Rumors aside, Harvick's winning Dover car passes NASCAR inspection
Despite suggestions by other Sprint Cup teams to the contrary, Kevin Harvick’s race-winning No. 4 Chevrolet passed technical inspection on Tuesday at the NASCAR R&D Center.
Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet
NASCAR Media
Rumors of improprieties with Harvick’s race-winning car Sunday at Dover (Del.) International Speedway began even before the cars had gotten off the track.
And they were fueled even more on Tuesday when NASCAR inspectors took the rear-end housing and truck arms from the No. 4 car for a closer inspection during the post-race inspection at NASCAR R&D Center in Concord, N.C.
He took the hot rod and just fenced it hard right in front of us Drove it straight into the fence. Be awfully hard to tech that one.
Crew chief Dave Rogers to Denny Hamlin after Harvick's burnout
NASCAR officials confirmed a closer look was taken on those parts but said the car – and all its parts – passed inspection with no issues.
NASCAR frequently takes a closer look at parts and pieces during its more intense inspections at the R&D Center.
Harvick's post-race contact raises eyebrows
Questions around Harvick’s car were almost immediately flamed Sunday after the race and Harvick engaged in wild burnout that burned his tires and included a run-in with the infield wall.
"The thing about it now is, people expect that from the celebration. Back in 2003 was the first time that the rear tires blew off the car at Indianapolis down the frontstretch. So, that's not something new, it's just something that is fun and you don't get to celebrate like that because these things are hard to win," Harvick said Tuesday at a Chase media function at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. "I enjoy celebrating and I'm going to burn the tires off for sure."
Harvick added that he didn't know the rear of his car hit the inside wall.
"I guess I knew how to knock my car back into compliance by rubbing it up against the wall," he said sarcastically.
Dave Rogers, crew chief for Denny Hamlin, took umbrage at Harvick’s dominant Dover victory.
“He took the hot rod and just fenced it hard right in front of us,” Rogers said to Hamlin after watching Kevin Harvick’s celebratory burnout. “Drove it straight into the fence. Be awfully hard to tech that one.”
"Yeah, no (crap),” replied Hamlin over the team’s radio.
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