Kevin Harvick knows a thing or two about grinding through the NASCAR ranks. In his early days with Richard Childress Racing, he competed in the Busch Series while powering through frustrating and winless Cup Series runs. He persisted on the circuit for years. Where did that take him? He ended up beating the sentimental favorite and legend, Mark Martin. It’s a playbook that has shaped numerous careers, reminding everyone that lower-tier battles build real grit.

Now, with Connor Zilisch set for his 2026 Cup debut in Trackhouse’s No. 88 Chevy after a dominating Xfinity rookie season, veterans like Kevin Harvick see echoes of their own paths. His quick rise from an Xfinity rookie to a full-time Cup Series driver has folks buzzing, much like Kyle Busch racing in Trucks for five Spire races thi

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