Kevin Harvick feels that instead of following the usual venues every weekend, NASCAR should head to smaller, regional short tracks more often, in order to truly connect with a wider range of fans. 

Along with fellow FOX broadcaster Kaitlyn Vincie and former ARCA driver Mamba Smith, Harvick reflected on the recent Truck Series event at Lime Rock Park, praising it, while also stating that NASCAR is overlooking large pockets of passionate fans across the United States.

“We need to go to some of these places with the rest of the series, but I want to see them in other places because we have so many fans, we talk about it on here all the time, that live in these little pockets of the country that want NASCAR," he said.

"The Truck Series is... I look at all the people all over the place. The crowd was awesome. They have these markets all around the country that we could take the Truck Series to and put on great shows, with great crowds and people to attend the races. I love when they go do this.” 

Kaitlyn Vincie also chimed in on the show, adding the unique experience for fans on the track. She highlighted that fans watch from the hillsides, because there are no seats, which makes things even more special. 

Smith proposed that NASCAR should visit areas like the Pacific Northwest or New England, combining Truck Series races with local championships such as the CARS Tour West or regional Modified series. 

While Harvick spoke of the reality that comes with television contracts, Smith suggested a collaborative effort between NASCAR, tracks and broadcasters, to bring the Truck Series back to more short tracks while filling grandstands that often sit partially empty during Friday afternoon races.

“I understand it's a it's about money, right? Let's as a industry together to go up in general as an industry let's get together and kind of and work on this collectively to fix it because there is a lot of meat being left on the bone in other regions that we don't get to just totally ignoring regions.”

Tensions in the No.24 Hendrick Motorsport team

In the same podcast, the race weekend at Echopark Speedway was also discussed, the heated verbal exchange between William Byron and crew chief Rudy Fugle in particular. Shortly before the rain delay, Byron expressed frustration with the car’s balance on Lap 90. This then turned into a heated exchange, Fugle snapping back at the driver.

Harvick feels that such an aggressive conflict is not something one would typically associate with a duo that has been together for many years. He then suggested it is an outcome of the pressures following a not-so-ideal year so far, with just six races to go before the Chase. 

“I'm worried because this is not normal, Rudy Fugle and William Byron on the radio, and I would assume that we might have some ‘milk-and-cookies’ conversations coming at Hendrick Motorsports because you can tell they're out of character. 

"When you're not running good and things are not going well, and the communication is not good, with drivers complaining and the crew chief snapping, that's when things are not right in the shop or at the hauler on the racetrack.”

Read more on the Daytona Racing Digest! 

Written by

Aaradhya Singh

Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason