Beyond the Flag
Fansided

NASCAR: Dale Earnhardt Jr. responds to Kevin Harvick’s comments

By Asher Fair

WATKINS GLEN, NY - AUGUST 06: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Axalta Chevrolet, is introduced prior to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series I Love NY 355 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 6, 2017 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
WATKINS GLEN, NY - AUGUST 06: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Axalta Chevrolet, is introduced prior to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series I Love NY 355 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 6, 2017 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Kevin Harvick has been under fire for his recent comments regarding Dale Earnhardt Jr. Junior responded to these comments.

Kevin Harvick recently made comments about the NASCAR Cup Series 14-time defending Most Popular Driver Award winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. and how he has stunted the growth of the sport.

"“(Earnhardt) hasn’t been anywhere close to being our most successful driver. When you look at other sports – you look at basketball and you look at football and you look at their most popular (athletes), they’re also right on the top of the list as their most successful (athletes).”“So for me I believe that Dale Jr. has had a big part in stunting the growth of NASCAR because he’s got these legions of fans and this huge outreach of being able to reach these places that none of us have the possibility to reach. But he’s won nine races in 10 years at Hendrick Motorsports and hasn’t been able to reach outside of that. So I know that those aren’t the most popular comments, but those are real life facts that you look up and see on the stat sheet.”"

Hear these comments for yourself right here.

https://twitter.com/SiriusXMNASCAR/status/895316175562735618?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fftw.usatoday.com%2F2017%2F08%2Fkevin-harvick-blames-dale-earnhardt-jr-stunted-nascar-growth-most-popular-driver-jimmie-johnson

More from Dale Earnhardt Jr

Many did not take kindly to these comments, but we’ll leave that discussion for another time; this article is simply reporting what happened and how it went down.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. responded to Harvick’s comments.

"“I have an incredible amount of respect for him. I found some of those comments hurtful. I still respect him as a champion and ambassador for the sport. That’s just the way it is, I guess. I hate that’s how he feels.”“I put a lot into this sport, and I know that I might not have met everyone’s expectations, but I certainly exceeded my own and I’m super proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish. I hope that I brought something to the table and left a good impact.”"

In all likelihood, Earnhardt Jr.’s comments should end the issue, at least temporarily, as Harvick (or anyone, for that matter) really has nothing to respond to at this point. Both drivers have made their points loud and clear.

Next: NASCAR updated Silly Season driver lineup for 2018

Do you think Kevin Harvick was in the wrong to make these remarks in the first replace, and do you think Dale Earnhardt Jr. had a right to respond the way he did? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to follow me on Instagram as well as Beyond the Flag on both Instagram and Twitter. Also, don’t forget to follow along with Beyond the Flag for the latest news, opinions, and analysis stemming from a number of different motorsports series. You don’t want to miss any of it.

Home/Dale Earnhardt Jr