O'Donnell discusses Harvick-Logano block

“We know we have the best drivers in the world, so you know they’re going to control what they do behind the steering wheel,” O’Donnell said. “We’ve seen some other sanctioning bodies react to blocking and put themselves into making those calls, and it’s certainly been a challenge and certainly been very controversial. We choose to stay out of that and let the drivers play it out on the race track.”

The incident O’Donnell is referring to happened during the closing laps of Saturday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race when Harvick used the No. 4 Chevrolet’s bumper to move Logano’s No. 22 Ford out of the way, sending Logano up the track and nearly into the wall.

“He blocked, and I knocked him out of the way,” Harvick told NASCAR.com’s Brad Norman immediately following the race. “I’m tired of him blocking.”

MORE: Harvick, Logano lock horns in Texas

The incident was the latest between the two drivers, who appear to be building a rivalry between cars that have shown — in the early going at least — to be championship contenders.

Said Logano, “It’s hard racing. It’s understandable. I expect to get raced the way I race people, and I would do the same thing. I felt like I had to guard that position.”

Harvick finished second to Jimmie Johnson in Texas, while Logano was fourth. Harvick leads the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings; Logano is third.

O’Donnell added, “Hopefully, it’s not something we ever have to react to, but there are circumstances you see throughout races that play out through the entire season. But it’s our call at this point to really let that be in the drivers’ hands.”

MORE: