Kevin Harvick names surprise package of NASCAR – Sports News
Harvick named his greatest surprise of the season (Image: Getty)
Kevin Harvick has recognized the crew and driver which have shocked him most within the opening weeks of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, and it isn’t one of the game’s powerhouse operations.
Speaking on this week’s episode of SPEED with Harvick and Buxton, the NASCAR veteran pointed to Spire Motorsports because the standout story of the early marketing campaign, with Daniel Suarez drawing specific reward as the driving force who has impressed him most.
“That has to be Spire for me,” Harvick, who was in awe after watching Cleetus McFarland in motion, stated. “When Carson Hocevar is on the racetrack, he’s exciting. He’s electrifying, and he makes a lot of people mad, but he doesn’t care.”
“Now he’s got the cars that are capable to go up there and consistently put himself in the front of the racetrack.”
But it was Suarez who earned Harvick’s highest praise. “The one that sticks out the most to me is Daniel Suarez,” Harvick said. “He really backs it up for Spire to be able to put themselves in the front of the field as a contender week in and week out. He’s been so consistent, and that’s a very new situation for Daniel, Spire, and that team.”
Suarez, who joined Spire this season after five years at Trackhouse Racing, has recorded a top-five at Atlanta and a top-ten at Darlington in the first six races, and sits 14th in the Cup points standings.
Suaarez is in his 10th season in the Cup Series (Image: Getty)
After Sunday’s seventh-place finish at Darlington, Suarez reflected on what the result meant for his new team. “It was a difficult weekend for the teams to kind of decide what to bring and the right things to do,” he said.
“My group proves time and time again that they come prepared, whether it’s changes or practice to race. We were overdue for this group to have a good run, and I’m proud to be able to deliver it and get us to the finish line. It feels like all year without an issue, so I’m proud of the team and something to build on.”
Suarez has spoken openly about what drew him to Spire and what he has found since arriving.
“From the outside, I was looking at Spire Motorsports, and in my mind, they were the fastest-growing team. I was always curious — what are they doing to grow that quick?” he said after Darlington.
“The culture of the team is pretty incredible. There are great people here; the structure’s solid, and I’m just really happy and proud to be a part of this organization.”
“And the best part is that they just continue to grow. We’re not even close to our full potential, so we just have to keep doing our thing; keep building, and get better and better.”
Hocevar has additionally contributed considerably to the crew’s vibrant begin, recording back-to-back fourth-place finishes at Atlanta and Darlington. At 23 years previous, the younger driver has been one of probably the most talked-about performers of the early season.
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