Hear from the sanctioning body as the feud continued in the NASCAR Playoff race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course
Several weeks ago, Kevin Harvick got loose under Chase Elliott as they ran three wide through lap traffic while racing for the lead at the action track of Bristol Motor Speedway. Harvick took over the lead as Elliott suffered a flat tire after the contact.
Elliott pitted under green and fell three laps down. He then passed Harvick, putting him 2 laps down. As he drove by the leader, he made contact with his door.
The headaches were just beginning for Harvick. Elliott, was now much faster on fresh tires and he could put his car anywhere he wanted. He chose to park it just a car length ahead of Harvick and force the leader to run in dirty air.
Harvick burned up his tires as he searched around the track. Kyle Larson, teammate to Elliott got a run on Harvick with under 5 laps to go. Larson drove it deep to the bottom in turn three, slid Harvick for the lead and they rubbed doors off turn four.
After the race, Harvick and Elliott climbed from their cars. Pushing and shouting soon followed.
Related: NASCAR drivers Chase Elliott, Kevin Harvick feud at Bristol (Video)
After Bristol, Harvick was clear that the feud likely wasn’t over. He also stated that speaking to Elliott was similar to speaking to his 9-year-old son.
Related: Kevin Harvick calls Chase Elliott childish after private Bristol conversation
Kevin Harvick vs Chase Elliott: Charlotte ROVAL
On Sunday, NASCAR unloaded in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL hosted a playoff elimination race. 12 playoff drivers entered the event, only 8 would advance.
In stage three, Harvick drove into the rear bumper of Elliott and sent him into the wall. Elliott attempted to turn Harvick directly after the impact but he swung and missed.
Elliott hit the pit lane with major damage and sat under the playoff cutline. However, the team was able to repair the car and meet minimum speed. The deck lid was knocked off but the car was still one of the fastest machines on the track.
The No. 9 team formed a tentative plan on the radio to spin Harvick. As Harvick sat one spot above the cutline, wrecking Harvick would place Elliott back into the playoffs.
As the race continued, another caution gave the team time for more repairs. It also allowed Elliott to catch the tail of the field. As they went back racing, Elliott drove it into the top 20.
The defending NASCAR champion was closing on Harvick in the process. With 11 laps to go, he was suddenly within a car length of Harvick entering turn one. Harvick drove it deep in the corner, likely to make it difficult for Elliott to get to his bumper.
However, Harvick drove it too deep. He locked up the front wheels and missed the corner. Harvick slammed the wall, wrecking himself and ending his day.
“Karma,” Elliott radio.
After the ROVAL, Harvick was eliminated from the NASCAR Playoffs. Elliott advanced.
Harvick hinted the contact with Elliott was deliberate saying, “Sometimes, life teaches you good lessons.”
On the other end, Elliott wished Harvick a, “Merry off-season.”
Related: Kevin Harvick wrecks Chase Elliott at Charlotte ROVAL (Video)
NASCAR will have another conversation with Kevin Harvick and Chase Elliott after ROVAL crash
NASCAR has already spoken to Chase Elliott and Kevin Harvick after Bristol. Now, they’ll have to do it again.
“We kinda brought that racetrack back to a Martinsville type situation with close confines,” Scott Milles stated after the NASCAR Cup Series race on the Charlotte ROVAL.
“Chase put a pretty aggressive pass on Kevin. And, Kevin tried something, it didn’t work out.”
“We definitely have something brewing between those two. We spoke to them after the thing at Bristol. We’ll circle around, I don’t know if we’ll talk to them together or individually to see where they are right now.”
“But, we don’t need that continuing on. We’ll do what we think is necessary to get that one calmed down.”
Related: NASCAR reacts to Chase Elliott, Kevin Harvick confrontation after Bristol
When does NASCAR decide to take it beyond conversation with the drivers?
“It can’t be a blanket statement,” Miller added.
“Every situation is different. Now, Bristol one felt slighted. After yesterday, the other feels slighted on.”
“Hopefully we can put a truce in place there. We’ll just continue to monitor the situation and try not to let it get out of control.”
“We don’t want to park anybody. We want all the fans to see the drivers that they came out to see. That would be a last resort.”
Miller concluded, “But, you know, if we keep seeing things we will absolutely have to take some sort of action.”
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Chase Elliott | Kevin Harvick | Charlotte Motor Speedway | NASCAR
