Once upon a time, NASCAR was all about grit, grease, and drivers muscling their way to glory. The manufacturers like Chevy, Ford, and Toyota were more like proud parents stamping their logos on the hood. But today, those same OEMs aren’t just in the garage; they are practically in the boardroom, targeting NASCAR’s rulebook like it’s a Play-Doh toy. The sport has even had to write penalties for improper manufacturer influence. And that sort of increasing say has not sat well with everyone, especially Kevin Harvick.

Dodge Ram’s roaring comeback is shaking the OEM landscape in NASCAR, and Harvick is staring right into the heart of it. Ram is officially returning to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2026, with Kaulig Racing as its anchor factory team. The plan is ambitious: five 1500 trucks on the grid, a real thrust to re-enter the mix after a long absence. A few months ago, Harvick himself praised the move, saying that the resurgence of competition among manufacturers could force everyone’s hands, including overrules and power levels. And now he is doubling down on it.

Speaking to his ex-crew chief, Rodney Childers, in the recent episode of the Happy Hour podcast, Harvick didn’t hold back: “Why? Why did you do this? And then, the next thing you know, you know, everybody realized that it needed more power. But I know we talk about the power thing, and we talk about the manufacturers. Obviously, we see Dodge coming into the sport and doing the things that they’re doing… I don’t really understand why we just don’t put a bigger restrictor plate on there to see what another big horsepower increase… I think right now, they gave them enough power to just tell everybody that they gave them some more power. It’s not going to move the needle unless you get 150 more horsepower. And I understand that the manufacturers and the engines  — you know, it takes time to get the parts.”

The horsepower conversation that Kevin Harvick is so fired up about isn’t just idle chatter. NASCAR admits it’s exploring boosting power, particularly on short tracks, as early as 2026. Currently, the Gen 7 cars are tuned to roughly 650-670 HP, but some in the field believe a rise toward 750 HP would make a noticeable difference, with more throttle, more tire wear, and more drama. The call for another big horsepower increase isn’t just a desire for more speed; he is pointing to a tug of war, where OEMs’ preferences regarding cost, durability, and branding influence what NASCAR allows. As a result, drivers often feel that power is held back more by these agreements and manufacturer pressure than by pure performance potential.

Kevin Harvick added, “And I know that’s not what the teams and the engine manufacturers want to hear, but I think that the teams have too much control. They have too much control of the rules. Manufacturers, you know, they’ll do probably whatever they have to do, but at some point, we have to try to blow the thing up. Um, to make it to make it better in a big way.”

Now, looking at Section 10.5.2.8.A portion of the rule book, it states: “NASCAR reserves the right to determine if an OEM has violated the NASCAR Rule Book and may impose penalties on the OEM or its representatives accordingly. The following framework serves as a general guideline for assessing OEM penalties. The examples provided are illustrative and not exhaustive, offering clarity on the types and ranges of infractions that may result in penalties, should NASCAR determine enforcement is warranted.”

A conversation around the same arose post the penultimate race of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season at Martinsville Speedway. Multiple teams were penalized after NASCAR determined the actions of those involved violated sections 4.4.B&D: NASCAR Member Conduct of the Rule Book, which includes race manipulation and actions detrimental to stock car racing. Drivers Ross Chastain (Trackhouse Racing), Austin Dillon (Richard Childress Racing), and Bubba Wallace (23XI Racing) were each hit with a loss of 50 driver points and a $100,000 fine. In addition, NASCAR also fined the owners of each team $100,000 and deducted 50 owner points each.

Crew chiefs Phil Surgen, Justin Alexander, and Bootie Barker, along with their respective spotters Brandon McReynolds, Brandon Benesch, and Freddie Kraft, were all suspended for the 2024 season finale at Phoenix Raceway. Additionally, team executives Tony Lunders, Keith Rodden, and Dave Rogers were also suspended for the 2024 finale at Phoenix.

Even Dale Jr. has been vocal in recent years about how manufacturer expectations can interfere with driver independence. After a controversial Martinsville race, he said that OEMs essentially ask their drivers to understand their equipment and assist the team—acting in alignment with what the manufacturer wants, even if it means sacrificing individual competitiveness. He described that kind of directed teamwork as having ruined the enjoyment of certain racing formats because it comes off like an orchestrated outcome rather than pure competition.

However, amid all this, and a conversation with Rodney Childers about the Gen 7 car, this isn’t the only thing Harvick seems to question and be upset about.

Kevin Harvick blasts off on Saturday night races as TV ratings plummet

On his podcast, the 2014 Cup Series champion turned commentator lit up a classic debate: should NASCAR really keep running Saturday night shows? As the Bristol Night Race is underway this weekend, and amid Kevin Harvick’s already existing anger with the NASCAR schedule, the 49-year-old didn’t pull any punches while describing his discontent with Saturday night races.

He fired off, saying, “Why do we ever race on a Saturday night? It makes no sense. Makes zero sense. Just look at the TV ratings when you get done. I know it’s football season, but the TV ratings are historically completely well known by everybody in the industry that it does not score ever, ever, ever, ever on a Saturday night.” And the stats back him up. Richmond Raceway’s night Cup race this year managed just 1.3 million viewers, a brutal 37% plunge compared to the previous year’s Sunday race at the same track, which pulled in 2.22 million. To Harvick, the message is screamingly obvious: Saturday races tank on TV.

He added, “We went from Saturday to Sunday at Richmond, and the TV numbers go up. We go from Sunday to Saturday, and the crowd goes up. I’m more concerned about the TV ratings than I am how many people are sitting in the grandstands because that’s what makes it go around. I don’t care what anybody wants, Sunday races rate better than Saturday.”

For Harvick, this isn’t just about Richmond or Bristol this weekend; it’s about NASCAR’s long game. TV numbers fuel media money, and media money keeps the support alive. And Harvick seems to be standing fiercely by the old-school tradition that NASCAR belongs on Sundays.