A harvesting header for a row crop machine has a tool bar with a plurality of row units attached thereto. Each row unit has a base and a pair of elongated row unit arms extending from the tool bar. The row unit arms form a stalk-receiving slot between facing inner sides of the pair of row unit arms. The row unit arms have outer sides facing away from the stock-receiving slot. The header has inner row braces, with each brace positioned forward of the tool bar and between an adjacent pair of row units. A first side of the inner row brace is attached to one of the outer sides of one of the row unit arms, and an opposing side of the inner row brace is attached to one of the outer sides of one of the row unit arms of an adjacent row unit.
