During the 2014 AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, Jeff Gordon and Brad Keselowski were embroiled in a dramatic altercation that left a lasting impression on NASCAR fans. While Jimmie Johnson celebrated on Victory Lane. Immediately after the race, Gordon confronted Keselowski on the pit road. Words were exchanged, and then things escalated.
In a recent interview, Harvick recalled the brawl as a calculated moment. He believed that redirecting the conversation and putting someone else in the spotlight could change the narrative.
From the @HarvickHappyPod …. Kevin Harvick recalls how he helped spark Brad Keselowski-Jeff Gordon brawl at Texas in 2014 https://t.co/NPz0ag3RLA
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) April 9, 2024
Harvick said, “It was awesome to watch, just not awesome to start, right? I was leaning on the decklid at the back of the car watching everything go down. I was like, ‘move man [Keselowski], get in there!’ And next thing you know, there’s a massive fight on pit road. They weren’t talking about me anymore.”
Kevin Harvick watched the chaos unfold, acknowledging that it changed the direction of the conversation. Ironically, Kevin Harvick went on to win the Cup Series championship that year, while Keselowski finished fifth and Gordon sixth.
The drama on the pit lane at Texas Motor Speedway in 2014
Unfortunately for Gordon, a caution for debris set up a green-white-checkered finish. Gordon chose the outside lane for the restart, but Keselowski’s No. 2 car attempted to split the middle between Gordon’s No. 24 and Johnson. The result? A collision between Keselowski and Gordon, caused Gordon to spin out with a flat tire.
Gordon finished a disappointing 29th, dealing a significant blow to his championship hopes. Keselowski received a nudge from behind by Kevin Harvick, which led to both crews getting involved. Punches were thrown as the post-race brawl unfolded. Gordon and Keselowski both ended up with cuts on their lips, while Jimmie Johnson celebrated on Victory Lane.
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