Photos Show Edwards Had Harvick by the Neck

Photographs of the scuffle between Carl Edwards and Kevin Harvick show a more physical confrontation than witnesses described, with Edwards at one point grabbing Harvick by the throat.

Drivers Kevin Harvick, left, and Carl Edwards, right, scuffle in the Nationwide series garage area...

Drivers Kevin Harvick, left, and Carl Edwards, right, scuffle in the Nationwide series garage area during practice for the NASCAR Nationwide Series General Dollar 300 auto race at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008. (AP Photo)

(AP)

The two NASCAR stars argued during Thursday's practice when Edwards confronted Harvick in his garage stall at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The photographs, obtained Saturday by The Associated Press, show the two drivers clutching each other as their conversation grew heated.

In the five different frames, Edwards is shown grabbing Harvick by the throat, and Harvick pushing him off him and onto the hood of Harvick's car.

Witness accounts said the two argued, Harvick turned to walk away from Edwards, and Edwards grabbed his shoulder to turn him back around. Witnesses said Harvick responded by shoving Edwards onto the car, and crew members rushing in to separate the two.

Edwards allegedly was put in a headlock by a Harvick team member as the drivers were separated.

"It's pretty well-documented everything that happened," Harvick said Friday. "Best thing I can tell you is we were in our pit stall and just protected our turf."

Both Edwards and Harvick were called before top NASCAR officials before the start of Saturday night's race to discuss their feud.

"NASCAR just wanted to make sure everything is cool, and they left here walking side-by-side together and talking," spokesman Jim Hunter said. "We just wanted to hear them say `it's over' and they did."

Hunter said the two drivers met with NASCAR president Mike Helton, vice president of competition Robin Pemberton and Sprint Cup Series director John Darby. It was noted that the two raced each other without incident in Friday night's Nationwide Series race, when Edwards finished fifth and Harvick sixth while running near each other for most of the event.

"When it comes right down to it, they are professionals," Hunter said.

The two had been squabbling since last Sunday, when Edwards triggered a 12-car crash that took out several championship contenders at Talladega Superspeedway. Edwards immediately accepted blame for the accident.