Former NASCAR star Kevin Harvick criticizes Morgan Freeman's "unenthusiastic" Grand Marshal performance

Morgan Freeman underwhelmed former driver and current FOX broadcaster Kevin Harvick after his delivery as grand marshal at the 2025 Pennzoil 400 NASCAR race. Describing the performance from the actor as unexciting, he added that it felt like Freeman didn't want to be there.

16 March saw The Shawshank Redemption actor take on the famous NASCAR comments, "Drivers, start your engines." The 87-year-old, known for his distinctive voice, was expected to bring something unique to the role, but instead, Harvick thought he fell short.

During the latest episode of Kevin Harvick's Happy Hour, the retired NASCAR champion gave a blunt response to the actor's introduction.

“I’m just going to be honest with you, I thought his command was not very good,” Harvick admitted. “I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t that exciting.

"Just kind of came across as ‘Eh, I don’t want to be here.’ That’s how it felt to me. If you’re going to be the grand marshall and you’re going to give the command, you better bring the heat.”

Harvick wasn't alone in this, as fans of the sport gave mixed reviews of the performance.

Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford

Photo by: Jonathan Bachman - Getty Images

Ahead of the race, Freeman was excited for his role in the weekend via a press release. 

“I’m absolutely thrilled to be chosen as the grand marshal for this NASCAR race.

“It’s a true honor to be part of such an incredible tradition, and I can’t wait to see the energy, passion, and excitement that fills the track. Let’s rev up those engines and make this race unforgettable!”

Being grand marshal at a NASCAR event is a large task. The place is usually filled by a celebrity, athlete, or someone of public significance, with the Las Vegas Motor Speedway previously welcoming the likes of Tim Allen, Carroll Shelby, and Mark Wahlberg to the role.

It's worth noting that Freeman has been dealing with ongoing health issues that have likely affected his performance over the last weekend. After a car accident in 2008, he suffers from fibromyalgia, nerve damage, and chronic pain. As can be seen during this weekend, the actor wears a compression glove on his left hand to improve blood flow and reduce swelling.

Because of this, it would be unfair of us to complain. Instead, we congratulate Josh Berry who won his first Cup Series race.

"Oh, man, I don’t even know what to think. Just awesome," Berry said after his victory. "I love this track. Las Vegas has been so good to me. So many great moments here. We just battled and battled and battled. Man, it was our day. I just can’t believe it."