Opinion: Harvick, team should slow down and savor moment in the sun
Now I have had a very blessed NASCAR career. I've been fortunate to be on six NASCAR Cup championship teams. Two of those were even more special as I went there as the championship-winning crew chief. It's one of those points in time when I wish I had been smart enough to keep a diary of all the activities, responsibilities and, yes, emotions.
Kevin Harvick and chief Rodney Childers are both experiencing their first NASCAR Sprint Cup championship together. They, their team, their sponsors and their owners need to simply savor every moment of it. This is truly rare air. They get to experience something that very few people ever get to enjoy in our sport.
Sure, they can easily take the approach of, "this is the start of many to come," and maybe it is, but what if it's not? What if this is their one and only? That's why I have encouraged all them to slow things down. Enjoy the moment and don't get so caught up in being here and being there rushing around all week that it becomes a blur. They've all earned this moment in the sun, so they should maximize and enjoy their time in it.
It's a very special moment when everyone in your profession is looking at you with envy. They want to be where you are so badly. I don't care if you are Jimmie Johnson with six championships or Kevin Harvick now experiencing his first, once you get a taste of it, you want more. You love this feeling and you never want it to end.
But again, savor this moment. Shame on you if you don't, because one day your grandkids are going to want you to tell them stories and show them pictures of the time you were the best of the best.
