top-10 finishes. To cap off the 2009 season, Harvick was named the Nationwide Series driver of the decade with two series titles in the decade (2001 and 2006) and leading all Nationwide Series drivers with 34 wins.

The 2010 season brought Harvick additional accomplishments. In the Sprint Cup Series, the driver experienced three wins, 16 top-five and 26 top-10 finishes, leading the driver championship point standings throughout the majority of the 36-race season before landing third in the final standings. Harvick also kept busy by staying behind the wheel of the No. 33 Chevrolet in the Nationwide Series and the No. 2 Chevrolet in the Camping World Truck Series operated under the KHI banner.

2011 could be marked as one of Harvick’s most successful season to date. The Sprint Cup Series veteran garnered four wins, nine top-five and 19 top-10 finishes, while maintaining a position within the top five in the point standings for the majority of the season before closing out the year third, tying for his best career series finish. On top of a grueling Sprint Cup Series schedule, Harvick competed in 13 Nationwide Series events along with 10 Camping World Truck Series appearances in KHI-prepared entries.

Following years of success and high points in his racing career, Harvick stumbled upon trials and tribulations during the 2012 season. The 37-year-old driver completed full time in the Sprint Cup Series, capturing one win, five top-five and 14 top-10 finishes on his way to completing the year eighth in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. The RCR veteran also made 13 Nationwide Series appearances earning two wins, one pole award, nine top-five and 10 top-10 finishes, and three Camping World Truck Series starts collecting one win, two pole awards, two top-five and two top-10 finishes all in RCR organized entries.

During the 2013 season, the fierce competitor will focus his efforts on the task of accomplishing the one achievement that has eluded him during his 12-year Sprint Cup Series career, winning the Sprint Cup Series championship.