Kevin Harvick has openly criticized NASCAR code word strategies, voicing strong frustration after Denny Hamlin’s pit road miscommunication led to costly penalties at Texas Motor Speedway over the weekend. The situation unfolded when Hamlin, after a disappointing prior race at Talladega, was penalized for speeding on pit road, losing valuable track position and momentum just as he was looking to recover his season.
During Sunday’s race, Hamlin’s afternoon began to unravel when he made two trips down pit road. The chaos started with multiple team members conversing simultaneously on the radio and using the code word “Cowboys.” Hamlin later vented his confusion over the radio, highlighting the problem that sparked his penalty.
“You can’t call a team that’s the same f***ing name as another …. Never mind,”
Hamlin exclaimed.
“You boys were talking over each other, and I heard ‘Cowboys,’ and obviously I looked at my card.”
Not only did the code word debacle result in a penalty, but Hamlin’s woes continued as his engine caught fire during Stage 1, effectively ending his hopes for a redemption run in Texas. This series of unfortunate events set the stage for Kevin Harvick to step in and give his perspective on how such strategies can go wrong at the highest levels of motorsport.
On his podcast, Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour, the former Cup Series champion didn’t hold back. Harvick said,
“I hate the code words. I know a lot of them use the code words. I feel like it’s follow the leader in some of those scenarios. I never like — we screwed the code word up one time and I’m like, ‘We’re done with code words.’ Just tell me when to pit.”
Harvick further explained his philosophy with pointed urgency,
“We’re going to put two or four tires on. Don’t really care. Just say it. I don’t — if they want to copy our strategy, that’s fine. Let’s beat them out of the pits.”
Kevin Harvick’s criticism comes from personal experience, reflecting a broader sentiment among some drivers that clear, direct communication is far more effective than relying on secrecy and complex strategies. For Harvick, a single mistake using code words was all it took to abandon the practice entirely. He emphasized that, rather than complicating decisions with code words, teams should focus on efficiency and execution in the heat of the moment.
The incident at Texas has ignited fresh debate about NASCAR’s communication tactics, and Harvick’s comments carry added weight as teams look for any legal edge in a fiercely competitive environment. Hamlin, having suffered the consequences firsthand, now faces pressure to regroup and move forward, especially with Kansas Speedway coming up. The question remains whether teams will heed Kevin Harvick’s advice or continue to push the envelope with layered strategies.
As the championship battle intensifies, the significance of clear pit strategy and error-free communication is front and center. Kevin Harvick’s strong words have amplified concerns that NASCAR code word strategies, instead of protecting secrets, can sometimes backfire, hurting the very teams that try to leverage them. What happens next may shape how top teams handle critical moments in the future, as drivers like Denny Hamlin seek redemption on the track and Kevin Harvick’s critique continues to echo throughout the racing community.
