Kevin Harvick Has “Zero Sympathy” for Natalie Decker after rage Quitting Truck Series

NASCAR driver Natalie Decker had the worst day of her racing career last Friday at Dover, where she rages quit the Truck Series after 81 laps. She had a meltdown on team radio after getting penalized for a lane change before the tart and getting black flagged for not matching minimum race pace required. Her actions have split the community with some calling out her while other came in support.

Hall of Famer Kevin Harvick on his podcast showed no sympathy for the racer, as he was beyond disappointed with her actions. He believes the situation made a mockery out of the sport and had also negatively affected the legacy of the solid female driver that has raced in the sport Danica Patrick and Katherine Legge, alongside the young prodigies coming up.

I’m in the zero-sympathy category. I think that racing is something — either you’re good at it or you’re not, and I don’t like to see a mockery made out of what our sport is. And we have so many great up-and-coming female drivers. You look at what Danica Patrick did, and you look at Katherine Legge, and a lot of the females that have done such a great job…

Kevin Harvick said on his podcast.

Further talking to Will Buxton on the podcast, Kevin Harvick pointed out that he can’t accept the fact that Natalie Decker rage quit the series after getting an opportunity over many young female racers that are putting in the hard work. Natalie Decker should not have blamed everyone but herself for the poor day she was having on the track.

All of the females that are trying to do it the right way by being good at their craft. Seeing the rage quit that she (Decker) went through this weekend, I have zero sympathy for throwing a temper tantrum and blaming it on a series director, and all the things that she said over the radio, and all the things that have happened before this. I don’t have a lot of sympathy for this one.

Kevin Harvick added via Speed with Harvick and Buxton.

Kevin Harvick declares Natalie Decker was unprepared for the elite level of racing

Further talking about it, the ex-SHR driver highlighted that lack of preparation for the level racing in the NASCAR third division as the major reason for the drama. Racing only reward drivers that work hard to perfect their skills regardless of the gender and they should not feel they are entitled for an opportunity because one reason or another.

I think it’s both. I think she sounded terrified, and I think unprepared to be at the level of the racing that you need to be at. There are no shortcuts in this — male or female. You have to go through the process to do it right. And that’s the part that I don’t like. I don’t like the fact that you can get to where you want to be because of male or female.

Kevin Harvick said.

The 2014 Cup champion reminded the female racers as well as the young upcoming races that they have to take proper steps before getting into a racing a high level regardless of the series. He also reminded Decker that she needs to take responsibility for her shortfalls and should not act in a manner that negatively affect the next-generation of racers.

And I think that when you look at the female side of things, it’s so touchy, but we have so many good ones that are coming up through the ranks… If you’re going to do this at a high level, a low level, a mid level — whatever that is, you have to take the proper steps to be competitive… At some point, you have to take responsibility for yourself in order to be what you need to be at the level that you’re racing. I hate what this does to the women who are trying to do this correctly.

Kevin Harvick added.

The comments from the veteran are on point as the way Decker conducted herself in the vulnerable moment was unbecoming of a NASCAR driver. She needs to find a way back to getting back on the good side of the fans and produce a positive result that would clear the negativity around female racers in the sport. She now has that responsibility on her shoulders.

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