Kevin Harvick backs Bubba Wallace penalty but questions rule necessity

Kevin Harvick defended NASCAR’s penalty against Bubba Wallace at Atlanta Motor Speedway but questioned whether the out-of-bounds rule is necessary at that track. The 2014 NASCAR Cup Series champion weighed in on the controversial call that dropped Wallace from second to 29th place after the race on Sunday, June 18.

What happened at Atlanta?

On the final lap of the race, Wallace took leaders Ryan Blaney and Carson Hocevar three-wide down the backstretch but crossed over the yellow line in the process. NASCAR penalized him under Section 8.3.2 of the rulebook, which states that drivers cannot advance their position by going below the double yellow line. Harvick agreed with the decision, calling it a pretty easy rule to regulate.

Why Harvick supports the penalty

Harvick explained that Wallace clearly gained an advantage by moving from behind the leaders to beside them, violating the rule. You can’t advance your position when you go below that double yellow line, he said. The penalty stripped Wallace of a runner-up finish, a significant blow to his Chase for the Championship hopes.

Harvick’s doubts about the rule

Despite supporting the penalty, Harvick questioned whether Atlanta Motor Speedway needs the same out-of-bounds rule as Daytona and Talladega. I don’t know that we really need the double yellow line rule at Atlanta, he said. He noted that the track’s banking and rough front straightaway make it different from traditional drafting tracks.

What’s next for Wallace?

Wallace’s penalty cost him valuable points in the standings, but Harvick’s comments suggest the rule itself may face further scrutiny. NASCAR has yet to respond to Harvick’s remarks, but the debate over track-specific rules could continue as the season progresses.