NASCAR’s reputation for secrecy has long frustrated fans and drivers alike. Whether it’s penalties, rule changes, or safety concerns, too often the explanations seem half-given or come too late. Denny Hamlin recently pointed out how this lack of transparency has been hurting the sport’s credibility. He had recently argued that NASCAR executives sometimes twist narratives to make things sound better than they are, citing the claim of “67 lead changes” at Talladega as an example of how stats are used to gloss over deeper racing issues.

Fans have also voiced frustration over how decisions are made behind closed doors. The 2023 Chicago Street Race chaos and subsequent rule clarifications left many confused, and NASCAR’s delayed explanations didn’t help. Even the driver radio chatter captured that day showed confusion about caution calls and scoring, reinforcing the feeling that communication from the top down isn’t clear or consistent.

If NASCAR wants to rebuild trust, it may need to start treating its fans and competitors as true stakeholders by being upfront, even when the answers aren’t pretty. But now, in a recent interview, Harvick has praised their recent transparency.

Harvick pushes for constant openness

On the latest episode of Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour podcast, the former champ laid it out: “I wish they were more open like that consistently. … If you haven’t listened to it, you should go listen … it was very informative. But I think that if they want to be like this, they need to be like this all the time.”

Harvick’s tipping his hat to Steve O’Donnell’s candid chat on The Dale Jr. Download, where the NASCAR exec dove into sanctioning and governance. But he’s not settling for one-off moments, teams and drivers get blindsided by rule tweaks and enforcement, and Harvick wants that wall torn down for good.

“I know this is a situation where it would cost the teams a lot of money, but sometimes you just have to say screw it. … It can’t always be about money. What point do we get back on track to say okay? Here’s a path to where we want to be,” Harvick continued.

He’s calling out the cash-driven hesitance, where aero changes or inspection drama stays hushed to protect wallets. Bold fixes might sting, but Harvick’s saying racing’s soul, fairness, trumps the ledger, echoing garage gripes over hidden penalties that split owners and crews.

“But I think if we had a Dana White … Don’t care about this. Don’t care about that. … being in front of things … openness and honesty,” he added. Harvick’s channeling UFC’s brash boss Dana White as the blueprint: executives who own the mess publicly, no spin.

NASCAR’s past with sneaky rule shifts, from aero packages to post-race checks, fuels the distrust, and Harvick wants leaders charging ahead, accountable and raw. “You don’t have to think about what you said or what you did, just shut up. That was good. That was bad. … Tell us where we’re going. What are we doing? How are we fixing it?” Harvick wrapped.

It’s a plea for straight talk: spell out the problems, the plan, the timeline. No more vague memos; clarity builds trust, easing the frustration from Chicago’s 2023 confusion to Talladega stat fluff-ups. Harvick’s vision? A sport where everyone’s in the loop, decisions demystified.

Harvick’s demand for NASCAR honesty ties into celebrating drivers like Denny Hamlin, whose Vegas win showed the raw heart the sport needs more of.

Harvick tips hat to Hamlin’s emotional Vegas milestone

Hamlin notched his 60th Cup victory, tying Harvick himself and punching into the November 2 Championship 4. “That 11 was on rails at the end. The driver of the 11 is very determined right now with everything he’s doing,” Harvick said on Happy Hour. Sharing the track for nearly 20 years, Harvick saw the No. 11’s fire, especially with Hamlin’s personal storms brewing.

“There was a lot of emotion after the race with everything going on in Denny’s life. You saw how important it was to get that 60th win. His dad’s been ill, he’s got the lawsuit going on, you’ve got all the pressure of the championship, and you could just see all of it hit him at once. But those guys are on a mission right now for sure,” Harvick reflected.

Hamlin’s tears in victory lane weren’t just for the tie or the final spot; they poured out amid family health woes, legal battles, and title weight. Harvick gets it: that vulnerability, unfiltered, mirrors the openness he craves from execs.

Hamlin’s surge validates Harvick’s push; transparency in racing lets stories like this breathe, connecting fans to the human side beyond secrecy. With the Championship 4 locked, Hamlin’s mission echoes Harvick’s call: face the chaos head-on, no hiding, and chase the win with everything on the line.