NASCAR's Kevin Harvick Proposes 'NFL-Style' Pit Crew Draft

Harvick believes a draft would improve pit crew talent, but teams are unlikely to embrace the idea.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 4:40pm

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NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick has proposed an 'NFL-style' pit crew draft, where teams would have to put their pit crew members into a league-wide pool to be drafted. Harvick believes this would improve the overall talent level of pit crews, but acknowledges that teams who have invested heavily in their own pit crews will likely be opposed to the idea.

Why it matters

Pit crews play a crucial role in NASCAR races, with quick tire changes and refueling being essential to a driver's success. Harvick's proposal aims to level the playing field and ensure more consistent pit crew performance across the sport.

The details

On his 'Happy Hour' podcast, Harvick suggested that NASCAR should implement an 'NFL-style' pit crew draft, where teams would have to put their pit crew members into a league-wide pool to be drafted. This would prevent teams from hoarding top pit crew talent. Co-host Mamba Smith agreed, noting that other leagues use a similar system when new teams join. However, Harvick acknowledged that teams who have invested heavily in building their own pit crews will likely oppose the idea, saying 'the teams are going to be pissed'.

  • Harvick proposed the idea on his 'Happy Hour' podcast in April 2026.

The players

Kevin Harvick

A veteran NASCAR driver who has proposed an 'NFL-style' pit crew draft to improve overall talent and parity across the sport.

Mamba Smith

The co-host of Harvick's 'Happy Hour' podcast, who agreed with the idea of a pit crew draft modeled after other professional leagues.

Ryan Blaney

A NASCAR driver whose pit crew has struggled this season, ranking among the worst in the Cup Series.

Landon Honeycutt

Blaney's jackman, who the driver says is still learning and improving despite the pit crew's struggles.

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What they’re saying

“I would love the pit crew draft. I've been preaching this for several years. Now, the teams are going to be pissed because they put all the money to go try to find their own people. But I think you should have to put them in the system, and let's have this NFL-style pit crew draft every year.”

— Kevin Harvick, NASCAR Driver

“In theory, it's a great idea, and it would be a lot of fun. The pit crew guys would hate it.”

— Kevin Harvick, NASCAR Driver

“I'm not going to call out Landon. I think there's been some other things that have contributed to maybe it looking like he's struggled a little bit. He is green, and he is a little new, so there are some things he's got to clean up.”

— Ryan Blaney, NASCAR Driver

What’s next

NASCAR officials have not indicated whether they will consider Harvick's proposal for a pit crew draft. Teams are likely to resist the idea, as they have invested significant resources into building their own pit crews.

The takeaway

Harvick's proposal highlights the importance of pit crews in NASCAR and the desire to create more parity across the sport. While an 'NFL-style' draft may improve overall talent, it would face significant pushback from teams who have built their own pit crew programs.