The New Hampshire race was a lot different from the rest and, in fact, at one point, it didn’t look like the race was going to come to an end. When NASCAR halted the race for two hours, only an hour’s worth of sunlight remained and it seemed like the 80 remaining laps wouldn’t be completed. But NASCAR had a plan, and well it did work- at least for the most part! But what was their big plan?

NASCAR decided to wait it out for the rain to subside. Then they dried off the water on the track and decided to get the race started with the wet tires. But there were many things different.

For example, NASCAR hadn’t given the teams any autonomy to strategize when it comes to wet tires. They also allowed teams to refuel, which was a major red flag to most fans and veterans. Plus, they ignored a very crucial safety aspect before going green, which could have led to a major accident! And Kevin Harvick, like many others, had things to say.

Kevin Harvick schools NASCAR

No one can deny that without the wet tires, the race that happened in New Hampshire wouldn’t have been a possibility. Although they were not really racing in the rain like F1, but rather racing on damp tracks; still a huge development. Moreover, it’s only the second time around them using these tires and the fact that they could complete the race without major problems is a huge plus. But veteran Kevin Harvick still thinks that there is still a huge room for improvement.

The first issue, according to him, is the fact that NASCAR interfered with the wet-tire say. Kevin Harvick in his podcast Happy Hour said, “There is way too much low-hanging fruit right here with the rain tires and strategy and everything that we have to make this so interesting that everybody wants to watch.”

And according to Harvick, NASCAR interfering does not help at all. If anything, it only removes all the excitement from the entire event. He also added that it’s okay for NASCAR to continue with non-competitive tires, but they should let drivers come in and pit. If drivers want to put rain tires on and pit non-competitively, they should be allowed to do so. According to Harvick, this approach would keep the race dynamic and exciting.

For him, NASCAR’s micromanagement of wet tire usage takes away from the strategic aspect that could enhance the excitement of races for drivers and spectators. And this seems justified given that rains provide an awesome ground for teams to build strategies and NASCAR taking that space up does no justice to what could have been a great race.

Harvick also pointed out a crucial aspect that might have gone amiss by many–the pit road. NASCAR was busy the entire time drying out the race course for action. But the pit road–no one cared about. And according to Harvick, it is dangerous! Anything could happen, the car could slide and it could seriously injure the pit crew. The solution? The crew should remain on the safe side of the wall until the cars come to a complete stop in their pit boxes according to Harvick.

Denny Hamlin amplifies Kevin Harvick’s concerns

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The former SHR Cup champion, Harvick, isn’t the only one concerned about pit lane safety. Joe Gibbs Racing star Denny Hamlin, too, has expressed concerns about the same. After all, he was in the bad stick of the receiving end at the race! According to him, NASCAR should go about drying off the pit lane first. First due to safety, of course, and secondly, due to the fact that drying the pit lane first would have given the drivers a chance to switch to the dry tires and take an added advantage of the dry line. 

He said in the podcast, “If pit road is not safe, that’s why we had non-competitive pit stops, then you shouldn’t restart the race until pit road is safe. Do whatever drying you need to do to pit lane and make that safe. Maybe that should be the priority when they go back to drying the facility.”

The wet weather tire, or rather damp weather experiment, is still a successful one. The fact that NASCAR even attempted this and got it right is a commendable job. The major concern for most remains NACSAR’s interference and that too, apparently, won’t be going on for too long.

NASCAR will soon be out of the ‘tire business.’ Elton Sawyer mentioned that NASCAR plans to hand over the tire aspect to the teams and is, right now, just ensuring that the transition is cushioned. According to him, they want to get it done, “in the safest way possible.” Is it though?