Edwards, Harvick involved in garage altercation

Sprint Cup drivers Carl Edwards and Kevin Harvick were involved in an altercation Thursday in the Nationwide Series garage at Lowe's Motor Speedway, multiple witnesses confirmed.

Witnesses said Edwards approached Harvick in the garage stall housing Harvick's No. 33 Chevrolet and engaged in conversation. Following what a witness called a heated discussion, Harvick turned to walk away and Edwards grabbed him by the shoulder and spun him around.

According to reports Harvick then shoved Edwards in retaliation, forcing Edwards onto the hood of the No. 33 Chevy. No. 33 crew chief Rick Ren pointed to a dent in the hood where he said Edwards landed. Others on site then proceeded to separate the drivers, and witnesses said Edwards was grabbed around the neck in a headlock by Harvick's motor-home driver, Jeff Smith.

No punches were thrown, witnesses said.

NASCAR did not immediately comment on the issue.

Edwards and Harvick were not immediately available to comment.

Witnesses claim the verbal exchange Thursday was in reference to a handwritten note Edwards left in a seat on Harvick's airplane following the AMP Energy 500 last weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. The note facetiously thanked Harvick for disparaging comments he made toward Edwards on ABC following a multi-car wreck on Lap 174 of 188, which was triggered when Edwards tapped teammate Greg Biffle. Harvick was collected in the incident. ESPN.com