“If you don’t know anything about racing, just keep your opinion to yourself because you shouldn’t even have an opinion if you don’t know anything about a sport,” stated Kevin Harvick in response to Stephen A. Smith‘s claim that NASCAR drivers are not athletes.
This exchange occurred as Smith criticized the athleticism of racecar drivers during a discussion on ESPN. Harvick, a seasoned NASCAR competitor with 60 wins to his name, decided to counter with hard data, emphasizing the physical demands of racing.
Harvick revealed that he burned 3,200 calories during a race, according to his Polar watch data. He later retested and found that he burned 2,400 calories in a race with caution periods. This significant calorie expenditure highlights the intense physical effort required by NASCAR drivers.
Yet, Smith maintained his stance, asserting that driving a car does not equate to athletic prowess. He stated simply, “A NASCAR driver is not an athlete.” This perspective seems at odds with the experiences of elite drivers who endure extreme conditions behind the wheel.
Harvick didn’t hold back in his rebuttal. He emphasized that “any elite driver, they are an elite athlete,” pointing out the rigorous training and endurance required in the sport. Drivers often lose several pounds due to dehydration during races—a fact that further underscores their athleticism.
Interestingly, Harvick noted that the only other competition with similar calorie burn is among marathon runners—an assertion that draws a parallel between two seemingly different sports.
The debate over what constitutes an athlete continues to evolve, and it appears that this clash of opinions will not be settled easily. As Harvick aptly put it: “I think this is just instance where Stephen A. Smith is looking for clicks on something he knows absolutely nothing about what he’s talking about.” The conversation around NASCAR’s legitimacy as a sport—and its drivers as athletes—remains ongoing.
