Latest news with #Keelan
Forbes
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
It's Harvick Versus Harvick In A Showdown With No Tie And No Mercy
Kevin Harvick has spent his life racing legends. Jeff Gordon. Jimmie Johnson. Dale Earnhardt Jr. But on May 31, the 2014 NASCAR Cup champion will face his most personal challenge yet: racing his 12-year-old son Keelan, wheel to wheel, at Kern Raceway. This isn't a parade lap. No ceremonial green flag. It's a full-on late model race on the CARS Tour West stage in Bakersfield, California. One Harvick will win. The other won't. 'I never really thought I'd race him,' Kevin admits. 'That kind of evolved after I retired. I was just gonna watch him race. I didn't have any plans to get back in a car.' Turns out, plans change. Keelan, on the cusp of his teens, has quickly graduated from karting to legends cars to full-bodied stock cars, and most recently notched a podium at North Wilkesboro Speedway—racing against veterans like Josh Berry and Spencer Davis. One of Keelan's earliest racing memories was at Michigan, riding shotgun—literally—after his dad won. 'I did a burnout with him. That was a core memory for me,' Keelan says. He never imagined though he'd be racing against dad, at least not so soon. 'That was always the goal, but I didn't think I'd be racing against him this early though.' Now a full-time analyst in the FOX booth, Kevin sees the May 31 race as more than just a one-off. Sure, it's branding. It's marketing. But it's also deeply personal. 'It's a great promotional tool, not only from our branding standpoint, but for the CARS Tour in general and short-track racing. But the cool factor of racing him? That's something I never planned for— it's turned into one of the most fun things I've ever done,' Kevin says. Behind the scenes, things have shifted too. Early on, Kevin coached Keelen's every lap. 'Back in karts, it was every session. That wasn't healthy,' he admits. 'Now it's two or three things a weekend. He listens more. I talk less. It works better.' And yes, Keelan listens—but he's also started to offer critiques of his own. 'Especially when I'd come home from Cup races,' Kevin says, 'he'd go, 'What about that restart? Why'd you do that?' I'd just laugh. I hear it from the fans; I don't need to hear it from him too.' Now Keelen's his turn to be critiqued—on the track, and maybe in the household. 'I'm not nervous,' Keelan says. 'I just don't want to hit him. He said he'd kill me if I hit him, so I'll stay as far away as possible.' 'I told him if he wrecks me, he's mowing the lawn. For a year,' Kevin adds with a smirk. They joke, but the tone shifts when it comes to accountability. 'He's been around this his whole life. He knows what we expect,' Kevin says. 'Racing or school, it's all the same. Put in the effort. Do the work. You can have fun, but you've got to bring the focus when it's time.' And Keelan's not the only Harvick kid getting the racing itch. Piper Harvick, she turns eight in December, is gearing up to follow the same tire tracks. 'She just had her last soccer game. She told me she's racing as soon as it's over. Said she needs more horsepower,' Kevin laughs. 'She's been my motivation to get back into shape.' That shape? 'Booth shape,' Kevin calls it. 'I got back in my kart and realized—I'm in TV shape, not racing shape. I've got four or five weeks to fix that.' At Kern, Kevin trades the mic for a helmet and the tie for a fire suit. 'I love being in the FOX booth, but I'm excited to put the fire suit back on,' Kevin said. 'Especially for this. It's Bakersfield, it's my hometown, my whole family will be there. His cousins, my sister. We'll probably end up at a pool party after the race.' Asked what happens if Keelan wins, Kevin doesn't blink. 'If he beats me, we're doing something right. That's a good thing. I'll put it in so deep into turn one the next time that he gets tired of hearing about it.' Keelan grins. 'Same here. If I beat him, I'll talk about it every day.' The bet? Mostly bragging rights. 'He doesn't like getting beat,' Keelan says. 'So I'd definitely bring it up.' They're quick with the wit, but they're also absolutely serious about the long-term plan. Kevin knows exactly what it takes to climb the ladder. As head of KHI Management, he's not just grooming a driver—he's building the entire support system. 'If it turns into Trucks, Xfinity—whatever—it's all doable,' he says. 'We've got the people. Some have been with me for over 20 years. We know the right paths, the right partners. If he wants it, we're ready.' That's the future. For now, it's about one night. One race. One very fast family reunion under the lights at Kern. And regardless of who crosses the finish line first, the true victory lies in the legacy being forged—a testament to passion, perseverance, and the unbreakable bond between father and son. Oh—and for the record—it's officially called Kevin Harvick's Kern Raceway. The track was renamed in 2023 by new owners to honor Harvick, a proud Bakersfield native. But if Keelan wins, someone may want to start making room on the sign.
