Kevin Harvick has never been one to back down from a fight. Whether it is on or off the track. Over the years, the former NASCAR Cup champion has been at the center of some of the sport’s most intense rivalries. From trading barbs and bumpers with Kyle Busch to his on-track dust-up with Joey Logano, Harvick’s competitive streak has fueled countless headlines. But perhaps his most memorable rivalry in recent years was with Chase Elliott.

Yes, we are talking about the same rivalry that divided the NASCAR fanbase and made Harvick a prime target for Elliott’s passionate supporters. Now that Harvick’s retired, he has revisited that chapter of his career, and has recounted how Elliott’s fans reacted during the height of their feud. With a mix of humor and self-awareness on the Happy Hour Podcast, Harvick described how timid fans would hurl insults—only once they thought they were out of earshot.

Kevin Harvick started with some of the most memorable feuds of his career. He didn’t just talk about the drama that unfolded on the track with Elliott, he also offered a hilarious glimpse into how Elliott’s fanbase reacted.

“When Chase Elliott and I had that beef, his fans… they’d wait till you walked by and then yell, ‘You s—-, Harvey!’” Harvick said, clearly amused by the memory.

This was a crazy night at Bristol when Tyler Reddick was just 2 pts. behind, while Elliott and Harvick faced each other in the pit road, climbing out of the cars and walking all charged up towards each other. As the No. 5 (Kyle Larson) did his victory donuts, the two were seen shouting at each other. Harvick was very angry when Elliott tried to explain what went down. That was typical Bristol for you!

Speaking of the same, Harvick also explained that these encounters became a regular occurrence whenever he crossed paths with Elliott’s younger fans. “My favorite part was the very young ones or the timid ones,” Harvick said. “They didn’t really wanna say anything until I walked by, and then they’d shout something at me when they thought I wouldn’t notice.” His response?

Turning around to catch them off guard. “I’d say, ‘Oh, you couldn’t say it to my face?’ And they’d be like, ‘Uhhhh… not really,’” Harvick laughed, recalling how quickly their confidence would disappear. But hey, this is NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver we are talking about.

While Kevin Harvick has clashed with many drivers over the years, his rivalry with Elliott during the 2021 season stands out. Purely because of the sheer intensity and the massive fan response it generated! “Elliott’s got a lot of fans,” Harvick admitted. “And at first, I was pretty defensive about it. I probably bit back more than I should have.” But as time went on, Harvick learned to have fun with the situation. He turned it into something he could play along with rather than take personally, as Harvick mentioned on the podcast.

Ultimately, Harvick views these rivalries and the fan reactions they inspire as part of what makes NASCAR exciting. “You’ve gotta have fun with it,” he said, emphasizing that he no longer takes it personally. After all, in a sport built on competition and big personalities, rivalries are just as important as the races themselves.

Kevin Harvick’s run-in with another driver’s fanbase

Chase Elliott’s fans aren’t the only ones who have a beef with Kevin Harvick. Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s loyal fanbase once took their frustrations to extreme levels after a dramatic showdown at Martinsville in 2011. With just four laps to go, Harvick snatched the victory from Earnhardt Jr., leaving Junior Nation heartbroken and furious. The former knew that he would be the bad guy for causing the big upset. But, what he didn’t anticipate was having a group of Earnhardt Jr. showing up at his home in Kernersville, NC, later that night.

Standing in his driveway, the angry fans shouted insults and taunts, hoping to rattle Harvick. It was an intimidating situation that could have easily spiraled out of control. But Harvick, known for his quick wit and calm under pressure, didn’t flinch. Instead, he rolled down his window and flashed his newly won trophy as if nothing had happened. “I just waved and showed them the trophy and drove in my gate,” he explained.

The bold move left the crowd stunned and without a response. Kevin Harvick’s reaction turned a tense moment into yet another example of how he embraces chaos with style. For him, rivalries, even when they spill into his personal life, are just part of the sport’s colorful fabric. And in true Harvick fashion, he always knows how to have the last word.