page_title: Will Rodgers
section_title: 2017: Breakthrough with Kevin Harvick
hierarchical_section_title: Will Rodgers / Racing career / 2017: Breakthrough with Kevin Harvick
caption_attribution_description: English: Will Rodgers during the 2017 Carneros 200.
context_page_description: Will Rodgers is an American professional stock car racing driver. He currently competes part-time in the ARCA Menards Series West, driving the No. 42 Chevrolet for Jefferson Racing, and part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 17W Chevrolet for Steve McGowan Motorsports.
context_section_description: Rodgers returned to the series in 2017, running full-time in the K&N Pro Series West for Jefferson Pitts Racing. He opened the season with four consecutive top-five finishes. At Sonoma, Rodgers qualified on pole position, earning his first career pole in the series. While he led early, Rodgers was eventually passed by 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick, finishing second. Rodgers said after the race, "For some funny reason, I had a feeling as far back as four weeks ago that it was going to be me and Kevin coming into turn 11 on the last lap. And sure enough, there we were. He ran a really good race, I learned a lot from him. We were able to lead some laps there in the beginning. It doesn't feel too bad to finish second today." Harvick, meanwhile, was impressed with Rodgers' performance, stating, "That was really what this was all about, to shine a little light on a kid like Will and race against him and give him the recognition he deserves. I want to keep supporting the series and bring that bright light on some of these kids who need the opportunity." The race became a turning point for Rodgers' career; in May 2018, Autoweek writer Matt Weaver argued that Rodgers had "gained more from his graceful defeat than if he had won the race without the participation of a Cup Series veteran." Rodgers spoke of the race as having done "wonders for my career. We got a lot of attention....I can't say enough about how helpful Kevin was. He put me on his radio show and told the world that he respected me. That was huge." Rodgers ran the rest of the season for Pitts' team, adding another second-place finish at Evergreen Speedway.
  Rodgers also ran the two road course races in the 2017 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season. Rodgers earned his first career K&N Series win at Watkins Glen International, holding off Rubén García Jr. after García hit the wall attempting to overtake him. After the race, Harvick, despite not participating in the event, visited Rodgers in Victory Lane to congratulate him on the win. Rodgers also won the second road course race of the season at New Jersey Motorsports Park.
caption: Rodgers crossing the start/finish line at Sonoma in 2017
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