Harvick has words, jab for Kurt Busch after Talladega

Teammates Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch are moving on together to the next round of the Chase. But all is not harmonious in the Stewart-Haas camp.

Shortly after the end of the race, Busch hit Harvick in the side during the cooldown lap; it appeared to be a continuation of the paint-trading that happened in the final laps of the race. Harvick was angry enough that he stormed over to Busch’s car on pit road and punched at something—helmet, post, whatever—hard enough to rock the entire car on its chassis.

“He cleaned the side of our car out after the checkered flag,” Harvick said. “I don’t really understand that.” Asked if Busch had offered up any kind of explanation, Harvick replied, “Not really.”

Busch struck a tone that was a touch more inclusive, but no less pointed. “He has a misunderstanding of the call of the end of the race,” Busch said. “We’re great teammates. We’re doing good together. We have to work to beat these teams together, and he knows that.”

This is the third straight year that Harvick has been involved in a physical confrontation during the Chase. In 2014, he shoved Brad Keselowski, kicking off a huge fight with Jeff Gordon at Texas. Then, last year, Harvick shoved Jimmie Johnson in the chest following some on-track collisions in Chicago. Granted, Harvick won the Sprint Cup in 2014 and finished second to Kyle Busch last year, so it’s not like these scuffles have torpedoed his Chase chances. Still: Stewart-Haas has its work cut out to mend fences this week.