Edwards has a track record of raising hackles among peers

BRISTOL, TENN.

Kevin Harvick calls Carl Edwards a "fake."

Tony Stewart once referred to Edwards as Eddie Haskell, the sneaky character from "Leave it to Beaver."

Brad Keselowski? He called for Edwards to be suspended after Edwards wrecked him two weeks ago at Atlanta, sending his car airborne in the process.

Yet, this is also the same Edwards who has given his trophies to children after winning races and is in his third year as the national spokesman for a charity that provides financial support to more than 350 children's organizations.

Doesn't matter to Harvick. This week, on "Bubba the Love Sponge" radio show, he said Edwards was "fake as hell."

Told of that comment Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway, Keselowski nearly spit out the water he was drinking.

Harvick wasn't done. Friday, he said Edwards can't possibly be all the things he seems to be: "You can't be the nice guy, you can't be the bad guy and you can't be the bully. So, that's just how I feel about that."

Edwards fired back, telling The Associated Press:

"I have absolutely no respect for (Harvick). I think he's a bad person.... I've told him that. We've had our deal before and his actions through that... were so devious and underhanded and cowardly that I just have no respect for him. When people like that question me, it makes me feel better because if those people were lined up patting me on the back, I'd be on the wrong side of what's right and wrong.

"I am not trying to be a good guy or a bad guy. That's just who I am "

Harvick declined to comment on those remarks.

This isn't the first time Harvick and Edwards have clashed. Two years ago, they scuffled in the Nationwide garage at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The issue stemmed from an incident a week earlier when Edwards triggered a multi-car crash at Talladega by bumping teammate Greg Biffle. Harvick was among the drivers collected. He chastised Edwards for riding in the back of the field most of the race until late, calling Edwards a "pansy" for the tactic.

"The Charlotte Observer" reported that Edwards left Harvick a sarcastically handwritten note after that race that ended with "Love, Carl."

The following week, Edwards approached Harvick in the garage. Their conversation grew heated. According to witnesses, Harvick turned to walk away when Edwards grabbed him by the shoulder and spun him around. Harvick then shoved Edwards, forcing Edwards onto the hood of Harvick's car.

Edwards has had incidents with other drivers, too. He won the Bristol night race two years ago by bumping leader Kyle Busch out of the way - a standard move at this track. Busch ran into the side of Edwards' car after the race. Edwards spun Busch.

Edwards said he wouldn't apologize for his winning move.

Edwards said at the time the "score's even" between the two, noting it was payback for an incident between them in the Nationwide race at Richmond three months earlier. "It just cost him more than it cost me at the time."

Edwards also had an incident with Dale Earnhardt Jr. in a Busch race at Michigan in 2007. Earnhardt spun Edwards in the final laps as they raced for the lead. Edwards returned from the pits and rammed Earnhardt's car under caution and then went to Victory Lane to talk to him.

And there was the time three years ago, Edwards pushed teammate Matt Kenseth away from an interview after the fall Martinsville race to discuss an incident during the race. The conversation grew heated and a Speed Channel camera caught Edwards as he feigned throwing a punch at Kenseth.

Again, this also is the same Edwards who befriended the 18-year-old race fan injured by debris when his car went airborne and into the fence at Talladega last year as he raced Keselowski for the win. Edwards pledged last fall that if he won at Talladega, he'd give her the trophy.

A garage insider compares Edwards to the gunslinging preacher from the Wild West, who can give the sermon Sunday morning but isn't afraid to use a gun if pressed Sunday afternoon.

So, who is Carl Edwards? Asked whether people get the wrong impression of Edwards, Biffle, his teammate, was noncommittal. He said the two don't often spend much time together, with Edwards living in Missouri and Biffle in North Carolina.

"I don't know what to say," Biffle said.

Notes Joey Logano won his first career Sprint Cup pole Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway with a lap of 124.630 mph.

Kurt Busch will start second after a lap of 123.857 mph. Dave Blaney (123.849 mph), Jimmie Johnson (123.818) and Jeff Gordon (123.698) complete the top five.

Max Papis and Mike Bliss failed to qualify. Bobby Labonte went to a backup car after crashing during practice.