Former NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick has pointed out the main problem that triggered the pit crew dispute during the Cup Series race at Sonoma last weekend.
A fight broke out between a pit crew member of RFK Racing and crew members of Joe Gibbs Racing after Ty Gibbs grazed a tire held by RFK tire changer Telvin McClurkin. This happened when Gibbs was passing through the RFK pit stall, which was next to the JGR stall.
Following the incident, McClurkin confronted JGR crew members before they got physical. NASCAR officials eventually intervened and later concluded that Gibbs was not at fault, despite RFK providing video evidence.
Watch: Unexpected Pit Crew Fight Breaks Out During NASCAR Cup Race at Sonoma
Now, Harvick pointed out the core issue in the clash, explaining that the tire changer should have made way for the approaching car and described his act of confrontation as a “bad reaction.” Speaking on his Happy Hour podcast, Harvick said:
Former NASCAR Cup Series driver, Kevin Harvick speaks at the Busch Light activation on the midway prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 16, 2025 in Daytona Beach,…
Former NASCAR Cup Series driver, Kevin Harvick speaks at the Busch Light activation on the midway prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 16, 2025 in Daytona Beach, Florida.
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“Ty didn’t do anything wrong here. NASCAR said it as well. My advice to the guy carrying the tires is move the tires. If you don’t want to get hit by the car, move the tires. That’s your responsibility, not the driver’s. They give you that luxury of not having to jump off the wall anymore, but when I was the driver and I felt like your tire carrier was swinging around too wide and it was affecting the way I get into the box, I would brush them. There’s no doubt in my mind.
“This one is simple. The tire carrier just needs to get out of the freaking way. He’s standing in the pit stall with the two tires and so, he can be frustrated all he wants — I don’t know why he wants to go over and blame it on the team guys. Just a bad reaction from the tire carrier and in my opinion, 100 percent his problem to deal with. Get out of the way of the car.”
Gibbs’ entry into the pit stall slowed Keselowski, and Harvick said he has no problem with that. He explained:
“In all honesty, the 6 and the 54 were racing. Anything I can do to mess up your pit stop, if I can cut it as close as possible to keep you from running around the car, I’m cutting it as close as possible.
“If you’re right there and you don’t want to pull your tire back or take one step back to try to keep your timing right on your pit stop, I want you to make sure that the next time we come in, that you’re one step back and your pit stop’s not going to be as fast as mine because it’s going to be way easier to pass you on pit road or you not pass me on pit road. Pit crew guys might not like to hear that, but I don’t have a problem with anything that happened.”