It’s Bristol baby.
It was a hell of a finish tonight at the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol, as Kyle Larson ended up taking the checkered flag, but not without some fireworks between Chase Elliott and Kevin Harvick.
With just a handful of laps to go in the final race of the first round of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, Chase Elliott and Kevin Harvick were battling for the lead, with Kyle Larson breathing down both their necks.
The #4 car of Kevin Harvick got into the left side of Chase Elliott’s #9 car, leaving Chase with a flat tire and no shot at winning the race.
INSANITY#ItsBristolBaby pic.twitter.com/7BxDZa4HF7
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 19, 2021
So when Chase got fresh tires and back on the track, he made a point to left Kevin Harvick know that he was pissed off.
.@chaseelliott: Big mad pic.twitter.com/AClXOtWgpx
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 19, 2021
Kyle Larson wound up passing Harvick, who was struggling to get past a pissed off Chase Elliott in front of him. Chase was 3 laps down but there was no way on hell he was gonna make it easy on Harvick.
Needless to say, Harvick, who finished second, wanted a word with Chase after the race.
The boys are talking. The boys are shoving.
IT'S BRISTOL BABY. pic.twitter.com/EIghd7Sc8s
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 19, 2021
Ultimately, no punches were thrown, but Harvick had to be restrained during the heated exchange. Although, how the hell are you gonna get out of your car like you’re gonna fight someone with your helmet still on?
C’mon man…
Chase Elliott and Kevin Harvick post race confrontation. pic.twitter.com/IEhLYYvFjS
— Jordan Bianchi (@Jordan_Bianchi) September 19, 2021
In the post race interview, Harvick said he was ready to rip someone’s head off.
"It was a 🐓💩 move there at the end … We're racing for the win at Bristol." — @KevinHarvick has OPINIONS pic.twitter.com/oEh2QOZ3Ma
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 19, 2021
Elliott says Harvick does this all the time and this was the last straw.
"It's something he does all the time. He runs into your left side constantly …" — @chaseelliott on @kevinharvick's moves at @bmsupdates. pic.twitter.com/wuUSGtRqK6
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 19, 2021
The two eventually walked into Chase’s hauler to talk it out and cooler heads prevailed.
But as Larson and Harvick were racing for the win, Tyler Reddick and Aric Amirola were within a car or two of making the next round of the playoffs themselves, but both fell short and will join Michael McDowell and Kurt Busch as the four drivers eliminated from playoff contention.
The next round of the playoff begins at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway with the South Point 400.
12 drivers survived The Last Great Colosseum and will fight on in the #NASCARPlayoffs. pic.twitter.com/KV98ESxOn1
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 19, 2021
