Harvick continues feud with Loganos

Speaking at Michigan International Speedway, the current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points leader reviewed a series of incidents that started in a Nationwide Series event at Bristol back in March, a clash that went beyond an on-track exchange and involved Logano's father in the aftermath.

Harvick said Tom Logano had physical contact with a PR representative of his following their Bristol incident, something he claimed to have tried to settle with the 20-year-old in person later at Nashville before a Nationwide Series race. Harvick claimed Logano "laughed" at him when he tried to do so.

"We had the issues at Bristol," said Harvick. "He was fired up, we raced for 40 laps - chop, chop, chop, chop, chop. And that one ended up the way it ended up. We go to Nashville, we get done with Bristol, his dad has physical contact with one my PR people.

"I go to Nashville, I say, 'Alright, Joey. The best thing you can do is get your dad under control,' and he turned around, laughed at me, and said, 'Do you really think that was a big deal?' Obviously, now it's a pretty big deal.

"So at that particular point, I said obviously he really doesn't want to take any advice and doesn't want to talk about things any further than what he thinks is right.

"So, we go to Phoenix, [he] crashes in the back of me, tries to put me out down the straightaway, blow it off. Go to Richmond, last restart, dumps me out of the way, lose four or five spots. So at that point I get out of the car, tell him how I feel. Go to Pocono, and race hard. Same thing happened. That's how you've got to race him from my standpoint.

"I tried to break the ice at Nashville at driver intros, and basically he turned around and told me that his dad having problems with my PR person was not a big deal and pretty much laughed in my face. So at this point, it's up to him."

The Richard Childress Racing driver hit out at Logano's father, saying he should stay away from his son's racing, like other fathers do at Cup level.

"His father has no place in this," said Harvick. "His father needs to stick back and act like all of the rest of the dads, and be happy that his kid's here. This isn't Little League baseball anymore. He just needs to stay away and act like a 50-year-old man, or however old he is."

Harvick admitted Logano is deserving of a place at NASCAR's top level and expects him to be there for a long time. However he says he must learn more about handling himself both on and off the track, as he believes his father is influencing his racing more than he should.

Logano's father pushed a JGR team member to allow his son to confront Harvick following the race last Sunday.

"Racing hard is one thing, but chopping and blocking and not giving somebody a lane to race is a different thing," Harvick said. "Joey Logano is a good racecar driver. He deserves to be here. He's going to have a long career at this level.

"The hardest part to figure about this sport is how the politics work, how the on-track stuff works, and how to handle yourself as a racecar driver, and unfortunately he's 20.

"He's not Tony Stewart. The team guys, obviously, all miss Tony Stewart and the way he raced in the #20 car and race winning, championships, and he can handle everything himself.

"Now he's getting pushed, and it's very evident who's pushing him the most, and that's his dad. I mean his dad shoved him into a pile like a dog chasing after a bone last week to go over there and want to fight."