Michael “Fatback” McSwain Threatens to Whip Kevin Harvick

When an interviewee grins before the question lands, you know a good story is coming, Michael “Fatback” McSwain lights up as he retells the Richmond showdown where veteran Ricky Rudd and young Kevin Harvick nearly came to blows, and the pit road tension behind the scenes is as good as the on-track drama.

• How did a mid-race nudge turn into one of the most talked about short track moments of the year, and who really had the upper hand, Rudd or Harvick?
• What did Fatback do on pit road that would make a calm NASCAR official visibly shaken, and why did he feel the need to challenge Harvick face-to-face?
• Where did the bump-and-run fit in? Was it hard racing or something more personal, and how did the crowd and team react in real time?
• After the dust settled, what did that win mean for McSwain, Rudd, and the legacy of that Robert Yates Racing number 28 team?

This is one of those oral history moments that feels handwritten, greasy with personality and small, perfect details, from the grin before the story to the finger on pit road, it’s storytelling that turns a race clip into a character study. If you like the smoky, human side of NASCAR, this is the kind of anecdote that tastes like short track beer and late pit conversations. Watch it with the sound up, tell us which line made you laugh or wince, and drop your take in the comments, did Rudd do the right thing or did Harvick get robbed of respect?

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