Kevin Harvick has expressed ongoing worries about Ford fire issues following a dramatic incident at the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol, where Josh Berry’s Ford vehicle caught fire. Citing repeated reliability problems, Harvick underscored the persistent risks affecting Ford teams, highlighting that such incidents put drivers and playoff hopes at risk. The focus keyword, “Kevin Harvick Ford fire concerns,” remains at the center as Ford faces scrutiny after the latest race weekend.
Harvick Raises Alarm After Ford Fire at Bristol Race
On his Happy Hour podcast, Kevin Harvick spoke out after Josh Berry’s No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford filled with smoke and ignited before the end of the first stage at Bristol Motor Speedway. This frightening event occurred during a critical playoff race for Berry, resulting in a dangerous situation as his car became engulfed in smoke and fire, leading to his early elimination from contention.
Harvick turned attention to Ford’s pattern of fire issues with the Next Gen car, referencing his longstanding frustrations.
Well, there’s something that hasn’t changed since I quit driving. The car, the Fords, still catch on fire,
Harvick said while breaking down the Bristol incident.
He suggested that the design and layout of Ford’s exhaust system leave its cars more prone to fires than those from Toyota and Chevrolet.
So I think that with all the rubber and everything with their exhaust pipes and everything that they have going on, it sure seems like the Fords are definitely catching on fire a lot easier than the other two manufacturers with whatever they have.
— Kevin Harvick, former NASCAR driver.
First-Hand Accounts of a Dangerous Situation
Harvick described the distressing scene from Berry’s perspective, reflecting on the severity of the fire and the dangers encountered by the driver.
This is a scary deal right here. Josh rode this thing out for a while. You can see that he can’t see the pit stall. And being in that position before with it when it starts burning all the carbon fiber and the foam and everything that is right there at the exhaust pipes, it is nasty smoke,
he added, referencing past personal experience at the track.
Berry, driving for Wood Brothers Racing, found himself struggling to maneuver through thick smoke as he tried to return to pit road, emphasizing how quickly such failures can escalate in the heat of competition.
Berry’s Series of Setbacks and the Growing Pattern for Ford
The fire at Bristol followed a series of setbacks for Josh Berry during the NASCAR Playoffs. His postseason run started with a spin at Darlington, was interrupted by a crash at Gateway, and ended with the fiery exit at Bristol. Each incident led to disappointing last-place finishes in the opening three playoff races, officially marking the end of his 2025 Cup campaign.
Beyond this single event, Ford’s fire issues are not isolated. Teams running Ford vehicles have suffered recurring mechanical failures involving fire, particularly since the debut of the Next Gen car. While NASCAR has tried to address these problems with technical adjustments to the exhaust and underbody areas, questions remain about whether Ford’s fixes are sufficient, as rival manufacturers like Toyota and Chevrolet show fewer such incidents.
Implications for Ford and the NASCAR Garage
Harvick’s frequent warnings place renewed pressure on Ford and their racing teams to improve vehicle reliability and driver safety, especially as the season progresses and competition intensifies. His remarks, particularly the assertion that Ford “still catches on fire,” highlight a broader sentiment within the NASCAR garage that Ford may be lagging behind other major manufacturers in addressing these dangers.
As the season continues and the playoffs move forward, Ford teams will be under close scrutiny to solve these persistent reliability challenges and protect drivers from further incidents. The coming races will test whether changes by Ford and NASCAR can effectively address these fire concerns, or whether Harvick’s pointed criticisms will remain a recurring theme on the circuit.
