Kevin Harvick questions 23XI Racing for choosing “worst timing ever” to fight NASCAR over charter deal

Former Cup champion Kevin Harvick is concerned about the timing of the whole 23XI-NASCAR charter agreement drama.

Kevin Harvick questions 23XI Racing for choosing “worst timing ever” to fight NASCAR over charter deal

Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick (Via IMAGO)

NASCAR gave teams an ultimatum and send a take it or leave it charter agreement after two-year negotiation last week at Atlanta. Despite having huge disagreements, other than two teams 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, every other side agreed to the deal. The chaos happening just days before the playoff starting has irked many.

2014 Cup champion Kevin Harvick has shared his view on the drama via the Happy Hour podcast. He pointed out that he is concerned about Denny Hamlin and 23XI because of the timing of all the drama. He feels that Hamlin and Tyler Reddick now has a chip on their shoulders because of the dram and their performance might get affected.  

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Worst timing ever because it’s the most stressful time of the year. You have everything that’s going on with the playoffs, you’re going into the first round of the playoffs and for Denny [Hamlin] he had about as bad of a first round as you could possibly have at Atlanta. Now you got to go to Watkins Glen, oh by the way it’s all kinds more prep than what you would prep for a regular oval, and then you got to go to Bristol.
Kevin Harvick said via Happy Hour podcast.

He further stated that though Denny Hamlin and team is perfectly capable of winning races to progress, the pressure of being involved in the uncertain drama is too much. Harvick asserted that it was never ideal for them to have the stand off at the most stressful part of the playoffs.

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Sure, he could go to Watkins Glen and win, and he could go to Birstol and win, but now you have all this chaos around you that you didn’t have at the same time that you start the most stressful part of the season. It’s not ideal.
Kevin Harvick added.
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Kevin Harvick explains how FRM makes it a soap opera

While talking about the issue, Harvick shared his amazement about FRM out of all teams being the ones not signing the deal. They are set to go into the 2025 season with a new charter from SHR and will be fielding three cars. So Harvick pointed out that even 23XI might’ve been surprised to see FRm being the team that took a similar stand as them, making the whole soap opera interesting.

Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick (Via IMAGO)
I for sure didn’t see Front Row not signing. But, you know, 23XI, I don’t know — I don’t think that they thought everybody was going to sign them, but it sure made them look like an oddball. … You’ve got to remember, Front Row is supposedly going to buy that third Stewart-Haas — the third car from them will be another charter from Stewart-Haas, so it’s all very interesting soap opera at this point.
Kevin Harvick said.

The drama wont end anytime soon, as NASCAR and team have burned a lot of bridges with the standoff. But at the same time, the sport shouldn’t let it drag on too much or take the legal route as its only going the hurt everyone involved.

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