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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 15: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Busch Light #BUSCHRACETEAM Ford, stands in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series 64th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2022 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 15: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Busch Light #BUSCHRACETEAM Ford, stands in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series 64th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2022 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Earlier, Kevin Harvick and Stewart-Haas Racing suffered a big blow, due to a penalty. As it turned out, they were allegedly guilty of modifying a single source supplied part. Owing to that, crew chief Rodney Childers was suspended, and the team copped a $100,000 fine and lost 100 points. Naturally, the organization has appealed the penalty and is hoping for a positive response.
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With Childers out, engineer Stephen Doran will step in as the interim crew chief. There is a lot riding on this appeal, because if they lose, then Childers will be indisposed until the season finale at Phoenix.
It does not take a genius to figure out that this will be a devastating blow for the team.
How did NASCAR fans reacted to the Kevin Harvick and SHR news?
For obvious reasons, a number of fans were fuming, especially since a number of things have been happening. First and foremost, Hendrick Motorsports were successful with their appeal against the penalty for William Byron. As a result, he got his deducted points back and is still in Playoff contention.
A number of fans called out NASCAR for inconsistency with levying penalties.
So by this logic, it's worse to modify a single supplier part than it is to door slam someone on pit road causing their car to head in the direction of officials and crew members…
— Matt Frederick (@racedayeveryday) October 6, 2022
What's the use at this point, Harvick is finished 🥱🥱🥱🥱
— Brett (@22fan4ever) October 7, 2022
Only will win this if he drives for Hendrick
— Porkermurns (@Porkermurns) October 7, 2022
what happens if they lose the appeal? bigger penalty or does it stay the same?
— carson (@Kole_Bosh) October 7, 2022
I hope @NASCAR GIVES @StewartHaasRcng the same “independent” appeals panel they fished up to @TeamHendrick
— Carmichael (@StormDroneDMV) October 7, 2022
A few others even noted Byron winning his appeal and claimed that Hendrick Motorsports got away because they were Hendrick Motorsports.
it's a week of appeals ain't it https://t.co/u0VAm92T8N
— oshillex 🤯 🤯 🤯 (@TheCreepDeath) October 7, 2022
I honestly don’t get the point of having Rodney come back for Phoenix because even if they do get the penalty, he probably won’t be able to gain any spots in points https://t.co/fZfEHffwKX
— Austin Mongold (@A_Mongoloid414) October 7, 2022
At some point they should say what piece they modified. I feel that if it got out that they got this penalty for modifying something that would positively affect saftey of their car, that would be a huge problem for nascar. More transparency please.
— William Kelly (@Williamtk525) October 5, 2022
Some others also felt that the penalty was useless because Kevin Harvick is not in Playoff contention. This was because he was eliminated in the first round along with Kyle Busch, Austin Dillon and Tyler Reddick.
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In essence, the points deduction was not going to affect Harvick’s championship position. Finally, people demanded some transparency in knowing what parts were modified on the car to warrant such a penalty.
