Kevin Harvick reasserts innocence, not bothered by criticism

Defending series champion Kevin Harvick reiterated again Tuesday that he did not mean to cause the controversial wreck that ended Sunday’s playoff elimination race at Talladega Superspeedway and assured he advanced in the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

Four drivers publicly criticized Harvick Sunday after he clipped Trevor Bayne and triggered a chain-reaction on a restart with two laps remaining. At the time, Harvick was running 10th and dealing with an expiring engine, and had there not been a caution, he likely would have conceded several positions and missed advancing to the Chase’s third of four rounds.

“I just tried to get going and before I even knew, (Bayne) was gone,” Harvick told reporters Tuesday at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in downtown Charlotte. “I didn’t even really know he was out there until he was already by me. It all happens pretty fast.”

Many questioned why Harvick would stay on the track with a car he knew couldn’t get up to speed, but from his perspective the reigning Sprint Cup champion saw little choice. If he had pitted or pulled over, Harvick faced elimination. But by staying on the track he advanced, six points clear of Ryan Newman, the highest ranked driver who did not transfer.

“They can look at it 100 different ways, but you can’t quit,” Harvick said. “You can’t roll over and be done with it and say, ‘We tried our best.’ I don’t need to defend myself.

“I didn’t have an oil leak. My car was still maintaining speed. It’s like I’ve got a dagger in my side, but I can still walk.”

Harvick acknowledged that had it been a regular season race, he wouldn’t have attempted to nurse a car with a limp motor to the finish line. But due to the circumstances, he had little alternative.

“If you’re at race 13 and you’re in a situation like that, you pull into the pits,” Harvick said. “If you’re in a cutoff race at Talladega, you have to play the restart out. You have to try. If it falls on its face and you crash or whatever the case may be, you still have a little glimmer of hope. That’s your season. You just have to hope.”

Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Matt Kenseth and Denny Hamlin, who each were caught up in the crash and failed to advance Sunday, adamantly said Harvick’s actions were deliberate and brought upon his desire to avoid elimination. Newman, Bayne and David Gilliland also alleged Harvick conspired to create an advantageous caution.

NASCAR reviewed the situation and cleared Harvick of any wrongdoing Sunday post-race. But the sanctioning body continued to examine video, team radio communication and downloadable car data before completely absolving Harvick in a statement Tuesday morning that finalized the Talladega finishing order.

Typically not shy about defending himself if he feels aggrieved, Harvick has not lashed out against those who feel he cheated his way to the third round. Calling Hamlin a “fair acquaintance” -- he prefers not to be overly friendly with those he competes against -- Harvick has not spoken with Kenseth or Hamlin, nor does he plan to do so.

“From their perspective, I can understand their frustration of not being in the Chase,” Harvick said. “I am not going to throw stones because I don’t believe that’s the right thing to do.

“Look, Denny is a very emotional person,” Harvick said. “He’s a very opinionated person. He’s going to stand behind what he believes in and that’s fair. I don’t think anybody can knock him for that.”