Harvick

	Hamilton

TALLADEGA, Ala. -- Adding to the slower pace of restrictor plate racing and the likely "big one" smash-up at Talladega Superspeedway will be the glare and focus of attention this weekend on the No. 29 Chevrolet of Kevin Harvick. Harvick was suspended from last Sunday's race at Martinsville, Va., due to several incidents with Coy Gibbs in a Craftsman Truck Series event one day earlier.

Harvick not only missed Sunday's race, he was fined $35,000 and remains on probation for the remainder of this season.

One slip-up, one false move, one on-track temper outburst, and Harvick could be gone for the rest of the season. While Bobby Hamilton likes the young Harvick, he feels NASCAR's interceding actions were the right thing both for the sanctioning body and Harvick himself.

"I think what they've done right there is pour the foundation," Hamilton said. "So many times, in different scenarios, NASCAR has told us, 'Guys, don't let us make a judgment call.'"

"What's happened is we've pushed as a group to have to be as harsh. I think in the big picture, it's going to be a lot better deal."

"Myself, I thought it was a good deal. I don't mean that towards Kevin or anything. He's a great race car driver, the sport needs him and he'll do us a good job, but I think it'll help Kevin and all of us in the long run.

And while similar instances in years past may have forced NASCAR to look the other way, particularly when it came to stars such as Dale Earnhardt, Hamilton said that won't be the case any longer, even with present day stars such as Tony Stewart or Jeff Gordon.

"I think what they want is people to act on a professional basis. They know our tempers are going to flare in a race car, but they want us to handle it in a proper way, which is to come talk to them after the race and let them help us get it fixed for the next race."

But at the same time, Hamilton can very easily empathize with Harvick. One day after Harvick's on-track imbroglio with Gibbs at Martinsville, Hamilton was spun out with two laps left in Sunday's Cup race. His first reaction was for revenge.

	“	If you've got a problem with a guy -- and NASCAR won't like this -- follow him out the gate, go down to a store and punch him in the nose or something. We need to quit wrecking these race cars, it's other people's money, and you're jeopardizing taking 3 or 4 other people's equipment that weren't even involved in what put that chip on your shoulder. ”
		— Hamilton

"The first thing I thought was, 'Who wrecked me?' I was trying to get my car started because I was going to hit 'em when they came off turn 4," Hamilton admitted. "But the first thing I thought of was they made Harvick sit at home. What they did was make us all think, and I guarantee you we'll see a lot milder race when we go back to Martinsville and Bristol again."

As for the high speeds and danger ever present at Talladega, Hamilton says, "You need not carry any grudges whatsoever when you walk through the gate at Talladega. If you've got a problem with a guy -- and NASCAR won't like this -- follow him out the gate, go down to a store and punch him in the nose or something. We need to quit wrecking these race cars, it's other people's money, and you're jeopardizing taking 3 or 4 other people's equipment that weren't even involved in what put that chip on your shoulder."

Team Owner Andy Petree agrees with Hamilton, adding that the combined enforcement efforts by NASCAR and ever-vigilant team owner Richard Childress should hopefully reign in Harvick and his temper.

"Richard is going to get Kevin's attention, and I bet that's part of NASCAR's strategy, to get Richard to help them to keep Kevin under control," Hamilton said. "I think Kevin is a great talent and he is really good for the sport.

"But, here's the problem with what's going on right now with Kevin: There's a lot of guys out there that are probably going to want to take advantage of him. He's on probation, they know now that all the shots he's given them, they're going to rub on him because he can't do anything. A lot of people can aggravate him on that racetrack, and it'll create a lot more challenges for Richard and Kevin on the track, because these guys are going to, not exactly take shots, but will rub on him a little bit and try to aggravate him, knowing he can't do anything about it. I think that's going to be a residual thing.

"I think you'll see a more restrained Kevin Harvick, but it's going to be forcible. He's not going to be acting in his natural way, and I think that's almost not good. His competitiveness and spirit, I think it's good for the sport. I think it rubs some people the wrong way, and you can't go out there and wreck people -- and I think they're going to get his attention on that, and I think he'll realize that's not the right thing to do. To get in a shoving match with Coy Gibbs in a truck race and jeopardize a great career is kind of foolish. I think he'll realize that after this deal."

Jerry Bonkowski covers NASCAR for ESPN.com.