Kevin Harvick said heated confrontation with Chase Elliott ‘was like speaking to a 9-year-old’

Kevin Harvick had some more chastising words for Chase Elliott after their Bristol feud.

Welcome to FTW’s NASCAR Feud of the Week, where we provide a detailed breakdown of the latest absurd, funny and sometimes legitimate controversies and issues within the racing world.

While Chase Elliott said he’s moved on from last weekend’s drama at Bristol Motor Speedway, Kevin Harvick had plenty to say about his feud with the defending NASCAR Cup Series champ.

In last Saturday’s first playoff elimination race, the two title contenders got into it on the track and then had multiple heated confrontations when it was over. With 35 laps remaining at Bristol, Harvick and Elliott made contact while Harvick passed the No. 9 car for the lead, and Elliott had to pit for a cut tire, losing a few laps in the process. When Elliott returned to the track, he got in front of Harvick in the No. 4 car, which helped eventual winner and Elliott’s teammate Kyle Larson pass for the lead.

Elliott unloaded on Harvick over his team’s radio during the race, and afterward, the two had tense and animated words with Harvick later calling Elliott’s late-race tactics a “chicken-[expletive] move.”

Talking to the media ahead of Sunday’s South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Harvick described his post-race conversations with Elliott like talking to his 9-year-old son, Keelan.

Harvick said, via FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass:

“It was like I was talking to Keelan, it’s identical. Like it’s 100 percent the exact same scenario. They get hung up on one thing, and you can’t speak to them about the broader picture of how the whole thing works. It was like speaking to a 9-year-old, so I have a bit of experience with that.”

After last weekend’s Bristol race, Elliott accused Harvick of running into his left side all the time at tracks, which can result in a cut tire, and cited an incident earlier this month at Darlington Raceway. And at the time, Harvick said he was so furious he was “ready to rip somebody’s freaking head off.”

Sunday, Harvick said that Elliott wants to race hard for an eighth-place position while at the same time being mad that others are racing him hard back for that spot. Elliott can’t have it both ways, Harvick added.

Harivck continued on Sunday at Las Vegas:

“I don’t know that I’ve ever been that mad, to be honest with you. That was probably the maddest I’ve ever been. …

“It was just like I said, it was a chicken-[expletive] move. I’d rather be wiped out than have some bull-[expletive] like that happen. It was a 9-year-old temper tantrum over a situation that was put into place from the other vehicle that wiped you out, took your chances from winning the race. Like I said, you can’t have it both ways. It can’t go both ways. That’s not how this deal works.

“I don’t care if you’re the most popular driver or not. You can’t race everybody, side-drafting, bouncing off their doors and then slam into them. That stuff all comes full circle in this deal and has a funny way of teaching you.”

When it comes to Elliott taking away Harvick’s line to help out Larson, Harvick added, via NBC Sports: “Look, I never got past the point of the racing being manipulated.”

More from Harvick:

From Elliott’s point of view, he said, “I hope so,” when asked if the feuding pair left it as an agree-to-disagree situation. The No. 9 driver explained he’s much more focused on the Las Vegas race — the first of three in the playoffs Round of 12 before the playoff field shrinks down to eight drivers — and keeping his hopes for a second consecutive championship alive.

When Harvick’s comments comparing Elliott to his son and criticizing his racing style were relayed, Elliott said in response:

“I don’t have much to say to be real honest. Everybody has got their opinion, and he’s entitled to his, just like I am [with] mine. It’s why we live in America, we’re entitled to it. …

“Entitled to his opinion and that’s great. For me, I’m looking forward to today and as much as I think everybody tries to let that and last week weigh over, I think you have to have your eyes forward, and it’s up to those guys how they wanna be and act. but for me, I don’t really have a lot to say about it anymore. I’ve kind of said my piece.”

Seemingly unbothered by the drama at Bristol more than a week later, Elliott added that he doesn’t care about the confrontation and is just focused on advancing through the playoffs.

Elliott continued:

“I care less about this confrontation than I ever [in] any other one in the past, I don’t know if that’s just time, being around more you just are focused on the right things a little more as the weeks come along.”

And when asked about the possibility of retribution from Harvick or any of his Stewart-Haas Racing teammates, Elliott said:

“I don’t know, ask them. They can do whatever they want. Nothing that I’m gonna say or do is gonna stop that so yeah whatever they want to do is fine with me, and we’ll address it as it comes.”

Going into Sunday’s race at Las Vegas, Elliott is sixth in the playoff standings, while Harvick is 12th and 12 points below the next cutoff.

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