Growing up in Bakersfield, Calif., NASCAR star Kevin Harvick wrestled in high school, winning a sectional title in his weight class while attending Bakersfield North High School. Harvick's love of contact sports continues to this very day.
Harvick and his wife DeLana formed their own race team, Kevin Harvick Inc., in 2002 and campaigned entries in the NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series through the end of 2011, when the team was sold to Richard Childress Racing. All told, KHI won two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championships and 53 race victories in the two series.
Even though KHI no longer fields cars on track, it's still in business. Its latest venture goes back to Harvick's wrestling roots: KHI has signed a deal to represent UFC Lightweight division fighter Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone.
"KHI ... is renowned in the motor sports world not only for its on-track success, but also for its efficacious and innovative sponsorship relationships," the team said in a release. "In its NASCAR operations, the company has demonstrated expertise in marketing through sponsor activation, sales and promotion, event management, advertising and public relations. More recently, KHI transferred its primary concentration to athletes and sponsors in and out of the auto racing industry, including Harvick, Cerrone, Jeff Burton (NASCAR) and Jason Gore (PGA).
"It's an honor and privilege to have this new relationship with Kevin (Harvick) and KHI," said Cerrone, who is ranked sixth in the UFC Lightweight division. "I have learned a lot from Kevin and his management team over the last year and look forward to a long-lasting relationship both in and out of the octagon."
Cerrone, 30, is based and trains in Albuquerque, N.M. He won three of his four last fights to extend his record to 20-5. The Denver native is next scheduled to fight Rafael Dos Anjos (19-6) on Aug. 28 on UFC on FOX Sports 1.
