Kevin Harvick 2020 Fantasy NASCAR Preview
Kevin Harvick 2019 Stats: Points Finish 3rd, 4 Wins, 15 Top Fives, 26 Top Tens, 10.0 Average Finish, 9.1 Average Running Position, 953 Laps Led, 105.2 Driver Rating
Strengths:
Kevin Harvick is one of the premiere performers in the series and on “Any Given Sunday” he can reach victory lane. A strong case could be made that he’s the “Driver Of The Last Decade.” In the 2010’s, Harvick had eight point finishes in the top 3 and every year he finished in the top 8. Currently, Harvick has three straight point finishes of 3rd.
Harvick also has seven straight season with +20 top ten finishes. That’s a testament to how complete of a driver he is across the different track types.
In 2020, look for Harvick to be at his best at intermediate tracks, flat tracks, Sonoma and Bristol.
Weaknesses:
Kevin Harvick doesn’t have any notable weaknesses. Superspeedways have been quite treacherous for him recently, but he’s not lacking in terms of “Performance.”
Intermediate Track Fantasy Value – A
Kevin Harvick is a super-elite performer at intermediate tracks who ranks as one of the premiere performers in the series. Whenever the series visits intermediate tracks, Kevin Harvick should always be on your short list of favorites. 2019 was a great season for Harvick on this track type, but in 2020 I think there’s a great chance his team will be even better now that they’ll have a full-year under their belt with the Mustang. Also, hopefully the #4 team will cut down on mistakes which likely cost him a few wins last year.
In back to back seasons at intermediate tracks, Kevin Harvick has scored the most points in the series. Last year on this track type over the 17 combined races he had 2 wins, 10 top fives, 14 top tens, a series best 6.8 average finish and a series best 7.2 average running position. When you take into account how many misleading results he had, that’s impressive.
In 2020 at intermediate tracks, look for Harvick to win a couple of races and compete for a top five on a regular basis.
Flat Track Fantasy Value – A
Kevin Harvick ranks as one of the best flat track drivers in NASCAR. On This track type he’s capable of competing for wins at both the bigger and the shorter-flat tracks.
In 2019 over the combined races on this track type he won 2 races, had a 6.9 average finish, a 5.8 average running position and only had one result outside the top 9, which was misleading.
At the bigger flat tracks last season, Harvick was arguably the best performer in the series. At Indy, he crushed the competition from the pole and in route to victory lane he earned a perfect driver rating and led 118 laps. Currently at Indy he has six straight top tens. At Pocono, Harvick finished 6th last summer (led 62 laps), and in the spring he was very competitive and was running in 2nd with 36 laps to go but had an uncontrolled tire which led to his misleading 22nd place finish. In the five Pocono races prior to that he finished in the top 4.
At shorter-flat tracks, Harvick is unquestionably a fantasy ace. In 2019 on that sub-track type over the 5 races he had 1 win, 3 top fives and finished in the top ten every race. Over those combined races he had a 5.2 average finish and a 6.0 average running position. At all three shorter-flats in 2020, I would view him as a top five contender.
Short Track Fantasy Value – A
At short tracks, Kevin Harvick ranks among the best in the series. In 2019 on this track type minus Bristol #2 where he had a parts failure while running in the top five he had a 7.4 average finish.
At Martinsville, Harvick is a strong performer, but he’s not a contender to win and its been seven races since he’s even led a lap. Over the last five races at that .5 mile oval he’s finished between 5th to 10th. Last year he had results of 6th and 7th.
Richmond is arguably his best short track and in 7 of the last 8 races he’s finished in the top 7. Last year, Harvick had results of 7th and 4th.
At Bristol, Harvick ranks as one of the safer options and over the last 9 races he has 7 top tens and 8 results in the top 13. Last summer, Harvick led 28 laps and was a top five contender but finished a misleading 39th after having clutch problems. In spring 2019, Harvick finished 13th which is remarkable when you consider he had to start the race with a pass through penalty. In the seven races prior to that he finished in the top ten.
Superspeedway Fantasy Value – A-
Kevin Harvick is one of the best superspeedway drivers, but I can’t say I like his results. In fact, his results are quite troublesome and since 2017 he only has one top ten which is also his only top 15. In 2019 over the combined races on this track type he had a 27.3 average finish.
At Daytona, Harvick is one of the strongest performers in the series, but he’s had problems the last 7 races in a row and has finished 19th or worse. One would think he’s due for some good luck. Last year he had results of 26th and 29th. In his Duel 150 leading up to the Daytona 500 he dominated and raced his way to victory lane, so it’s not like he doesn’t have great cars.
At Talladega, Harvick also ranks among the best, but his results are also quite dreadful. He finished 4th in spring 2018 but all of his other results since 2017 are 17th or worse. Last year he had results of 17th and 38th.
Road Course Fantasy Value – A
Kevin Harvick is a strong road course racer who should be near the top of your fantasy NASCAR radar. In 2019 on this track type he had a 5.3 average finish, a 7.3 average running position and he was one of just three drivers who finished in the top ten every race.
Sonoma is the road course where his fantasy value is the highest. Over the last five races there he’s finished in the top six and has a 3.8 average finish. Last year he finished 6th. In the two prior races he had results of 1st and 2nd.
At the Charlotte Roval, Harvick is one of five drivers who are 2 for 2 in terms of finishing in the top ten. Last year he led 34 laps and finished 3rd. In 2018 he finished 9th.
At Watkins Glen, he’s been solid and in 4 of the last 6 races he’s finished in the top ten. In the two he didn’t, he had a misleading result. Last year he finished 7th, in 2018 he finished 10th.
In 2020 at road courses, I would look for Harvick to be a top five driver at Sonoma and the Charlotte Roval, and at Watkins Glen I would look for him to compete for a top ten.
