Kevin Harvick recently issued an apology following a public exchange of words with driver Denny Hamlin. The exchange began after Harvick called out Hamlin for claiming he wasn’t “in it mentally” after the Kansas race.
Following an eighth-place finish at the Kansas race, Hamlin revealed his frustration with his pit crew, citing them as a reason for his setbacks despite driving a fast car. He explained, as previously reported by Newsweek Sports:
“We should have won the race. We had the fastest car, but every time we get to the top three the caution comes out and we restart 15th, 20th. Can’t show how fast your car is when you’re back of the pack.
“All you can do is just keep making positions back up to the front over and over and over and eventually you just run out of laps and someone else wins.
Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Busch Light Harvick Ford, walks the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 04, 2023 in Avondale, Arizona. Kevin Harvick issues an apology to Denny Hamlin.
James Gilbert/Getty Images
“I’m not in it mentally, I can tell you that. There’s a lot of wires crossed and bolts loose at the moment. But what can you do? I’ll just do the best I can to drive the car and do my part.”
Following this, Harvick commented during his podcast, Harvick Happy Hour:
“I give up. Why in the world would you say that? Why in the world would you get out of the car and say that? Part of what you do as a race car driver is you have to be a poker player.
“When you have that driver’s suit on, you have to play the game and you can’t open your mouth to put yourself in positions to be in a worse spot than you already are.
“Even if you think it, don’t say that. It just blows me away that you would say that you’re not mentally into it after the race and just say… I just couldn’t imagine ever saying that. Never point the finger at something like that even if you’re not mentally into it.”
The exchange between Harvick and Hamlin escalated when Hamlin referenced a past critique Harvick made of his own pit crew in 2016. However, Harvick dismissed this comparison, insisting his focus was on the mental aspect. He has now explained in the latest episode of his podcast:
“Whatever it was, the dunk hit the rim and the ball’s at half-court because listen here, bud. We had nothing to do talking about your pit crew or anything like that.
“We were talking about your comments and being mentally focused. I love you, man, I love the way you drive the race car. I don’t like the things you said after the race, and that’s my job. I’m sorry.
“I don’t like the comments about the mental weakness. Had nothing to do with your pit crew. I appreciate the attempt to divert the comment in a different direction, but you said it. I didn’t.”
