Kevin Harvick and Will Buxton shared their explanations for why having NASCAR and F1 drivers race in other series benefits those series.
The two shared their explanation during the most recent episode of SPEED with Harvick and Buxton with Buxton comparing Kyle Larson and Max Verstappen competing in the Knoxville Nationals and the Nürburgring 24 Hours to the WNBA.
“It’s fascinating what you say about [Larson’s] rivals on the tour not wanting him there because he’s taking up a space that potentially somebody else could fill,” Buxton began. “There’s a bigger picture in all this, isn’t it? Which is when a Larson turns up at an event like that, it brings eyeballs. His flight that took him to Knoxville was the most tracked flight in the world at that point. More than Taylor Swift, more than Air Force One, like it was the flight that was being tracked the most globally within that moment.”
“And it’s a weird thing. It’s sort of like the Women’s NBA at the moment, where they have got a real issue, where they’ve got these mega stars that the other players despise,” Buxton continued. “And you’re like, ‘But they’re bringing the eyeballs, right?’ They’re bringing fans to your sport. When you look at a Caitlin Clark or a Sophie Cunningham, they’re bringing fans in and yet they are roundly despised by their fellow competitors.”
“Is it sour grapes from his competitors on the tour that Larson just turns up and kind of boom, wins. And they’re like, ‘Actually, we don’t want him here because our lives are a bit easier when he’s not here.’ Or is it because it takes some of the shine off them because he’s so competitive? Or is there a genuine feeling that he’s taking up a seat that he shouldn’t do. I don’t know. I don’t know that world enough.”
Harvick then shared his thoughts, “Here’s the bottom line. Their shine isn’t near as big if Kyle Larson isn’t there racing.”
Buxton interjected, “That’s the thing right? ‘Cause it’s a magnifying glass. He shines the light.”
Harvick continued, “That’s right. And I fight the same thing on the CARS Tour stuff. They’re like, ‘Man, you’re promoting yourself. And you’re promoting your kid.’ I’m like, ‘Look, I don’t have to be here.’ And Kyle Larson doesn’t have to be there either. We’re there because we love the sport. We want to see it grow. We want to see the series that we’ve created have the most success so that when you are done racing it leaves the competitor, and the region, and the tour, and whatever that is in a better spot than what it was before we got there.”
“There’s just so many short-minded people that don’t realize he doesn’t have to do it,” Harvick reiterated. “He’s doing it because he loves Sprint Car racing. He’s doing it because he owns the High Limit. He’s at a World of Outlaws race. I understand it’s Knoxville Nationals. He’s at a World of Outlaws race. It’s going to come with the territory. You’re there winning races that you’re involved in in a roundabout way. Now, this was a World of Outlaws race so he’s not the owner of the series. He’s just there kicking their ass, taking their money. So that to me is fun. I love it. It creates conversation. It shows no fear.”
Buxton then compared Larson competing in the Knoxville Nationals to Max Verstappen racing in the Nürburgring 24 Hours, “On that topic, it was like Max Verstappen going and doing the Nürburgring 24. Yeah, there was some drivers there who were pissed off because they’re like, ‘This championship’s about more than just Max Verstappen. We do this week-in and week-out. Why is everyone only focusing on Max? But then you look at the attendance over the weekend? They have more people attend the Nürburgring 24 than attend most Formula 1 races. It was a huge turnout.”
“Sometimes you’ve just got to realize that the brightness of the star ultimately illuminates everybody else within that championship at the same time. See the silver linings, guys,” he concluded.
Larson did not specifically address the topic of NASCAR and F1 stars racing in other series, but he did address critics who questioned why he was competing in the Knoxville Nationals when there was a conflict with the NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond on Saturday night.
After he won, he said, “I hope all the fans that were [whining] and moaning about us running a prelim night now understand why. So anybody watching at home, on the internet, in the stands, I hope you realize this was the best case scenario and this is exactly why we entered the Knoxville Nationals.”
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