These days, that's enough to make him one of the most unpopular drivers on the Nextel Cup circuit, many of his rivals viewing him as an impetuous loner who doesn't care how many cars he wrecks along the way.
The crash victims were livid at Harvick, saying he had no business "bump drafting'' the lead car as they came through one of the high-banked turns. Some wondered if the move had anything to do with a simmering feud between the drivers that goes back to last season.
That's nothing new to Harvick. He received a one-race suspension in 2002 for rough driving. The following year, NASCAR levied a $35,000 fine after he flipped out at Richmond, intentionally banging into Ricky Rudd's car after they tangled late in a race.
Harvick is considered NASCAR's most volatile driver, capable of causing a wreck on the track or unleashing a scathing critique of a competitor off of it. He has long-standing feuds with Greg Biffle, Kurt Busch and Robby Gordon.
He also was the first driver in NASCAR history to be suspended for a race. NASCAR officials refused to let him compete in a 2002 race at Martinsville because of his behavior.
"He just drives stupid,'' Nemechek said. "He'll get it back. It was totally uncalled-for what happened out there. Everybody is racing and he's trying to turn people around in the middle of the corner.''
