Harvick: Dirty or determined?

By Marty Smith, Turner Sports Interactive
September 12, 2001
12:25 PM EDT (1625 GMT)

CONCORD, N.C. -- Much has been made of Kevin Harvick’s ruthless driving style during the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season -- docile Ricky Rudd even compared the rookie’s antics to “a bull in a china closet” Saturday night at Richmond.

Kevin Harvick has already made friends and enemies in his first Winston Cup season.

Harvick is remorseless in his ascent to the front, using a “by any means necessary” philosophy that has begun to foster ill will among some of his competitors.

Robby Gordon was ready to strangle him at Sonoma. Jeff Green cussed him blue at Bristol. Chad Little nearly took his head off at Darlington.

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Rudd, arguably the most gentle-natured driver in Winston Cup, even got hot under the collar Saturday when Harvick turned him completely sideways with 17 laps remaining.

Rudd returned the favor 11 laps later and went on to his second career win at RIR, but even Victory Lane bliss didn’t totally smooth the Rooster’s ruffled feathers.

Kevin Harvick traded bumps with Ricky Rudd at Richmond, finishing second.

“He sort of rooted and gouged a little harder than I liked it and finally moved me out of the way,” Rudd said more than an hour after the race had ended. “He basically about turned me around, so I raced like hell to catch him so I could return the favor. What I gave him was a clean love tap. What he gave me was a cheap shot trying to wreck me.”

And despite the reservations of some towards Harvick’s over-aggressiveness, not everyone is averse to his brashness. The youngster does have the support of two very influential folks -- car owner Richard Childress and fellow Cup pilot Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Kevin Harvick's Winston Cup debut has been spectacular, including victories at Atlanta and Chicago.

Childress sought out Harvick for his tenaciousness in the first place, so he’s elated at having found the latest diamond in the racing rough. Earnhardt Jr., a Harvick proponent from the get-go, is just glad his father’s team is still on top.

“I was really proud of Kevin (Saturday night)," Earnhardt Jr. said. "He did a helluva job, I was disappointed he didn’t win.

“I like to see the team have success. You just never really knew what was going to happen (after my father died), so it’s just real good to see him have success.

“He’s a good driver and he’s a good guy. It’s a win-win situation. When he wins a race, Chocolate (Myers) and them guys (on the No. 29 team), they probably don’t wanna hear it, but how many more years does Chocolate Myers got to gas racecars and stuff?

Kevin Harvick is currently eighth in Winston Cup points, despite having missed the Daytona 500.

"So to go out on top is just a good feeling for those guys. I don’t care, I’m just glad (Harvick’s) doing good.”

Like everything else in racing, varying opinions abound regarding Harvick’s style. He went on vacation in Florida this week, so he was unavailable for comment on the matter.

However, judging by his responses to such inquiries in the past, he’d likely just flash an ear-to-ear grin, perform a billowing burnout, then park his ride in Victory Lane.