In the aftermath, Harvick earns yet another stint on probation while five of his crewmen also get fined, with two of them suspended for this weeks race. So look for Kevin to keep a low profile over the next ten weeks before renewing hostilities with Kurt Busch and everyone else come February at Daytona. And we�ll also see what Harvick can do for an encore during the off-season, perhaps he will feel free to drop a few �GD�s� at GW while he�s at it.

The seeds of the Harvick/Ricky Rudd confrontation were probably laid two years earlier, when Rudd put a clean bump and run on Harvick just after the #29 had done the same to win at Richmond. Afterwards Rudd said �You can't let your temper fly hot, you can't get mad at your opponent. If you do, you'll make mistakes.� Those might be good words for Harvick to go by, and he might even heed to it one of these days. You may also recall Rudd went at it with Rusty Wallace over a late-race incident in the following race at Dover two weeks later. Clearly Rudd is not the #1 driver in NASCAR to mix it up with, remember he has even gone at it with his own employees.

Meanwhile, so much for Harvick making himself to be so much of a saint over Kurt Busch. KB has his faults, and it seems he only backs himself into a corner with race fans further when he attempts to apologize while making himself look innocent. On the other hand, Harvick is the classic �bad-ass�. When Harvick wrecked, he said over the radio that he was going to go at it with Rudd afterwards, and was true to his word. It was exactly the same script as his incident with Biffle 18 months ago. The only difference between Harvick and Busch is that Harvick does not apologize for his actions, which probably adheres him to a lot more fans. All I know is the day Harvick and Busch have a scrape and go at it is going to be a monster. NASCAR may have to park both of them for a while after that happens.

Harvick wasn�t the only RCR driver to be mad after the race, Robby Gordon also had a potential top-five finish go by the boards after getting it in the rear from Jeff Burton. Amazingly, Gordon had rallied from a three-lap deficit just like he did in the Spring race. Robby chose to keep his post-race activities to bashing Burton on TV, saying 'I gave him room, I guess he felt like he had to dump me'. On the radio, Robby promised �to wreck Burton in the next two weeks�!!! To his credit, JB (a stand-up competitor as usual) accepted his responsibility � I just wonder if Robby will follow up on his �promise� as Harvick tends to do.

There were also post-race verbal hostilities in the Busch race after some late bumping between Matt Kenseth and Johnny Sauter. What is a little unusual here is that here were a couple of Wisconsinites going at it, which are kind of foreigners to much of the NASCAR world. Kind of like Hideki Matsui and Ichiro Suzuki trading smack talk during a Mariners/Yankees playoff series. But anytime two drivers chasing a win trade paint in the closing laps, friendships and camaraderie go out the door in a hurry.

Although I sometimes choose to poke fun at drivers fighting and swearing with each other along with other news in the racing world, there are also sobering doses of reality that put things right back in perspective. What was already a rough year for the Dale Jarrett team turned tragically worse when the wife of crew chief Shawn Parker was killed along with her two younger sisters in a horrific fiery interstate accident. The three were riding in a limousine after attending a concert when they were rear-ended by a pickup truck in a construction zone. The pick-up driver was charged with �driving while impaired� along with three counts of second-degree murder. Many who follow NASCAR on a weekly basis may remember that Tara Parker (who was just 29) was the recipient of a heart transplant just two years ago and the couple just recently adopted a baby boy. That is a horrible situation that goes beyond comprehension.

Here are the driver recaps from the Richmond race�

Ryan Newman � Oh yeah, someone won the race. Looks like Ryan might not be noticed until he gets screwed out of a win and brawls with someone. And Newman hasn't been PO'd at anyone since those FOX reporters when he was DNF'ing every week. On this night the #12 dominates the final two-thirds of the race. That�s six wins on the year along with four in the last nine races, leaving Newman with 16 points of the top five and just 181 out of second. The way he�s going ten wins are not out of the question.

Jeremy Mayfield � Who says that Dodges besides the #12 need help??? Jeremy sneaks up in the later stages and becomes the 30th different top-five finisher this year. On any given Saturday�

Jeff Burton � This is one of JB�s stronger tracks, and it look for a while that a long winless streak would be snapped by a driver for a second straight week. This marks only the third top-five of the year for Burton.

Rusty Wallace � Another RIR favorite runs a very quiet race, and often those are the best. Rusty finishes fifth, his first top-five since late April!!!!!

Bobby LaBonte � Finally turning it back around, sixth-place finish gives him consecutive top-tens after seven races outside the top ten.

Matt Kenseth � Gets spun around early and sustains damage, but somehow finishes 7th. Congratulations Matt on your Cup Championship.

Terry LaBonte � Even despite a late tire problem, LaBonte finishes eighth giving him ten straight top-20 appearances, or in other words a ten race winning streak in the top half. Even more incredible, Terry has 20 straight finishes in the top-25.

Johnny Benson � Only his third top ten of the year, remember he shines in the waning races of a season.

Jeff Gordon � It�s time to ask once again if Brooke has the voo-doo going. Led the most laps but faltered yet again, but at least musters a 10th place this time.

Mike Wallace � That #09 (Miccosukee Indian Gaming) can be competitive when entered.

Mark Martin � The 499th race of his career results in a 13th place finish.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. � In what is becoming an all too-common Junior race, he contends for much of the night before cutting a tire and placing 17th a lap down.

Mike Skinner � Polesitter has a decent night and finishes 18th. Now figure this out, the #01 now has two different pole winners but neither are the car�s regular driver.

Jamie McMurray/Greg Biffle � Neither rookie contender escapes unscather with both being involved in incidents along the way. McMurray places 19th with Biffle 20th.

Kurt Busch � Finishes 24th, but he had to be laughing a storm after Harvick went mental.

Michael Waltrip � The demolition portion of the schedule is ruining Waltrip�s season, as he yet again finds trouble early and places 32nd.

Jimmy Spencer � YOU CAN SPONSOR HIS CAR IN 2004. And you can also sponsor this column while your at it. Next to Bristol, this is Jimmy favorite track and he proves it by running in the top ten for much of the night before dropping a cylinder and finishing 36th.

USATODAY plays this little game where you are supposed to pick either an odd or even #�d driver to win the race. Currently, 60 percent are betting on even � so lets compare the two sides.

EVEN: The first of Ryan Newman�s (#12) seven wins came here last year and is near unbeatable on flat tracks while Jimmy Johnson (#48) won the July race. Jeff Gordon (#24) and Tony Stewart (#20) has also enjoyed success here in the past. If looking for a long shot consider Greg Biffle (#16) who finished tenth in July or Ward Burton (#22) who was the July 2002 winner. Dale Jarrett (#88) won in July 2001 and has the most top tens of anyone at NHIS but the distractions regarding the crew chief�s family will probably prove too much this weekend.

ODD: Kurt Busch (#97) finished second to Newman in this race last year Kevin Harvick (#29) and Matt Kenseth (#17) placed 2nd-3rd behind Johnson in July. Jeff Burton (#99) remains the all-time NHIS leader with four wins and is coming off a good effort at Richmond. Robby Gordon (#31) was the fall race winner two years ago.

Look like the even guys got them outnumbered