In a nail-biting finish that saw Ryan Blaney steal the spotlight at the iconic Talladega Superspeedway, another narrative stole the conversation. Kevin Harvick, once the kingpin of the tracks, seems to be showing signs of age as he finds it harder to keep pace in the modern NASCAR era, according to NASCAR analyst Kyle Petty.

Sunday’s showdown witnessed an epic showdown between Kevin Harvick and Ryan Blaney, swapping leads, pushes, and hopes. With just two laps to go, it seemed like Harvick, now in his final full-time season, had it in the bag. Yet, as fate would have it, Blaney swooshed past, taking the win and leaving many to ponder if Harvick‘s reluctance to adopt new racing techniques cost him the title.

Kyle Petty’s take on Kevin Harvick’s style

In a recent episode of the NASCAR on NBC podcast, NASCAR legend Kyle Petty shared his insights into Kevin Harvick’s performance on superspeedways and how the game has evolved in recent years. Nate Ryan, the podcast host, initiated the discussion by acknowledging the Stewart-Haas Racing star’s limited success on superspeedways and inquiring about the changes that have occurred on these tracks. He pointed out that the strategy had shifted significantly towards track position battles, with fuel-only pit stops becoming more prevalent.

Petty stated in the podcast, “I just believe that Kevin came from a different style of racing and a little bit different style than that. And as he got older, and we all get older, he just wasn’t as willing to race that way. And today, he’s stuck it in there. He’s stuck it in there. And he was willing to race that way.

“But I don’t believe that there’s this magic switch that he could just flip and say, here I am. I’m ready to race with you guys. If this had been Atlanta, if this had been Charlotte, if this had been anywhere else, Kevin Harvick is king of the hill. No doubt about it.

“But I just don’t consider him that Speedway guy that we’ve seen other guys come in and take control of these races. And Aric Almirola is a great, great, great plate racer or a great, I would say, plate, great Speedway racer. He just rises to the top and he understands that aggression. But I just don’t believe Kevin understood it.”

It was a day of roaring engines and heart-stopping maneuvers. Blaney, with skill and just a pinch of luck, edged past Harvick by a whisker-thin 0.012 seconds, clinching the 2023 YellaWood 500.  

WATCH THIS STORY: Denny Hamlin Blames Tony Stewart for Letting Down Slowest Kevin Harvick

But apart from this, the NASCAR veteran also had some thoughts about the driving style of other drivers compared to Harvick, which is important in the current date. 

Has Kevin Harvick been able to adapt to changing times in NASCAR? 

Trending

Reality Struck Shane van Gisbergen Has His Playoffs Chances Cut Short Even Before His Full Time Debut in 2025

Martin Truex Jr. Urges Dale Earnhardt Jr. to Come Back for a Final Battle Despite His Off-Track Commitments

Dale Earnhardt Jr Skeptical About His New Found Partnership With Amazon as He Reminisces His Days With NBC

NASCAR Fans Back Kyle Busch’s Son’s Desperate Plea Amidst Denny Hamlin’s ‘Bad Luck’ Reluctance

Cole Custer Drops 5-Word Confession as He Hands Tony Stewart & Co Another Championship Crown

During the NASCAR on NBC podcast episode, Kyle Petty mentioned how Kevin Harvick has not evolved his style, unlike some of his fellow Ford drivers. He said, “I think the aggression at the front of the pack, it takes it up a totally different notch. It’s a different notch racing for 15th and 16th. And that’s a lot of things that we’ve been doing at the front is incredible. And we see it with Joey Logano. We’ve seen it with Brad Keselowski. We see it with those guys.” 

“When they get to the front, they’re not giving it up, dude. They’re not giving it up. They’re going to block inside. They’re going to block outside. They’re going to run you up towards the wall. They’re going to fake. They’re going to head fake. They’re going to do everything, man.” 

In the world of sports, legends are both born and fade away. Harvick’s recent performance at Talladega has surely sparked debates and discussions. With young blood taking center stage and veterans like Harvick fighting tooth and nail to hold their ground, NASCAR continues to offer riveting spectacles.

READ MORE: Kevin Harvick’s Farewell Tour Riddled With Chaos as Tony Stewart’s Team Misses Another Golden Opportunity