NASCAR – Kevin Harvick defends after Talladega

The finale of the last event of the Contender Round last weekend at Talladega, Alabama ended with a Big One involving several cars including that of the outgoing champion Kevin Harvick (Stewart-Haas Racing? Chevrolet), putting an end to the race even before the restart under the green-white-checkered finish regime, offering victory at the same time à Joey Logano (Team Penske? Ford) and validating Harvick's qualification for the Eliminator Round.

A conclusion that raised questions among competitors, notably Trevor Bayne, caught in the contact with Harvick that initiated the final chaos. “It's an inglorious way for Harvick to continue in the Chase by crashing into someone, I think on purpose. Maybe that wasn't the case? At the previous restart, he had engine problems and went off the line. I think he realized that if a yellow flag came out, he would get away with it..." explained the Roush Fenway Racing driver.

The reigning Sprint Series champion insisted on defending himself from any voluntary act during a media event on the sidelines of the Eiminator Round which will begin this weekend in Martinsville, Virginia. "I didn't cause the first crash, and I definitely don't believe I caused the second. It's just one of those situations where I did the best I could on the restart. I never really saw (Bayne's) No. 6 until he was next to me. »

NASCAR released a press release yesterday indicating that after investigation, it had found no reason to impose penalties at the end of the Talladega race, thereby exonerating Harvick.

Find the report of the Talladega event, in issue 2035 of AUTOhebdo, available now in digital version, and on newsstands.