BBC News
07-04-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Bereaved Balsall Common dad praises Jack Grealish goal dedication
A bereaved father has praised footballer Jack Grealish for dedicating a goal to his younger brother who died as a baby. Jack Grealish, the Manchester City midfielder who grew up in Solihull, dedicated his first Premier League goal in almost 16 months to Keelan, who died at nine months old due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). After scoring against Leicester on Wednesday, Grealish told the BBC it was the 25th anniversary of Keelan's death. For Ryan Jackson, from Balsall Common, it was a poignant moment. He founded the Lily Mae Foundation with his wife in 2012, two years after their daughter was stillborn at full term. "Hopefully that will resonate with a lot of other bereaved families to show that it's ok to talk and its ok to let something like that upset you," Mr Jackson said."I understand entirely how he's feeling, even though I'm a parent and he's a sibling, the love for your bother or sister or your baby doesn't change," he foundation offers support to families dealing with the loss of a baby, including stillbirth, neonatal deaths and has a number of support programmes and groups, provides memory boxes for the bereaved, and runs a podcast for grieving fathers. Former Aston Villa captain Grealish told the BBC: "This day is hard on the family". But he added it was "brilliant" his parents were at the game to see him score and win. "It just goes to show that baby loss doesn't discriminate, it can happen to anybody," said Mr Jackson."You don't really need to be at the cemetery all the time to remember, because it sits with you all the time, it's always with you."He told BBC Radio WM the death of Lily Mae had been devastating, but added it was important for him to keep her legacy alive and help other families."Everybody's got a scar on their body somewhere, and there's a story behind that scar, the only difference with this scar is that it's etched on your heart," he said."It's great that Jack has been able to vocalise that it's important for his family on that day and it's also important for his family at all times to remember his brother." Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Independent
03-04-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Jack Grealish dedicates goal to late brother after Manchester City beat Leicester
Jack Grealish dedicated his goal to his late brother after scoring in Manchester City 's 2-0 win over relegation-threatened Leicester on Wednesday. The England international hit his first Premier League goal for 16 months, on his first start in the competition since last December, as City moved back into fourth with a comfortable success at the Etihad Stadium. It came on the 25th anniversary of the death of his younger brother Keelan, who died at the age of just nine months from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Grealish said on the club's official website: 'This day is always hard in the family, but I was happy to score. 'My mum and dad were here. This day is always difficult in the family. So to score and to win was brilliant.' He later added on social media: "With me always especially this day ... that was for you Keelan." Grealish has struggled for regular action this season due to the form of Jeremy Doku and Savinho. All three of those players started against the Foxes and combined to set up Grealish's opener after just two minutes. City manager Pep Guardiola said: 'Jack is an incredible human being in terms of gestures and he's incredibly generous. 'I didn't know that. I can't imagine how tough (it was) but to be with his mum and dad, his sister and all the family, it's good. 'He scored a goal and made a good game. I'm happy for him. I know it's not easy when you don't play quite regularly.' Omar Marmoush added the second after 29 minutes and City then eased through the remainder of the game to push an ineffective Leicester, who remain 12 points off safety, closer to the drop. Guardiola said: 'It wasn't easy with 10 players behind the ball in the box and we missed the third goal to be more relaxed. 'But we didn't concede anything until near the end and I'm pleased for a good performance.' Guardiola also offered more clarification on the length of Erling Haaland's absence after the Norwegian suffered an ankle injury in Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final win at Bournemouth. The striker has since received specialist treatment from Dr Ramon Cugat in Barcelona. He said: 'He saw him and we expect five to six weeks.' Leicester boss Ruud Van Nistelrooy conceded his side's situation is bleak, but is not giving up yet. The Dutchman said: 'Of course we live in reality. We know what the situation is in the table, points wise – 12 points with eight games to play. 'But mathematically, as I said before, it's not over and we have the responsibility to keep going.' Leicester have now lost seven in succession without scoring and Van Nistelrooy admitted they were never in their latest contest. He said: 'Of course at City away you want to have a good start, but before the half-hour we were 2-0 down it was going to be a long night.'
