OK, I will admit, other than what I said in my blog on race day, I was pretty much going to stay out of this one, as I'm sure you all know, it's been beaten to death, and will probably continue to be. But, after what I read today, I decided to have my say as well.
Before we go any further, understand that I like and admire both Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano. Tom Logano, and DeLana Harvick, not so much. But I digress.
I've blasted both drivers in the past, and I've stood up for both drivers in the past. Just last week, I jumped all over Harvick for causing the spin. This time, I'm on his side, for being the better man.
You all know the story. Harvick and Logano have a history in both Nationwide and Cup of "trading paint" and not exactly giving each other a lot of room. Last Sunday at Pocono, Harvick got in to Logano again, who was at the time running fifth, and spun him out, dropping him to a 13th place finish, while Harvick held on for fourth. Afterward, Logano tried to confront Harvick on Pit Road and was restrained. Logano, afterward made some not-so-kind remarks about Mrs. Kevin Harvick, aka, DeLana.
Fast-Forward to today. Harvick said, that he tried to approach Logano, to clear the air. He offered the advice, "You need to get your Dad under control." Whereupon, Logano, according to Harvick, simply laughed at him and stated, "Do you really think it was that big of a deal?" Whoa. Wait a minute. The kid's Father was all but telling him to go fight you, a guy twice his size, with much more experience and his whole pit crew, and it's not that big a deal?
I stated last Sunday that I thought Harvick was in the wrong for the accident a Pocono, and I stand by that. I thought Logano's remarks, were a little out of line, but he was mad and had a right to be. Harvick, has chalked the whole incident up to immaturity on Logano's part. And you know what? Except for the part where Logano finally stood up for himself, Harvick, is right.
Logano is a lot closer to puberty, than professional right now, and still has a lot to learn. I stand by my statements that he will be a superstar and will make the chase this year. But hey, when you're a Second-year-guy and a ten-year veteran tries to clear the air with you and offer some advice, you just don't laugh at him and blow him off. And you sure as hell don't talk smack about his family. (But I thought it was funny and classy as hell, when DeLana responded by making up T-Shirts, and selling them for charity) That was childish and immature on Logano's part, and I lost a lot of the respect I'd gained for him when I read that.
Now, let's turn the steak over. Harvick didn't exactly have high praise for Tom Logano, Joey's father. But, Harvick tried to do it man to man, in the garage, and not in the media. The only thing Harvick said is, "Joey's Dad needs to let him run his own racing career. He's a grown man now, and this isn't little league baseball anymore. He should act like the rest of the Dads and just sit back and watch, and be happy his Son is here." I think it's great that Mr. Logano wants to be a part of his Son's life. But he's got to let him be his own man sometime, and encouraging a fight on pit road, isn't the way to do it. Let me remind you of something: When Harvick and Carl Edwards got in to it in the garage, Cousin Carl couldn't whip Harvick. So this skinny little runt is gonna do it? I don't think so.
What I'm trying to say in a long-winded way, is leave families and personal barbs out of it. Settle it on the track like men, then shake hands, have a cold one, and move on. But in Logano's case, he has to wait a year for the cold one. At least Harvick tried to handle it like a man and even help the kid out with some advice, which is probably a lot more charitable that I would have been toward him. As for Logano, I was starting to respect you and I've always supported you. Until you put this mess behind you, and apologize to Mrs. Harvick (the only thing she's guilty of is supporting her husband, so who gives a damn how she chooses to dress at the track?) you're just a kid in my eyes again.
Credit Shout Out: Photo courtesy of Yahoo! Sports and Getty Images.
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