Kevin Harvick takes subtle jibe at Tony Stewart ahead of Hendrick Motorsports opportunity

Former Stewart-Haas Racing driver Kevin Harvick took a subtle dig at his ex-boss Tony Stewart during the media availability at North Wilkesboro Speedway. He was asked about the differences between Hendrick Motorsports and Stewart-Haas racing a day before the highly-anticipated All-Star race.

Kevin Harvick will return behind the wheel of Kyle Larson's number 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 during the practice and qualifying sessions of the 2024 NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

Just a day before the 2024 NASCAR All-Star race, the 48-year-old was asked as to what was different at Hendrick Motorsports than his previous team Stewart-Haas Racing.

The 48-year-old laughed and said that he heard twice from the owner in as many weeks, thus taking a dig at Tony Stewart.

"I heard from the owner twice in two weeks, so that's different. It's interesting to see just the race job and the structure and the way that everybody goes about it differently," Harvick said.

Harvick also said that Hendrick Motorsports was run like a business which was part of a structure.

"I mean there's a million different ways you can do things but the thing that sticks out for me about Hendrick Motorsports in general, is it's truly run like a business that is a part of an actual structure of how things flow who you talk to and just the depth of the business side and the racing side is deep. And I like structure. That is something that has been good to see," said Harvick.

Kevin Harvick joined Stewart-Haas Racing in 2014 and won his first and only Cup Series championship that year. He retired after the 2023 season and took up the job of a NASCAR analyst with FOX Sports. The American won 60 races throughout his career, which places him 10th on the all-time wins list.

Harvick won the Daytona 500 in 2007. Besides three Brickyard 400 wins, he has two victories each in the crown-jewel Southern 500, Coca-Cola 600, and the NASCAR All-Star Race.

Kevin Harvick on racing at the All-Star race

Kyle Larson is currently at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, qualifying for the Indy 500. As a result, Kevin Harvick found himself wearing a driver's outfit. After taking up the one-time opportunity to fill in for the 2021 Cup Series champion, Harvick said,

"It’s definitely not the attire that I thought I would be wearing this year. But it’s been a fun process."

The 48-year-old also said that he was glad to get into the Hendrick Motorsports team.

"I was very fortunate to have a very, very good race team at Stewart-Haas,” Harvick explained, via racer.com . “To walk into another very, very good race team and see the things that go on and happen, it’s fun to get a peek behind the curtain. I think that Kyle is very good at whatever he races, but Cliff (Daniels) is also very understanding of the fact that he’s off racing other things."

Harvick ran 90 laps in Kyle Larson's ride during Friday's practice session. Working closely with Larson's crew chief Cliff Daniels and collaborating with one of the winningest teams in NASCAR has given Harvick a first-hand insight into how methodically Hendrick Motorsports is eyeing a back-to-back win in the All-Star race. Last year, Kyle Larson won the star-studded event.

Nevertheless, Harvick cannot drive in the heat races as he is not a full-time driver. Unfortunately, Larson won't be able to make it back to South Carolina for the heat laps, which means that he will start last in the field of the All-Star race on Sunday.