Notebook: Harvick will 'speak his mind'

HAMPTON, Ga. -- Kevin Harvick has always been one to speak his mind. On Friday at Atlanta Motor Speedway, he said NASCAR's recent crackdown on inappropriate langauge isn't going to change that.

"I speak my mind," Harvick said. "It's up to you all to edit me."

ALSO  Sauter fined $10,000

NASCAR fined Johnny Sauter $10,000, deducted 25 NASCAR Busch Series championship driver points and placed him on probation through Dec. 31 last week for using what it termed "inappropriate language" following the Busch Series Sam's Town 300 on March 6 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Harvick himself was fined $35,000 and placed on probation by NASCAR last September for using a curse word during a TNT interview at Richmond International Raceway following a post-race confrontation with Ricky Rudd.

"It's our responsibility to watch what we say," Harvick said. "The networks wanted you to spice it up, but now that's all over, so I guess you have to make sure what network you're talking to."

Busch crashes primary car

Kurt Busch backed his car into the wall during the Friday's early practice. The team elected to take the engine from the primary car and place it i the backup. It appeared not to do the trick, as Busch qualified 20th.

Nextel Cup drivers to try Truck Series

	Michael Waltrip

Seven Nextel Cup Series drivers will make onetime apperances in upcoming Craftsman Truck Series, driving a special No. 47 Morgan-Dollar Motorsports Chevrolets featuring paint schemes of various musical artists.

Michael Waltrip will be the first to run. He'll drive a Sheryl Crow paint scheme in the Tailgate 200 at Lowe's Motor Speedway on May 21. Robby Gordon will run at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 25, Tony Stewart will run at Richmond on September 9, Ricky Craven will run at New Hampshire on Sept. 18, Bobby Labonte will be behind the wheel at Martinsville n Oct. 23 and Ward Burton will run at Darlington on Nov. 12.

The team will also enter the Phoenix race on Nov. 5 with a driver to be named.

Petty charity ride to celebrate 10th anniversary

Kyle Petty will stage another "Charity Ride Across America" this season, beginning May 1 in Palm Desert, Calif. The ride, to benefit the Victory Junction Gang Camp, will make overnight stops in Las Vegas, Flagstaff, Ariz., Roswell, N.M., Oklahoma City, Branson, Mo., Tupelo, Miss. and Atlanta.

The ride will conclude May 8 at a special event for ride participants at the camp itself in Randleman, N.C.

To celebrate the event, Petty's No. 45 Dodge will sport a special paint scheme for the Nextel Cup event at California Speedway in Fontana on May 2.

Popeye going for a ride at Daytona

To celebrate Popeye The Sailor Man's 75th anniversary, Evernham Motorsports drivers Kasey Kahne and Jeremy Mayfield will drive special Popeye paint schemes for the Pepsi 400 at Daytona in July.

"Maybe we can pack some spinach in our Dodge that will give us a little extra boost," said Jeremy Mayfield.