Kevin Harvick Criticizes NASCAR Post-Iowa After Learning ARCA Cars Qualified Better Than Cup

If you thought Kevin Harvick was going to coast through retirement without hitting NASCAR with some spicy truths, think again. Harvick has delivered a verbal body blow to the NASCAR Cup Series, and honestly, it’s about time someone did. He has a point, folks. After the Iowa race weekend, enraging headlines emerged claiming an ARCA car outqualified Cup cars. Yes, you read that right. A car from a development series outperformed what is supposed to be NASCAR’s crowning division. Is this still 2025, or did fans wake up in some bizarre racing simulation glitch?

ARCA Cars Outpacing Cup Cars? Say It Ain’t Slow

During a candid episode of his “Happy Hour” podcast, Harvick didn’t mince words. He expressed disbelief that slower Cup cars are almost embarrassing to race. “The ARCA car outqualified the Cup car,” Kevin Harvick pointed out, adding that the lack of speed just makes overtaking a nightmare. He explained that as mid-corner speeds increase, but straightaway speeds decrease, drivers are left in frustrating traffic jams instead of actual competitive racing. Take a moment to digest that.

NASCAR’s premier racing league was outpaced by a series primarily for developing talent. It’s kind of like if your Apple Watch outran a Ferrari. Harvick’s criticism goes beyond the Iowa debacle. For a racing purist like Harvick, Cup cars should always represent the peak of motorsport. But right now? Not so much. Lower-tier ARCA cars flaunting better lap times speak volumes about NASCAR’s approach to regulations, track dynamics, and yes, speed caps.

The Need for Speed and Horsepower

Kevin Harvick has a pretty blunt solution to fix this cringeworthy situation, and no, it’s not wishful thinking. He believes NASCAR needs to increase horsepower across the board. More power means faster cars, and obviously, faster cars mean better races. According to Harvick, amping up the speed isn’t just about stats.

It’s about restoring Cup racing to its former glory, where watching a race felt electric, not like watching a pack of turtles jockeying for position.“Honestly, the cars are so slow they don’t race good,” Kevin Harvick quipped. And for fans who’ve shouted this exact sentiment at their screens for years, his words probably feel like an overdue kind of validation. NASCAR, are you listening yet?

Why Isn’t NASCAR Jumping on This?

Predictably, there’s resistance to Harvick’s suggestion, and if you’re wondering why, the answer is predictable too. Money. Horsepower isn’t just added with a flip of a switch, but by the same token, you have manufacturers and teams needing to create and retool engines to torque up. Financially, it’s no small feat. Harvick himself acknowledged this, saying teams and even NASCAR are likely stalling because of the cascade effects on budgets.

Fans are growing increasingly vocal about the lack of excitement in Cup Series races. Slow cars and processional races are putting new fans to sleep and old fans on the fence about renewing their tickets. NASCAR has a choice to make, and those purse strings might have to loosen if they want to avoid a long-term talent and audience exodus.

Why This Debate Matters

For long-time fans of NASCAR, this debate isn’t just about speed, but it’s about the sport’s identity. NASCAR Cup cars should represent the pinnacle of what stock car racing can achieve. If ARCA cars start making them look amateurish, the credibility of the entire Cup Series is at risk. That creates an erosion of prestige, and yes, an erosion of fan loyalty. And what’s NASCAR without its die-hard fan base turning every roar of the engine into a symphony?

Kevin Harvick’s public critique is a wake-up call, whether NASCAR wants to hear it or not. It’s about creating races that inspire awe, not disappointment. It’s about staying relevant in a motorsport world where Formula 1, MotoGP, and even Rallycross are charging ahead with innovation and excitement.

Final Thoughts

Can NASCAR course-correct? Absolutely, but it hinges on whether they’re willing to prioritize exciting racing over hitting the financial “safe zone.”Harvick has offered his diagnosis, and the fans and at least one frustrated former champion are waiting to see if NASCAR can deliver a cure. Kevin Harvick may be stepping aside from driving, but clearly, his passion for improving the quality of NASCAR racing burns brighter than any victory lap. NASCAR, better not sleep on this.