UPDATE: Monday, October 2, 2023 at 4:01 PM ET
Stewart-Haas Racing had the option of appealing a disqualification from Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Yellawood 500 at Talladega for Kevin Harvick and the organization’s No. 4 team. The disqualification was due to the windshield fasteners, and specifically the fasteners not remaining fastened throughout the duration of the event.
On Monday, Greg Zipadelli, SHR’s chief competition officer, stated that while the team was in violation as some of the bolts in their windshield had loosened slightly over the course of the 500-mile event.
“At the completion of the race, not all of our windshield fasteners were secure, as we had bolts that hold the windshield in place back out over the course of the 500 miles,” Zipadelli said in the statement. “We are in the process of diagnosing why this happened and how to prevent it moving forward.”
Additionally, Zipadelli stated disappointment toward NASCAR for disqualifying Harvick for the infraction, but the organization will choose to not appeal, and will instead focus on the remainder of the 2023 season.
“We are disappointed in NASCAR’s decision to disqualify our racecar and the hard-earned finish by our driver and team, but we will not appeal,” Zipadelli continued. “Our complete focus is on the remaining races on this year’s schedule.”
ORIGINAL STORY: Sunday, October 1, 2023 at 7:28 PM ET
Kevin Harvick, who finished runner-up to Ryan Blaney in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Yellawood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, was disqualified after the race due to issues with the windshield fasteners on his No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Mustang.
Officially, the team was found in violation of section 14.1.e&p of the NASCAR Rulebook, which pertains to the overall assembled vehicle rules as well as section 14.5.6.2.F, which pertains to the windshield fasteners.
According to NASCAR, the rulebook states that the windshield fasteners must stay fastened throughout the entirety of the event, which Harvick’s did not.
The disqualification of Harvick elevated William Byron to the runner-up position.
It’s a deflating way for the cool story of Harvick surging to a runner-up finish in a photo finish in his final race at Talladega Superspeedway. However, the rules are the rules, and they’re there for a reason.
Denny Hamlin was moved to the third position, Corey LaJoie will be credited with fourth, and Austin Cindric will round out the top five finishers in the race.
Harvick will be credited with a last-place finish, which elevates Ross Chastain, who crashed early in the race, from that distinction. The disqualification will also remove Harvick from the top-10 of Stage results, which will provide a few extra points to some drivers in Sunday’s race.
