Steve Harvey cracks 'em up at AMS

HAMPTON - Steve Harvey never felt more overdressed.<br> <br> When the actor-comedian showed up at Atlanta Motor Speedway to promote the movie ``Racing Stripes,&#39;&#39; he was decked out in a brown suit with a matching brimmed hat and a bright yellow tie.<br> <br> ``They didn&#39;t tell me I was coming to the race track. Me and my entire crew are dressed like pimps,&#39;&#39; Harvey quipped Saturday. ``I&#39;ve never wanted a T-shirt badder in my entire life than I do today.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> The movie, set to be released in January, chronicles an abandoned zebra who longs to race. Harvey provides the voice of Buzz, an animated horsefly who wants to break free of the barnyard life.<br> <br> As part of the promotional effort, Jeff Gordon donned a zebra-striped race suit and unveiled a No. 24 car that carries the same paint scheme. Proceeds from the movie&#39;s premiere will go to the Jeff Gordon Foundation and benefit charities for children.<br> <br> ``It&#39;s really something for all ages,&#39;&#39; said Gordon, who got a special viewing of the movie before a race at Talladega. ``I don&#39;t want to give too much away about the movie, but it is a great message, a great inspiration and certainly plays a great role in what we do out there on the racetrack.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Harvey drew plenty of laughs as he discussed his first appearance at a NASCAR race. He was especially amazed at all the giant campers packed into the infield.<br> <br> ``I don&#39;t know what y&#39;all are going to be doing with your spare time, but I&#39;m opening up a bus company,&#39;&#39; he said. ``I&#39;m going to be selling buses and RVs.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Harvey said he was eager to fit in at the track.<br> <br> ``I am going to get me one of those shirts with a logo on it, get me some jeans and just get out there in the middle of it,&#39;&#39; he said. ``If I can just wear my hats, I&#39;ll be cool. As long as I can wear a brim instead of a baseball cap, I&#39;ll be fine.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Harvey has a new appreciation for demands of the sport.<br> <br> ``I have been booed before, but I ain&#39;t never been run into a concrete wall,&#39;&#39; he told Gordon. ``I can take a little booing, but if somebody runs me in a wall and I survive, there&#39;s going to be some problems in the pits.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Gordon took his turn at comedy.<br> <br> ``I just want to know where you guys thought you were going that you thought it was OK to wear the pimp suits,&#39;&#39; he said. ``I want to wear one, but I want to know where I&#39;ve got to go to wear one.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> NEW RIDE: Jeff Burton is moving to a new car with Richard Childress Racing.<br> <br> The team announced Saturday that Burton will take over the No. 31 Chevrolet as part of a three-year deal that includes the continued sponsorship of Atlanta-based Cingular Wireless.<br> <br> A 17-time winner on the Nextel Cup circuit, Burton got off to a rough start this year with Roush Racing and switched teams in August, taking over RCR&#39;s No. 30 car.<br> <br> Burton hasn&#39;t won since 2001 and his best finish this year is fourth. He was 17th in the season standings heading into Sunday&#39;s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.<br> <br> ``I&#39;m as upbeat about my career as I&#39;ve been,&#39;&#39; Burton said. ``There&#39;s a renewed energy and a renewed sense of urgency.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> He will take over for Robby Gordon, who announced Tuesday that he&#39;s leaving RCR at the end of the season to form his own team.<br> <br> While both sides said the parting was amicable, Childress put Gordon on probation for starting an accident at New Hampshire that seriously damaged the championship hopes of title contenders Tony Stewart and Jeremy Mayfield.<br> <br> Gordon is 23rd in the season standings.<br> <br> Kevin Harvick will remain at RCR in 2005. The team also intends to keep the No. 30 car, currently driven by Burton, but has yet to announce a driver and sponsor.<br> <br> IDOL SINGS: Diana DeGarmo, the ``American Idol&#39;&#39; runner-up, sang the national anthem before the Busch race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.<br> <br> While it was her first trip to the track south of Atlanta, it wasn&#39;t her first NASCAR race.<br> <br> ``The first race I ever went to was the Brickyard 400 when I was 10 or 11,&#39;&#39; the 17-year-old singer said. ``That was a blast. I got a hat and bear, the whole thing.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> DeGarmo lives in Snellville, a suburb east of Atlanta. Her first album, ``Blue Skies,&#39;&#39; is scheduled to be released Dec. 7.