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CONCORD -- Kevin Harvick and Carl Edwards scuffled in the garage Thursday at Lowe's Motor Speedway, continuing a feud that ignited last weekend.

Edwards triggered a 12-car crash at Talladega Superspeedway that collected several title contenders, including Harvick. Afterward, Harvick called Edwards "a pansy" for riding around in the back of the pack for most of the race until his late charge.

The Charlotte Observer reported Edwards left a handwritten note for Harvick with his pilot after that race. The Observer reported Edwards' note stated: "Kevin, Thanks for (expletive) me on TV -- I was really trying to screw up everyone's day. Love, Carl."

Witnesses reported that Edwards approached Harvick to talk Thursday in the Nationwide garage during a rain delay and that the discussion turned into an argument. Harvick turned to walk away. Edwards grabbed him by the shoulder. Harvick shoved Edwards, who fell back on to the hood of Harvick's Nationwide car. Others joined in with a member of Harvick's entourage grabbing Edwards in a headlock before order was restored.

Edwards declined to comment several times when asked Thursday. Harvick was unavailable for comment.

NASCAR officials considered the event a non-issue and no penalties would be issued.

DEBUTS DELAYED: Rain canceled qualifying Thursday at Lowe's Motor Speedway and delayed the NASCAR Sprint Cup debuts of three drivers.

Brad Keselowski (Hendrick Motorsports), Scott Speed (Red Bull Racing) and Bryan Clauson (Chip Ganassi Racing) all were scheduled to make their debut this weekend. They were among the four cars that didn't make the field after it was set by the rulebook.

Speed will attempt to make his debut next weekend at Martinsville Speedway. Keselowski will attempt to make his debut at Texas Motor Speedway.

Points leader Jimmie Johnson will start on the pole with Carl Edwards starting beside him.

Greg Biffle, 77 points behind Johnson, will start third, followed by Jeff Burton, Clint Bowyer and Kevin Harvick.

Tony Stewart, who ended a 43-race winless streak Sunday at Talladega, will start seventh, followed by defending race champion Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Kasey Kahne, who swept the All-Star race and Coca-Cola 600 in the spring, will start 15th. But while he's the hottest driver at the track, Johnson still earns respect at the place he once owned.

"I do think it's a big advantage to start up front," Johnson said. "The track has changed a lot, especially with this new asphalt that is down and the tire that we run on it."

NEW SPONSOR: Stewart-Haas Racing announced that the U.S. Army will sponsor Ryan Newman's car next season for 23 races, including the all-star race.

Car owner Tony Stewart said he anticipated that the team could announce Newman's crew chief within two weeks. An announcement on a sponsor for the remaining races likely would come after the crew chief announcement, Stewart said.

The contract with the U.S. Army is a one-year deal with two one-year options since military branches are limited to one-year contracts. An Army official stated that Dale Earnhardt Inc. did bid to retain the sponsorship but the partnership of Newman with Stewart's teams was too attractive.

FEELING BETTER: Denny Hamlin says he's feeling better after his crash at Talladega last weekend that left him hospitalized for a night for observation.

"I definitely still feel it, that's for sure," Hamlin said Thursday. "It was definitely the hardest hit that I've ever had. Hopefully, that will be the hardest hit that I ever have in my career because I couldn't imagine it being much worse."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Contact Dustin Long at 373-7062 or dustin.long@news-record.com