Kevin Harvick is proud of NASCAR’s stern inspection enforcement

Kevin Harvick: “I believe that this sport was built with an iron fist. There was always that France that was there to rule with an iron fist.”

On Friday, NASCAR had a few issues in the inspection line. Then on Sunday, pole sitter Kyle Larson was relegated to the back of the field and his car chief was ejected due to inspection failures.

These inspection hangups were mostly due to a change in the inspection process. NASCAR used a 4′ straight edge to tech the splitters of the race cars. In previous weeks, some teams had discovered a way around the rulebook by using shims on the bodies the warp the splitter in certain areas.

On Tuesday, ahead of Dover, NASCAR engaged in a conference call with the teams. They stated that they would be placing focus on the splitter and gave clear warning to the teams.

Despite that, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series field still showed up to the race track with splitters that weren’t in compliance. So, NASCAR enforced the rulebook and several teams were bitten throughout the weekend.

“I love that. And I’ll tell you why,” Kevin Harvick opened up his response on his ‘Happy Hours’ radio show via Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.

“I don’t care about your conference calls. I don’t care what you do during the week.”

“I believe that this sport was built with an iron fist. There was always that France that was there to rule with an iron fist. If it wasn’t a France it was whoever was in charge of that garage.”

“To me, I’m proud of Scott Miller and his guys. Because I felt like they drew a line in the sand. They banged their fists on the ground and they said, ‘That’s it. This is what we’re doing.’ ”

“There was no apologizing. There was no beating around the bush. They told them, ‘This is what it is.’ And they enforced it.”

“To me, that is what made NASCAR into what it is today. And I like that. I like that because I have a 5 year old and I believe that you have to treat him the same way.”

“Yes, I am relating us, myself included, in the garage. We will act like 5 year olds sometimes. You have to rule with that iron fist. I like when they draw a stern line in the sand.”

“The simple stuff. Let’s keep it simple by saying, ‘Here’s the line.’ There is no gray area. It’s either right or wrong. I think that all the teams will follow along because they know that’s not an area their gonna mess around with.”

Kevin Harvick went on to win the race at Dover International Speedway on Sunday.

Kevin Harvick in victory lane at Dover International Speedway
DOVER, DE – MAY 06: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John’s Ford, celebrates in victory lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series AAA 400 Drive for Autism at Dover International Speedway on May 6, 2018 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
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Related: Scott Miller explains the change in the way NASCAR inspects the splitters

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Kevin Harvick | Sirius XM NASCAR Radio | Dover | NASCAR

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