Retiring Icon Kevin Harvick Takes a Subtle Jab at NASCAR’s Controversial Approach: “You Don’t Win Them Like [Dale] Earnhardt Did”

In the realm of NASCAR, no topic ignites more fervent discussions and impassioned debates than the championship format. The subject isn’t merely contentious; it wears the crown as NASCAR’s most detested element. This achievement is no small feat in a world brimming with controversies and daily shenanigans. Fans, pundits, and drivers alike have voiced opposition to this alteration, expressing their disdain without reservation.

Recently, as the NASCAR community descended upon Florida for the regular season finale at Daytona, a pre-race press conference turned into a platform for a retiring racing legend to lay bare his unfiltered thoughts on the system. With pointed verbal jabs, he fearlessly criticized NASCAR’s approach, shedding light on the deep-seated frustrations that have long simmered within the sport’s core.

Kevin Harvick’s candid insights on NASCAR’s championship format

Since its 2004 inception, NASCAR’s championship format has navigated a labyrinth of revisions. Shifting lanes akin to a deft driver on a serpentine circuit, the format’s evolution has been relentless. Before 2003, simplicity reigned: the driver amassing the most championship points secured the coveted title.

Then emerged the ‘Chase for the Cup’ system, unfortunately chasing away devoted fans into a frenzy. Engineered to magnify winning over “having a good points day,” this new system distilled into one line: win the final race, claim the championship. Yet, the path to the ultimate season finale is riddled with nuances.

The playoff point system sifts drivers from the regular season to a playoff round of 16, culminating in a championship 4 showdown—a quartet racing to the checkered flag for glory.

This approach extols last-minute heroics over season-long steadiness, occasionally spawning controversies. The 2020 season showcased a glaring injustice: Kevin Harvick, a season dominator and regular-season champion, was shockingly absent from the championship 4.

Consigned to 5th in the standings, Harvick was unjustly deprived of a deserved title shot due to a solitary misstep prior to the Championship 4 at Martinsville. As he nears retirement, trading the wheel for an announcer’s mic in the FOX Sports booth, the Stewart Hass Racing driver minced no words when dissecting this intricate format.

During the presser, when queried about the current championship format and the merits and drawbacks of the current approach, the Stewart-Haas Racing driver wittily remarked, “Well, you don’t win them like Earnhardt did.”

With a seasoned perspective, he acknowledged the entertainment factor that drives the format’s excitement, stating, “We’re definitely in the entertainment business to make things exciting.” He went on to highlight the system’s unique nature, emphasizing that the final race doesn’t necessarily encapsulate the entire year’s performance, citing instances from his own career.

Read more: “Hard to Say What’s Fair or Foul” – Kevin Harvick Sticks by Fellow Veteran Denny Hamlin When Asked About Pocono

Harvick’s words were laced with insight as he recounted, “I think our years are definitely probably proof of that just because of the fact in ’14 we won the right race. In ’15 we didn’t win the right race. In ’20 we didn’t win the right race.”

He acknowledged the cyclic nature of success within the system, straddling both sides of the debate: “I could see it both ways. I’m gonna sit on the other side of the fence and want it exciting.” As a seasoned competitor, he recognized the complexities of the long season culminating in a single race, expressing, “It’s a long season and there’s a lot to it to come down to one race.”

Insights from insiders, spotters weigh in on championship format evolution

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Adding another perspective to the discourse, experienced spotters entrenched in the racing world shared their insights on the podcast, Door Bumper Clear. Bubba Wallace‘s spotter Freddie Kraft shared, “From a fan perspective, this is the best format we’ve ever had.” Yet, as a lifelong racer, he advocated for a return to a season-long championship, regardless of early clinches.

“From a true racer – that I’ve grown up being a racer my whole life, my dad was a racer – you know, I would rather see a season-long, and I don’t care if the guy wraps it up with five races left; you are the season-long champion. Matt Kenseth kind of ruined that by just being ultra-consistent one year and not winning a race and kicking everybody’s.”

Brett Griffin chimed in with a counterpoint, playing devil’s advocate, acknowledging the format’s potential downsides. He remarked on the often-hyped excitement of the final race at Phoenix, juxtaposing it with disappointing TV ratings. Freddie Kraft responded, “I don’t know that that doesn’t have a lot to do with where we’re having that race at because Jamie McMurray came on this podcast and said we haven’t had a good race in Phoenix since 1989.”

In the midst of these diverse viewpoints, perhaps Dale Jr. captured the essence best: “Should one season come down to this three-hour window?”

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