Tony Stewart Reveals Epic Prank War with Kevin Harvick: The Story Behind Their Legendary NASCAR Rivalry
In the world of NASCAR, rivalries and friendships can be intense, with drivers facing off on the track and often letting off steam in unexpected ways. Few rivalries are as famous as the one between NASCAR legends Tony Stewart and Kevin Harvick, but what many fans may not realize is that their clashes weren’t always limited to racing. Recently, Tony Stewart shared a hilarious story about a prank war he and Harvick engaged in, and it’s clear that their competitiveness and mutual respect also extended to practical jokes that sometimes went a little too far.
Setting the Stage for a Prank War
Stewart and Harvick have both enjoyed stellar careers in NASCAR, with both drivers winning championships and securing their places among the sport’s all-time greats. But their journeys to the top weren’t always serious. As Stewart recalls, their personalities clashed in a playful, mischievous way that fueled their friendship and kept things light amid the intensity of racing. During a recent interview, Stewart revealed some behind-the-scenes stories about their pranks, giving fans a glimpse into the playful side of their rivalry.
The two had a history of teasing each other in small ways at first. Stewart explained, “Racing can get pretty tense, and sometimes you need to blow off a little steam. Kevin and I both had this unspoken agreement that if we weren’t trying to one-up each other with pranks, something was off.” As the pranks escalated, what started as harmless fun quickly turned into a full-blown prank war, with each driver trying to outdo the other in increasingly elaborate and risky stunts.
The First Shot: Stewart’s Fake Interview Scandal
The prank war began when Stewart decided to stage a fake interview setup to fool Harvick. According to Stewart, he hired a few friends to pose as reporters at one of the race events, complete with microphones, cameras, and all the bells and whistles. They approached Harvick with questions that were both nonsensical and borderline embarrassing, asking him things like, “How do you feel about your decision to only drive backwards for half the race?” and “Rumor has it you’re switching to a vegan diet to improve performance—any truth to that?” Stewart watched from a distance as Harvick’s face showed initial confusion, which quickly morphed into irritation.
Harvick, however, took the prank in stride, even delivering a few ridiculous responses of his own. Stewart recalled, “Kevin’s smart, so he caught on pretty quick. But instead of calling me out, he played along and told the ‘reporters’ he was looking into racing on one wheel to save fuel.” Harvick’s response impressed Stewart, who realized he had met his match.
Harvick Strikes Back: The Car-Switch Scheme
Not one to be outdone, Harvick planned his own payback at the next race. Stewart’s crew began to notice some odd changes made to his car just hours before the event. At first, they thought it was a mistake, but upon closer inspection, they realized Harvick had enlisted the help of a few crew members to secretly tweak Stewart’s car so it would make bizarre, unexpected noises on the track.
Stewart didn’t realize what was happening until he started his practice laps. “I’m doing my run, and out of nowhere, there’s this clucking sound—like a chicken—every time I hit a turn,” Stewart laughed, recalling the memory. “At first, I thought something was wrong with the car. Then I realized this was Kevin’s way of messing with my head.”
Although the sounds were harmless, Stewart admitted it threw him off. “He knew exactly how to get under my skin. I spent the whole practice thinking, ‘What is wrong with my car?’ It was only after the race that he came up to me and confessed.”
The Office Prank: A Stinky Surprise
The pranks didn’t stop on the track, either. Stewart took the next prank to a new level by targeting Harvick’s personal space. During a visit to Harvick’s office, Stewart secretly planted a few pieces of strong-smelling cheese in the air conditioning vents. Over the next few days, the stench began to fill Harvick’s office, confusing everyone who entered.
Harvick’s team searched high and low for the source of the smell, assuming something had gone bad in the office fridge or that there was a maintenance issue. But after several days, Stewart couldn’t help but confess. “I figured it out eventually because Tony couldn’t stop laughing every time he came by the office,” Harvick shared. “After I found the cheese, I knew he wasn’t done, and neither was I.”
The Grand Finale: The Glitter Bomb Incident
The prank war finally reached its peak when Harvick decided to give Stewart a parting gift of sorts. Stewart’s car, which was his pride and joy, was often parked near the team trailers. Harvick decided to surprise him by filling the car’s interior with glitter. Stewart recalled the moment with mixed horror and laughter. “I opened my car door, and it was like a glitter bomb had gone off. It was everywhere—my seat, the dashboard, even the steering wheel. I couldn’t get rid of it for months.”
As much as Stewart was frustrated by the prank, he admitted that it was a fitting end to their ongoing war. “I could have tried to keep it going, but that was Kevin’s way of saying, ‘I won,’ and he did. He got me good,” Stewart said.
The Aftermath: A Friendship Forged Through Pranks
Stewart and Harvick’s prank war might sound like a typical case of two competitive personalities clashing, but for them, it became a way to strengthen their friendship. “Kevin and I both needed that outlet,” Stewart explained. “We respect each other on the track, but off the track, we’re just two guys trying to get a laugh and keep things light.”
Harvick agreed, noting that in the high-stress world of NASCAR, humor is essential. “When you’re racing at top speeds, everything is intense. But at the end of the day, we’re all human. Tony and I might have driven each other crazy, but we were always there for each other when it counted.”
To this day, Stewart and Harvick still find ways to keep their friendship fresh with pranks and humor, though they both agreed that the prank war had reached its peak with the glitter bomb. Fans of the two drivers, however, can’t help but hope for a new round of pranks, wondering if either one might still have one more trick up his sleeve.
Conclusion: An Epic Rivalry That’s More Than Just Racing
Stewart and Harvick’s prank war has become a legend in NASCAR, symbolizing the lighter side of a sport known for its intensity. It shows that even the fiercest competitors can find a way to let off steam and have fun. As Stewart said, “We may be rivals on the track, but off the track, it’s all in good fun. I think that’s what keeps us grounded and reminds us why we started racing in the first place.”
Their story is a reminder that sometimes the best friendships are forged not just through victory or competition but through a shared sense of humor and the joy of a well-executed prank.