DAYTONA — Kevin Harvick never got his nickname “Happy” for being at a loss for words.

In fact he is one of the most refreshing professional athletes you will encounter when it comes to sharing his opinions.

Which is what he did Friday at Daytona International Speedway on the subject of safety when speeds hit above 205 m.p.h. as they did all week for Sprint Cup cars.

“I think it’s all safe until you hit something,” Harvick said. “I always tell people you never really realize how fast you are going until you hit something, then it hurts.

“I don’t think 210 (m.p.h.) is probably safe for the people sitting in the first 20 rows, I don’t think so. So it’s just one of those things that you have pop up and you really don’t know the answer to.

“The ironic thing about this is, I was standing in the garage a couple of days ago and Donny Allison came up and he’s like ‘all these people think this is new’. I’m like ‘what do you mean’. He’s like ‘me and Richard Petty’ lapped the field doing this. So maybe you should talk to those guys because obviously this isn’t something that’s brand new.”

Whatever you say, Kevin.