Kevin Harvick criticized NASCAR’s current event calendar and car performance following last weekend’s Cup Series race at Iowa Speedway, where fan enthusiasm clashed with what he described as a lackluster on-track product. During his latest “Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour” episode, the former Cup champion voiced his concerns that both the schedule and the cars fall short for fans and drivers, directly aligning with the growing calls for change from figures like Denny Hamlin.
Reevaluating Race Locations and Frequency
Harvick’s primary criticism focused on the allocation of races to particular venues, arguing that some tracks, including those in Kansas, Michigan, Pocono, and Richmond, would benefit from hosting fewer events to maintain excitement and variety in the NASCAR Cup Series. He believes that rotating certain tracks off the schedule occasionally could help bring energy back when those venues return.
“I don’t think Kansas is a two-race town. I think Kansas is a one-race town. There’s just some of those markets that are one-race (markets). Michigan, Pocono, Richmond. I think that it’s okay to not go there every once in a while, too. I think that going back to those places adds that mystique of, ‘Oh, what’s it going to be like with this car?’ It’s all those things that you haven’t done in a while. Old becomes new again,”
—Kevin Harvick, Former Cup Series Champion
He continued to explain that experimenting with schedule changes could improve fan experiences at venues. Referencing Richmond and Pocono as examples, Harvick said taking a year off from a given track or reducing the number of races can lead to larger, more engaged crowds when events do return.
“If you skipped Richmond a year, I think everybody would be okay with that. Or if you skipped somewhere that had two races and moved that race for a year and saw how the crowd went, just like with Pocono. Have one race, pack it out, and you can go somewhere else. Iowa has always been a great place to race. I think that seeing the crowd and everything stacked around the outside. The ARCA crowd was good, the Xfinity crowd was good.”
—Kevin Harvick, Former Cup Series Champion
Criticisms of the Current NASCAR Car
While Harvick acknowledged the strong turnout and support from fans in Iowa, he insisted that on-track competition needs to improve, particularly with the current car. He argued that the vehicle design is limiting driver ability to pass and causing races to become dull, with teams relying more on fuel strategies and track position rather than racing skill to determine outcomes.
“The car sucks. It’s not fun to see the car not be able to pass like it needs to be,”
—Kevin Harvick, Former Cup Series Champion
The Iowa event, according to Harvick, turned into a race dominated by fuel mileage and track position instead of competitive, side-by-side racing. He pointed out that noticeable progress on car performance improvements is lacking, leaving him dissatisfied with recent changes.
Mixed Reactions on Car and Tire Performance
Harvick did acknowledge efforts made by Goodyear to improve tire quality, leading to more challenging and somewhat exciting conditions as the cars became harder to handle on Iowa’s rough surface. He appreciated that aspect but maintained that the spectacle suffers when races are reduced to strategic gambits rather than raw racing action, especially on short tracks.
“I think that Goodyear has done a good job in making the tires a little bit better. It wound up being exciting because it was edgy. Cars were hard to drive. The track is rough. The track’s got everything that it needs. But man, it’s tough to watch a fuel mileage race on a short track.”
—Kevin Harvick, Former Cup Series Champion
Harvick’s criticisms echo recent comments from fellow drivers, such as Denny Hamlin, who also voiced disappointment with the event and called for future changes. The fan response at Iowa Speedway was strong, but both veteran drivers and fans seem to agree that the actual racing product needs improvement to match the passionate atmosphere in the stands.
Uncertain Future for NASCAR’s Approach
The aftermath of the Iowa weekend leaves open questions about whether NASCAR will make changes to its schedule or car design. Harvick remains vigilant as the Cup Series heads to Watkins Glen in Upstate New York, maintaining hope that upcoming races can offer more excitement. For now, the debate raised by Kevin Harvick criticizing NASCAR schedule and cars continues to draw attention to the league’s direction and the voices of veteran competitors, fans, and key industry figures alike.
