NASCAR Cup Series

Joey Logano, Kevin Harvick get testy after Sprint Unlimited

Published Feb. 14, 2015 10:50 p.m. ET

foxsports

The conclusion of the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup season featured a number of driver post-race confrontations, with Matt Kenseth and Brad Keselowski going at it at Charlotte Motor Speedway, then Jeff Gordon and Keselowski brawling at Texas Motor Speedway.

The 2015 Sprint Cup season got off to a similar start as Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano had a confrontation on pit road following Saturday night's Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway.

Harvick, who had damage from an earlier incident, was running on the high side in the closing laps with Logano giving him a shove from behind. Heading into Turn 3, Harvick's car shot into the outside wall, but he was able to keep going with a slight tire rub.

Logano went on to finish sixth, while Harvick finished 11th in the race won by Joe Gibbs Racing's Matt Kenseth.

On the cool-down lap, Harvick gave Logano a shot in the right-side door to show his displeasure, with Logano trying to return the favor just after the initial contact.

Once the two climbed from their cars, Harvick and Logano had words on pit road, with Team Penske crew members standing between the two and NASCAR officials close by.

While the discussion initially remained civil, Logano got fired up, told Harvick to "shut the (expletive) up," and a shoving match nearly ensued, but crew members were able to step in and separate the two drivers.

After being separated, Logano said he was just trying to help Harvick when the No. 4 Chevrolet got into the wall.

"That is Kevin just being an instigator just like everywhere else. It is a new year and the same stuff," Logano said of the post-race scrum. "I was trying to help really, to be honest with you. We had a run and I was pushing. I was doing the same thing with the 78 (Martin Truex Jr.) all night and it was working. We got in the corner and he got tight and he got into the fence. I was trying to help. He just doesn't understand I was trying to help.

"I understand his frustration, but I was trying to help out and get to the front and try to win this thing. There are no points or anything like that, so you go for the win."

Harvick said he went over to Logano after the race to tell him he didn't appreciate the push into the wall.

"He just drove us straight in the fence," said Harvick. "Everybody is trying to be aggressive, but you still have to know when and where you can do things. You can't just drive somebody in the fence.

"I'm just disappointed for my guys on my Jimmy John's team just for the fact that they worked hard to get their car back where it needed to be. And then just one of those deals where you just know that is going to work. Whether it is an All-star race or not, it doesn't really matter; you can't just take your head off and throw it on the floor board and not use your brain."

Fun fun racing tonight! Proud of my @jimmyjohns @StewartHaasRcng team! Sucks the 22 drove us straight in the fence at the end.... Oh well!!
— Kevin Harvick (@KevinHarvick) February 15, 2015

Harvick's Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Danica Patrick was also upset with Logano after the race, showing her displeasure on pit road, much to the surprise of the Team Penske driver.

"I don't know. I am confused," Logano said when asked what Patrick was upset about. "I don't know what's going on right now. I am really confused about everything."