BBC News
02-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'That was for you Keelan' - Grealish dedicates goal to late brother
An emotional Jack Grealish dedicated his first Premier League goal in almost 16 months to his younger brother Keelan in the 25th anniversary of his his first league start since December, the Manchester City midfielder scored a second-minute opener in the 2-0 win against Leicester at Etihad he celebrated, it seemed Grealish was simply happy at marking a rare start with an even rarer league goal, ending a long wait since the 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace on 16 December was only after the final whistle he revealed the poignant family anniversary he was was four years of age when brother Keelan died in April 2000, aged just nine months due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).The England midfielder spoke about the anniversary of Keelan's death when talking to Sky Sports after the game."My little brother passed away 25 years ago today," he said. "This day is hard on the family."My mum and dad were here, so to score and to win was brilliant."Grealish later paid a tribute on Instagram, external, writing: "With me always especially this day ... that was for you Keelan."City manager Pep Guardiola said he was unaware of the anniversary but paid tribute to Grealish's compassionate nature. The 29-year-old has a sister, Holly, 21, who has cerebral palsy."Jack is an incredible human being," said Guardiola. "He is incredibly generous."I didn't know that and I can't imagine how tough it can be with mum and dad and sister. It is good they remember him, this day. I am sure they remember him every single day. But it is good to score."It remains to be seen whether Grealish's selection in the number 10 role was because Guardiola was resting key players - such as Phil Foden and Kevin de Bruyne - for Sunday's Manchester derby at Old Trafford when City will look to avenge United's victory at the Etihad in this was a useful opportunity for Grealish to push his claims for a regular starting spot in a team that has misfired badly this season and is now facing at least five weeks without its main goal threat in Erling Haaland, who is belief is that Grealish, who has two years left on his contract, will decide his future in the summer as Guardiola prepares for another extensive recruitment campaign, potentially either side of the Club World Cup in June and did not feel Grealish played at the same level against Leicester in the number 10 position as he did in his usual left-side role against Championship strugglers Plymouth in the FA Cup fifth round last month."He is comfortable playing on the side but he likes to play in the middle because he used to play free," said the City boss. "He has ability to control the ball and pass between the lines."I know it is not easy when you don't play regularly. He was really good against Plymouth, much better than today, but I am happy for him. It is not easy for the people in the middle when they defend low."
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
School harnessing power of AI to help pupils find a voice
Teachers at a County Down special school have harnessed the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to help their pupils find a voice. 14-year-old Keelan from Tor Bank School in County Down, for instance, uses AI to write his own songs. Tor Bank's ICT teacher Danielle Perry told BBC News NI that "our children learn in a very, very different way". "Although our kids don't have voices sometimes, it's making their creations come alive," she said. "When it comes to AI we have to be creative in how we use it." AI allows computers to learn and solve problems in ways that can seem human, though computers cannot think, empathise or reason. However, there have though, been concerns from musicians about the impact of AI on their work. Generative AI programmes mine, or learn, from vast amounts of data like text, images, or music online to generate new content which feels like it has been made by a human. Some universities have also found a rise in students using AI tools, such as Chat GPT, to cheat in exams and assessments. But at Tor Bank, Keelan uses AI to create his own music. He is a keen drummer and likes to write songs. "I like playing the drums because it helps my mind," he said. He added that working with AI had helped him to be creative. "It just makes all my favourite things into a song, I do like typing and then I like playing on the drums, drums are really good," he said. Keelan's teacher Sinéad Oakes said AI had prompted his creativity, not replaced it. "We've used AI in a way that he is able to write his own music," she said. "And then he plays the drums and sings along to that. "It's so creative and then in terms of how it has helped his emotional regulation throughout his school day, it has been phenomenal." Ms Oakes also said that using technology and AI was "a fab tool to use across the board with all of our young people". But, she said she had to "retrain" her mind to ensure AI was used for the benefit of her pupils. "I had to kind of learn how to use it myself before I teach our young people how to use it as well," she continued. She said that having a plan and a rationale, and a clear idea of how AI could help pupils was key. Danielle Perry said that while Keelan is using AI to create music, other pupils were using it to research and create presentations. The pupils use an AI application called Microsoft Copilot in class. "They're using it for topic research, they're using it to create colouring in pictures of designs that they have used," Ms Perry said. But she said that "really planning what we're doing, giving the children specific goals" was vital. "The children, all are the architects of their own learning - they're doing the learning first and then we're supporting them," Ms Perry said. "Each of our children learn so differently and they're all individuals. "I think, like anything, when new ideas come out we always have to look at 'is this suitable for the children that we teach?' "And sometimes it's not. "We have to think 'how can this best suit the children that we work with?'" Ms Perry said that for the children "it's not about computers taking over, it's very much about giving the children their creative role in that". "For us in a special school, it's still very human-led." For Sinéad Oakes, it is still "early days" for AI in the school. "It's something that we'll try and progress with as the years go on for sure," she said.
