Kevin Harvick addresses issues with current NASCAR driver behavior.
Kevin Harvick criticizes current NASCARdrivers after a series of high-profile altercations this season, urging a change in how drivers address on-track disputes. During his podcast, the former NASCAR Cup Series champion expressed dissatisfaction with the current approach, advocating for drivers to settle conflicts on the track rather than exchanging words over the radio.
Recent Feuds Spotlight Tensions in the Cup Series
This season, the NASCAR Cup Series has seen its share of confrontations, adding to a growing sense of tension. In June, Carson Hocevar and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. collided at the Cracker Barrel 400 in Nashville, leading to harsh accusations against Hocevar for aggressive driving. Earlier this month, Joey Logano and Ross Chastain were involved in a heated verbal exchange after the street race in Chicago. Such incidents have kept the focus on rivalries and driver conflicts, with reactions ranging from criticism to calls for stronger consequences.
Harvick’s Direct Challenge to NASCAR Drivers
Appearing on his podcast, Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour, Harvick directly addressed these conflicts and the broader culture of driver interactions. He made it clear that the sport’s current pattern of trash talking needs to be replaced with decisive action on the track. Harvick specifically called out the habit of using radio channels to voice frustrations without following up during races.
Image of: Kevin Harvick
“I don’t know about the fights, but if you’re going to call somebody out on the radio and you’re going to talk a bunch of [expletive], at least go do something, or immediately just hammer them,”
—Kevin Harvick, former NASCAR Cup Series champion
Harvick criticized drivers for making bold statements on the radio but failing to back them up with on-track action. He emphasized that real messages are sent through racing behavior, not just words.
“That’s one reason why, back when I drove, you just — every once in a while, you just had to wipe somebody out. You had to just send a message. You had a bunch of chaos — do you want to deal with the chaos, and do you want to get wiped out? Fine, let’s do it. But I don’t know that anybody is going to do that.”
—Kevin Harvick, former NASCAR Cup Series champion
The Call for Action and What It Means for NASCAR
While Harvick stopped short of advocating for complete chaos, his comments suggest that a measured amount of rivalry and on-track retaliation could reinvigorate the sport. As a FOX Sports NASCAR Raceday broadcaster and former driver, Harvick brings a seasoned perspective, arguing that drivers are more likely to police one another successfully when their words translate into real consequences during the races themselves.
The next Cup Series event is scheduled for July 20 at Dover International Speedway, where drivers such as Carson Hocevar, Joey Logano, Ross Chastain, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will have an opportunity to show how they respond to increasing scrutiny and calls for action. The ongoing debate about handling driver disputes keeps fans like football fans, media personalities such as Paul Finebaum, and figures like Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Olivia Dunne invested in the evolving culture of NASCAR.
The intensity and agitation in Harvick’s statements reflect broader frustrations within the sport as officials, broadcasters, and fans consider how to balance entertainment, rivalry, and sportsmanship moving forward. As drivers grapple with Harvick’s challenging remarks, the coming races will reveal whether his appeal to action changes the tone of NASCAR competition or fuels even more contentious rivalries on track.
