Stewart Haas Racing driver Kevin Harvick was enjoying a promising weekend at Darlington Raceway in the Southern 500 until a caution inflicted by 23Xi Racing Tyler Reddick ravaged his race.
In the definitive stage of the Southern 500, both Reddick and Kevin Harvick were running 1-2 when the No.4 team decided to pit.
As Harvick took off the track and was perpetrating to pit, Tyker Reddick who was in the lead changed his mind and slowed down unexpectedly, taking out Ryan Newman which brought out the caution.
Bubba Wallace issues apology to defending champion Joey Logano for the on track run-in at Darlington
The pitlane closed just before Harvick was about to enter, therefore meriting him a penalty.
“It all happened because the #45 (Tyler Reddick) tried to do something it shouldn’t have,”Childers said to Frontstretch”
Kevin Harvick Crew Chief placed the blamed on Tyler Reddick for the penalty that affected Harvick’s result.
That part’s the more disappointing thing. I also see the reasoning and I also see why he did it and all that. It’s part of racing. Hate that it happened, we had a strong car and could’ve should’ve. – Rodney Childers.
The 47-y-o veteran came away with a p19 finish at Darlington and is currently 14th in the playoffs standing, just 2 points below the cut-off line.
Harvick on the unfortunate penalty at Darlington
“Caution came out and the light was on and I didn’t think I could turn right.”
When asked what his strategy would be like going into the remaining two Round of 16 races, Harvick said.
A wild sequence of events! @KevinHarvick starts to pit road. @TylerReddick slows. @RyanJNewman spins.
The No. 4 ends up on a closed pit road! #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/2CNboU3haz
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 4, 2023
“Just go put the gas pedal down and do the exact same thing we’ve done for 23 years”