NASCAR Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick (4) talks with the media during the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Media Day at Charlotte Convention Center. Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Harvick blasts NASCAR over response to Next Gen car fires

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 9/10/22

Kevin Harvick's been one of the harshest critics of NASCAR's new Next Gen cars, especially after his car caught fire, knocking him out of last week's playoff race.

Harvick isn't alone, as fellow drivers Alex Bowman, Chris Buescher, Joey Logano, and Chase Briscoe have also dealt with car fires this season.

While NASCAR has said they're investigating the growing issue, their response hasn't been good enough for Harvick.

On Saturday at Kansas Speedway, Harvick tore into NASCAR.

"I don't know what the solution is, but I know it needs to be way faster," Harvick told reporters. "And if you start in the offseason, it's going to be a complete cluster to try to get it done before the clash. So, where are we headed here? What's the plan?"

Kevin Harvick talks more about how he wants NASCAR’s approach to safety to change for quicker change. NASCAR met with the drivers safety committee (Hamlin, Kurt Busch, Austin Dillon, LaJoie, Logano) for two hours last week. pic.twitter.com/ruy9Bj8S8h
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) September 10, 2022

Harvick believes NASCAR is dragging its feet and hasn't prioritized the safety of its drivers first.

"The whole safety thing is really second-fiddle right now, and I just don't think it's fair to the drivers," Harvick said. "We can debate all day, but debating isn't really fixing anything. When you look at the car itself, it's not rear impacts, it's not front impacts, it's not side impacts — it's all impacts."

Next Gen cars have come under fire since being unveiled in 2021 due to concerns about how they protected drivers during a crash. Kurt Busch has been out of action since suffering a severe concussion during a crash in July.

NASCAR launched an investigation earlier this week, with senior vice president of competition Scott Miller calling the fires "unacceptable."

Earlier this week, NASCAR ordered teams to replace several car parts in an effort to prevent or reduce fires.

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