It seems Kevin Harvick is not one to give up a grudge so easily! While the veteran has severed his relation to the steering wheel, many have opined last year’s Darlington debacle with Tyler Reddick is still fresh in his mind. Just two weeks ago, after Reddick won the first race of the season at Talladega, Kevin Harvick was all compliments about the #45’s sharp potential. But his latest comments hint that he might still be hung up on the events of last year’s Southern 500 at Darlington.

Harvick bid adieu to NACSAR last year after 23 years on the track. Since then he has been a part of Fox’s NASCAR broadcasting team. And during NASCAR’s throwback weekend in Darlington, he didn’t shy away from what he thought of Reddick’s new look.

“I don’t like Reddick’s mustache,” Kevin Harvick still hung up on the past

During the throwback weekend, Reddick decided to switch up his look before qualifying by shaving off his beard and sporting only a mustache. His look was a nod to Tim Richmond and so was his throwback paint scheme on his #45 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota car. 

However, Kevin Harvick wasn’t feeling the new vibe. Up in the booth, when the topic came up, the former SHR driver threw out a zinger, “I don’t like Tyler Reddick’s mustache… he looks like Luigi.“ His fellow broadcast partner Mike Joy jumped in with, “From Mario Kart???“ While the comment lightened the mood, it could be possible that Harvick is still holding a grudge from last year’s race. What added more fuel to the fire was what Kevin Harvick also mentioned during the broadcast about Reddick. “I don’t like Tyler Reddick..,” the former SHR racer reportedly said.

Interesting fact: This wasn’t the first time Reddick’s Darlington appearance had a Tim Richmond reference. In 2018, his JR Motorsports No. 9 Chevrolet in the Xfinity Series adopted the Old Milwaukee colors and sponsorship from Richmond’s three years (1983-85) with Beadle’s team.

Perhaps his hostility is rooted in last year’s Southern 500 when, with about 50 laps left, Kevin Harvick was right behind Tyler Reddick, gunning for the lead. Harvick decided to pit, and just as he did, Reddick also slowed down—apparently trying to duck into pit road too—and ended up crashing into Ryan Newman.

That move from Reddick triggered a caution right as Harvick was nearing the pit road line, and the caution lights flashed on, signaling that the pit road was closed. Harvick went ahead with his pit stop anyway, explaining later that he “didn’t think I could turn right” in time to avoid entering. And the incident landed him a penalty, forcing him to pit again and putting him a lap down. 

Harvick did manage to claw back to finish P19 and stay on the lead lap, but the outcome was a tough pill to swallow, knowing what could have been. Even Rodney Childers, Harvick’s crew chief, didn’t mince words about their frustration afterward.

Speaking to Frontstretch, he laid the blame on Reddick, “It all happened because the #45 (Tyler Reddick) tried to do something it shouldn’t have. That part’s the more disappointing thing. I also see the reasoning and I also see why he did it and all that. It’s part of racing. Hate that it happened, we had a strong car and could’ve should’ve.”