#29- Kevin Harvick returned Wednesday to where his racing career began ‘ his hometown of Bakersfield, Calif. ‘ to be inducted into the Bob Elias Kern County Sports Hall of Fame. A sold-out gathering greeted their hometown hero, who went from racing go-karts around the Bakersfield area as a 5-year-old to winning the Daytona 500 in 2007. ‘It’s been an honor to be selected,’ Harvick told the audience at his induction. ‘My friends and family and everybody in this town have been very supportive. From my go-kart days or my wrestling days at North High, no matter what it was, the town has been supportive. And you guys support our foundation events when we come back. It’s truly an honor to see the support.’ Harvick, 36, was one of four enshrined during Wednesday’s ceremony. Also inducted were Olympic swimmer Gabe Woodward; Pat Skrable, an outstanding baseball and football player at Bakersfield High School; and Arnold Kirschenmann, a golfing standout from Bakersfield. Harvick joins just three other drivers in the Hall ‘ four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Rick Mears, off-road champion Roger Mears and Indy 500 competitor George Snider.(NASCAR Wire Service)(2-3-2012)
