Was NASCAR in the wrong for not taking any action against Denny Hamlin at Richmond? Well, for the time being, there are two narratives out there. One by the driver himself, where he explained why he had to make an early dash. While there’s another by NASCAR who acknowledged Hamlin’s wrongdoings but still justified their judgment call for not interfering with the decision.
None of the two explanations has provided a concrete solution for a major loophole that Hamlin exploited during the race. Not to mention, there have been several opinions and views flooding in on the hot debate, but none of them came up with a solution. However, it seems like Kevin Harvick has come up with a solution backed by technology that will keep the drivers in check for the restarts.
Kevin Harvick suggests NASCAR should put a speed line in the restart zone
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NASCAR has been very clear about the car speeds while coming on and off the pit road. If in case the driver overshoots the speed limit, they provide them with a penalty. This has kept the drivers in check and, to a great extent, reduced the accidents and crashes on the pit road.
Speaking on the Happy Hour podcast, Harvick shared his thoughts on the controversial ruling and pitched in with a solution for the restart troubles. “Put a speed line there just like they do on pit roads, make the speed entering the box X amount, give them five miles an hour. Whatever the pace car speed is plus five miles an hour and put a line across the racetrack. And if you’re faster than that, with the length of the car that would be nose at the line of the restart zone, the computer can call a penalty at that particular point.”
He made his stand clear that provided NASCAR has drawn the line for the restart, any possible infringements or foul play should be called out. He even questioned NASCAR’s call in comparing Sunday’s event with a game of football. “I’m at; if you’re painting a line on the track, you should use the line. I mean, if your football team steps on the line, you’re out of bounds right? If the ball doesn’t cross the plane, is it a touchdown?”
Kevin Harvick has a suggestion on how to regulate restarts. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/47qg35eFDe
— HarvickHappyHour (@HarvickHappyPod) April 3, 2024
While he questioned NASCAR’s judgment, he was aware of the fact that the officials did not want to be involved in such a position. And he wants NASCAR to avoid tricky calls by tweaking the restart rules.
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Harvick wants NASCAR to avoid being in a situation of making close calls
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Denny Hamlin wasn’t kidding when he said that the drivers were getting smarter and more educated about the rules. It wasn’t just the case of Hamlin jumping the restart, but how the drivers behind the lead cars were acting suspiciously. Owing to these chaotic restarts and the pressure to police them, Kevin Harvick wants NASCAR to step away from making such fine calls and let the technology do the job for them.
“NASCAR doesn’t want to be in the position to have to make that call. My opinion is take yourself out of that position to make that call. You have a speed that enters the box and then it is what it is. It’s going to police itself at the point. I don’t want NASCAR in the middle of it anymore, and they don’t want to be in the middle of it any more than they are in,” Harvick added.
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Given the drama and chaos NASCAR has had to deal with in the past few days, something’s got to give in. Perhaps a rule change for the restarts is a need of the hour, or else we could be seeing other drivers following in Hamlin’s footsteps.
Read More: Denny Hamlin on His Controversial Restart – “I Wasn’t Going to Let Them Have an Advantage”