Add NASCAR drivers to the ever-growing listing of these Stephen A. Smith has offended.
Legendary driver Kevin Harvick teed off on the ESPN pundit after he mentioned NASCAR racers will not be athletes, becoming a member of a refrain of these inside the sport pushing again in opposition to Smith’s narrative.
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“Should you don’t know something about racing, simply hold your opinion to your self since you shouldn’t even have an opinion for those who don’t know something a couple of sport,” Harvick mentioned Tuesday.
Kevin Harvick in 2019. Getty Photographs
He added: “I feel that is simply occasion the place Stephen A. Smith is searching for clicks on one thing he is aware of completely nothing about what he’s speaking about.”
Smith, 58, received himself in hassle final week when he criticized racecar drivers after a caller nominated Richard Petty throughout a dialogue of the perfect athletes of all-time.
“Come on, man. That don’t rely,” on his self-named present after the caller listed Petty’s accomplishments. “You driving a automobile?”
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When the fan pushed again, stating Smith had agitated a few of his followers with that comment, the “First Take” host detailed why he doesn’t imagine drivers match the invoice.
“You will get behind the wheel of a automobile at 75 years previous. That don’t rely. That’s not the identical. That has no place on this class. You have to be ashamed of your self attempting to slip that in,” Smith mentioned. “A golfer will not be an athlete. A NASCAR driver will not be an athlete. That’s simply not true. We’re not going to behave like it’s.”
Drivers across the sport have railed in opposition to Smith, and Harvick’s feedback carry further weight since he ranks eleventh in NASCAR Cup Collection wins with 60, .
Stephen A. Smith on the White Home Correspondents’ Dinner in April 2026. WireImage
Harvick, who analyzes NASCAR for Fox Sports activities, used science on his “Velocity with Harvick and Buxton” present to supply his counter to Smith’s rivalry.
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He mentioned he as soon as reached out to Polar, a watch firm, to acquire a tool to put on whereas competing, and estimated that he burned 3,200 energy. The corporate advised him one thing occurred incorrectly, although, they usually despatched him a brand new model that registered him burning 2,400 energy because of extra warning durations.
“The one issues we see with that a lot of a calorie burn or fixed coronary heart price are marathon runners,” Harvick mentioned.
Kevin Harvick celebrating after wining in 2020. Getty Photographs
Co-host Will Buxton, a journalist, then additional drove dwelling Harvick’s level.
“Any elite driver, they’re an elite athlete,” he mentioned. “Motor racing will not be sitting in your ass and pushing a pedal and utilizing a steering wheel to drive your self to the retailers.
“It’s the most excessive of utmost sports activities.”
