“Uh, Yes!” This was 4x Cup Series Champion Jeff Gordon’s short and sweet response to being asked whether Kyle Larson was better than him in 2023. Since winning the Cup Series in 2021, Larson has remained a top contender in almost every season. His aggressive driving style, versatility across different racing disciplines, and ability to deliver under pressure make him ridiculously hard to beat. Just look at 2024 for starters, the Hendrick Motorsports driver blew everyone away and secured six wins, 15 top-five finishes, and 18 top-10 finishes. The downside? No Championship 4 appearance and missed out on the regular season title after skipping the Coca-Cola 600.
Despite his impressive regular season performances, setbacks at Atlanta and Kansas cost him that coveted spot in the Championship 4. Still, he remains a heavy favorite to contend for the 2025 title, especially after the way he dominated in the offseason by winning multiple dirt racing events. However, not everyone is betting on him. NASCAR veteran Kevin Harvick has his chips placed on another dirt track superstar.
Kevin Harvick’s bold prediction for 2025
2014 Cup Series Champion Kevin Harvick made a surprising prediction about the upcoming season. Impressed with Christopher Bell’s performance in the last few seasons, Harvick said that he will not be surprised if the Joe Gibbs Racing driver wins the championship. On his podcast, Harvick’s Happy Hour, he even named Bell as the biggest threat to Larson’s championship hopes.
“I’m going with his (Kyle Larson) rival. Christopher Bell. You know, I think Bell has been close. He’s got that. He’s just got that hunger to go out and figure out how to make it happen. And as you go through season after season after season, that maturity that goes with everything has been very visible to me,” Harvick said. He also mentioned that recent changes in the organizational structure of JGR will help Bell to ride on his form. “I think that Chris Gabehart in that organizational role is gonna make a big impact on that team being able to have the expectation of being a winner all the way… I just think with Bell and his situation being consistent that they have a real shot at doing that,” he further added.
Harvick’s comments come attached with Christopher Bell‘s incredible resume. The 30-year-old Joe Gibbs Racing driver has been phenomenal in the last three years. Since 2022, he has won eight races and has 37 Top-5 and 62 top-10 finishes. In 22′ and 23’ he made back-to-back Championship 4 appearances, and last season, if not for some shady race manipulation tactics, Bell would’ve been there yet again. With such a consistent performance, Harvick believes that it’s high time for Bell to eye for the title in the upcoming season.
Regarding the team around Bell, Chris Gabehart, in an organizational role, could pay huge dividends. The former crew chief of Denny Hamlin’s #11 saw splendid success until a disappointing last few seasons which saw them miss out on the Championship 4 for three straight years. Despite that, the duo won 22 races across 6 seasons and posted five straight seasons of finishing fifth or better in the driver’s standings. With Gabehart’s knowledge now at Bell’s disposal as well, the sky is the limit in 2025.
Image Credits: Imago
However, Harvick sees Bell as more than just another strong driver. He believes Bell could be Kyle Larson’s true rival, pushing him both on and off the NASCAR track. “I think the Larson-Bell rivalry is something that we all hope for. But it has a lot more opportunity to be in more places than just NASCAR. The Chili Bowl already had that, the micros, and everything that they raced already has a little bit of that spice,” Harvick said on his podcast. Notably, the two drivers have raced against each other since their teenage years. From dirt tracks to Cup Series races, their rivalry has only grown. They were trading jabs as recently as last month while competing at the pinnacles of dirt racing.
Bell edged out Larson in a photo finish at the Tulsa Shootout, but Larson responded by winning the Chili Bowl Nationals, tying Bell’s record of three victories. Their back-and-forth battles have only intensified, setting the stage for a thrilling 2025 season. Harvick’s prediction reflects the growing belief in Bell. With Joe Gibbs Racing’s full support and a solid team around him, Bell has all the tools to challenge Larson for the title.
However, Kevin Harvick’s views on a former Hendrick Motrsports driver are quite the opposite.
Harvick asks NASCAR legend to retire!
Kevin Harvick has never been one to shy away from making strong opinions. While predicting a tough fight between Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell, Harvick asked NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson to retire. He believes Johnson should retire from driving and focus on his role as a team owner at Legacy Motor Club. On Harvick’s Happy Hour, he discussed Johnson’s current situation.
“I think that the sooner [Jimmie Johnson] can get out of being in that car, the better off he is. I understand having to drive the car to lure the sponsor. But at some point, it becomes about performance,” said Harvick. Notably, seven-time Cup series champion Jimmie Johnson retired from full-time racing in 2020. After three years in 2023, he returned as driver and co-owner of LMC. However, his performances since returning have been underwhelming. His best finish in 12 starts has been 26th at Phoenix.
Harvick sees this as a major issue. He pointed out that while marketing and sponsorships play a role, long-term success in NASCAR depends on results. “At some point, your marketing platform runs out,” Harvick stated. “Performance trumps everything that you can do after consecutive years of not performing like you need to.” Harvick’s career echoes this sentiment too. After making ten consecutive finishes in the top-10 of the driver’s standings, Harvick finished 15th in 2022 and decided to retire the following season. Although his last season was winless, he put up 6 top-5 and 14 top-10 finishes in a respectable end to his NASCAR career.
It’s worth noting that Johnson is set to participate in select races in 2025, including the Daytona 500 and Coca-Cola 600. He could also reach the milestone of 700 Cup Series starts. But with Legacy Motor Club struggling to find success, fans, and many experts believe he should finally transition to the role of team owner. With NASCAR’s 2025 season set to begin, Harvick’s comments have sparked debates.
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