By Score More
At Talladega Superspeedway, Kevin Harvick initially appeared to be in a close race with Ryan Blaney, losing by a mere 0.012 seconds in what looked like a photo finish. However, as the night progressed, Harvick’s Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4 team faced disqualification.
The disqualification stemmed from unsecured windshield fasteners, leading to an unsecured windshield on the No. 4 car. Consequently, Harvick forfeited all the stage points he had earned during the race and was ultimately placed in the last position, finishing 38th.
This particular violation is covered by NASCAR Rule Book sections 14.5.6.2.F, which mandates that windshield fasteners must remain securely fastened throughout the entire event, and 14.1.E&P under Overall Assembled Vehicle Rules, which requires parts and assemblies to be used in accordance with NASCAR Rules. Additionally, section 14.1.P stipulates that all fasteners must remain securely fastened throughout the duration of the race.
Rodney Childers, Harvick’s crew chief, took to Twitter to provide his perspective on the situation in a now-deleted post. He explained that the car had been experiencing buffering in the draft throughout the day, causing some windshield bolts to vibrate loose. Despite their efforts, including using silicon on the threads, the problem persisted, leaving Childers uncertain about what more they could have done.
Kevin Harvick is poised to retire at the end of the season, concluding a 22-year career at NASCAR’s highest level. In the upcoming season, he will be succeeded by Josh Berry.