Kevin Harvick Upset Multiple Drivers at Roval, According to Radio Communication, Including a Vicious Shot From Ryan Blaney: ‘F*** Him’
The feud between Kevin Harvick and Chase Elliott has been the talk of NASCAR for weeks. On Sunday at the Charlotte Roval, the 2014 Cup Series champion finally delivered on his threat to retaliate against the reigning champion. The reaction from the drivers and their teams was swift — and in one case, severe.
During this week’s “Radioactive” segment on NASCAR Race Hub, fans got a true behind-the-scenes listen of what those not involved in the conflict were thinking, not only when Harvick dumped Elliott but also when Harvick unceremoniously dumped himself later in the race. And Ryan Blaney didn’t hold back.
Kevin Harvick dumps Chase Elliott and himself
After Kevin Harvick and Chase Elliott had several on-track incidents at Bristol, it turned into a pair of face-to-face confrontations, first on pit road, before eventually moving into the garage area. During that second exchange of words, the Stewart-Haas driver threatened the Hendrick Motorsports driver with retaliation, suggesting he would “just run you the f*** over.”
On Sunday at the Charlotte Roval, Harvick delivered. Early in Stage 3, he intentionally hit Elliott, sending the No. 9 crashing into the wall, severely damaging his car.
However, in a major plot twist with less than 15 laps to go in the race, Harvick felt the pressure with Elliott closing and just a few car lengths behind, and he crashed into the wall by himself, ending his day and playoff hopes.
He finished 33rd. Elliott finished 12th and advanced to the Round of 8.
Ryan Blaney and other drivers respond to both incidents
Since the feud between Harvick and Elliott started at Bristol, other drivers have been asked and offered their thoughts on the brewing conflict. Joey Logano, who has his own history with Harvick, including the famous “wife wears the firesuit” remark, said if he were Elliott, “he’d be nervous.”
During Sunday’s race, Logano’s spotter Coleman Pressley informed the Penske driver that Harvick had dumped Elliott.
“Oh! They’re even now, aren’t they? Holy s***!” Logano replied.
“I guess Harvick paid the #9 back. Took him out of the chase,” team owner Richard Childress said.
“Oh damn, that thing’s killed,” Ryan Blaney said after seeing Elliott’s car. “Wow.”
Interestingly, Blaney offered a more severe reaction when informed later in the race that Harvick had crashed himself into the wall.
“Good. F*** him,” he said.
Austin Dillon’s spotter Brandon Benesch also had little sympathy for Harvick’s misfortune.
“No. 4 just walled himself like an idiot,” Benesch said.
“They were probably telling him the No. 9 was behind him,” Dillon’s crew chief Justin Alexander replied.
Elliott not only driver unhappy with Kevin Harvick
While Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney have been friends for years off the track, including a trip to Ireland together in 2018, which might explain the Penske driver siding with Elliott, according to Kyle Busch, Harvick upset other drivers throughout the race.
“The 4 was ’bout running over everybody. He didn’t make very many friends out there today,” Busch admitted. “That just kind of goes to show what you’ve got to do in these races and it doesn’t matter whose feelings you hurt and what’s going to come back on you next week. We saw it with me last year. The #4 dumped me in Martinsville. Can’t say that I’ve been guilty of that yet. There’s some dirty dudes out there.”
Happy Harvick lived up to his nickname on Sunday at Charlotte. And karma responded.
Like Sportscasting on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter @sportscasting19.
