NASCAR’s Kevin Harvick talks about shoving Brad Keselowski in Texas

NASCAR’s Kevin Harvick said Friday he doesn’t regret shoving rival Brad Keselowski, which ignited a post-race brawl last weekend in Texas, but acknowledged he could have handled it differently.

“I never look back on something as a regret,” Harvick said before practice at Phoenix International Raceway, site of the next Sprint Cup Series race Sunday.

“I look back on them as a lesson,” Harvick said. “As you look at the situation, you probably could have handled it differently.”

Jeff Gordon was angry at a late-race move that Keselowski made for the lead Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway, a move that cut a tire on Gordon’s car and sent it into a spin.

After the race ended, Gordon approached Keselowski on pit road. Keselowski appeared to be backing away from Gordon when Harvick, who was watching the proceedings, shoved Keselowski back toward Gordon.

That ignited a melee between Gordon and Keselowski and their crews, and NASCAR later suspended four crew members.

“I have no problem with the way Brad races ... I have no problem with the move” Keselowski made that affected Gordon, Harvick said.

But Harvick said, in that moment, he objected to how Keselowski was walking away from Gordon.

“I’ve been in that situation with him before and had him turn his back on me and just walk off,” Harvick said. “I don’t think that’s the appropriate way to handle those types of situations. It just kind of rubbed me the wrong way and I reacted.”

Harvick, Gordon and Keselowski are among the eight drivers still in contention in NASCAR’s Chase for the Cup title playoff. After the Phoenix race, four drivers will be eliminated and four will advance to the season finale Nov. 16 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

If any of the eight wins at Phoenix, he would automatically advance to the final round. Harvick is a favorite to win Sunday, having won three of the last four races at Phoenix International.

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