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Sprint Cup
CUP: NASCAR’s Best Confrontations 2000-2009
A look back at ten years of racing disagreements...
It all started in August of 2002 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as NASCAR Sprint Cup Driver Kurt Busch shows his frustration to Jimmy Spencer. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
Fans enjoy seeing the exchange of words, and sometimes bumpers, that become part of a feud between two drivers.
Sometimes these rivalries go on for years, while others are settled quickly and efficiently and moved into the past.
For those who think NASCAR drivers don’t get fired up and show enough emotion anymore, think again. They had their share of run-ins during the past decade. Here are those NASCAR Scene deemed the best confrontations of the decade:
Kurt Busch vs. Jimmy Spencer
Michigan, 2003
The yearlong feud escalates into a dented fender, a thrown punch and a bloody nose. A suspension, assault charges and Jerry Springer jokes follow.
Their take: “He comes up yelling, and I quote, ‘Get out of the car, little bitch. Let’s see what you’re made of.’” – Busch
“Kurt stopped [in the garage] because he was out of gas, and Jimmy had his way with him.” – Busch team owner Jack Roush
Kevin Harvick vs. Ricky Rudd
Richmond, 2003
A screaming, yelling Harvick stomps on the roof of Rudd’s car after late-race crash. A near-riot breaks out on pit road.
Their take: “Kevin was [ticked off], what do you say?” – Harvick team owner Richard Childress
“I don’t know. He’s got that little yap-yap mouth.” – Rudd, on what Harvick said
Kevin Harvick vs. Carl Edwards
Talladega, Charlotte, 2008
Banter after a Talladega wreck leads to a mysterious note followed by a physical confrontation in the Charlotte garage. Hulking Edwards looks like a wrestling star as he applies a choke-hold.
Their take: “Kevin, thanks for [criticizing] me on TV. I was really trying to screw up everyone’s day! Love, Carl.” – Edwards, in note to Harvick
“You just gotta be careful who you wanna pick a fight with.” – Harvick
Kevin Harvick vs. Juan Pablo Montoya
Watkins Glen, 2007
On-track incident leads to shoving and helmet-grabbing between two hotheads. NASCAR officials forced to break it up.
Their take: “I was talking about kicking his ass.” – Harvick
“I said it was my fault and he started shouting and grabbing me. I don’t appreciate that.” – Montoya
“I don’t want to end up like Pete Rose betting on my own team, but I would have bet on my guy.” – Montoya team owner Chip Ganassi
Jeff Gordon vs. Matt Kenseth
Bristol/Chicago, 2006
Angry Gordon shoves Kenseth on pit road at Bristol and then gets even by wrecking him on the last lap to win at Chicago.
Their take: “I like racing with Matt, [but] I certainly didn’t enjoy racing with him today. I showed him my displeasure. I get fired up, too.” – Gordon, at Bristol
“That wasn’t an accident. … Gordon just ran over me.” – Kenseth, at Chicago
Jeff Gordon vs. Tony Stewart
Watkins Glen, 2000
Early-race collision leads to shouting match and threats in the garage after the race – a YouTube classic. A year later, Stewart spins Gordon on pit road at Bristol.
Their take: “You’re busting my balls about taking it easy at the beginning. Make up your [expletive] mind.” – Stewart to Gordon at Watkins Glen
“I’ll run you straight into the wall the next time you’re anywhere near me. I owe you one now, buddy.” – Gordon to Stewart
Tony Stewart vs. Kurt Busch
Daytona, 2008
Crash in practice leads to insult (a fat joke?) and a (physical?) confrontation in NASCAR hauler (was it a shove or a punch?). Mum’s the word until Busch goes public on a Las Vegas radio station.
Their take: “It was highly emotional between two great race drivers.” – NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter
“He wanted to throw a punch, but I bobbed and weaved like a middle welterweight. We went toe to toe, I think, because I told him he has a large waistline.” – Kurt Busch
Sometimes these rivalries go on for years, while others are settled quickly and efficiently and moved into the past.
For those who think NASCAR drivers don’t get fired up and show enough emotion anymore, think again. They had their share of run-ins during the past decade. Here are those NASCAR Scene deemed the best confrontations of the decade:
Kurt Busch vs. Jimmy Spencer
Michigan, 2003
The yearlong feud escalates into a dented fender, a thrown punch and a bloody nose. A suspension, assault charges and Jerry Springer jokes follow.
Their take: “He comes up yelling, and I quote, ‘Get out of the car, little bitch. Let’s see what you’re made of.’” – Busch
“Kurt stopped [in the garage] because he was out of gas, and Jimmy had his way with him.” – Busch team owner Jack Roush
Kevin Harvick vs. Ricky Rudd
Richmond, 2003
A screaming, yelling Harvick stomps on the roof of Rudd’s car after late-race crash. A near-riot breaks out on pit road.
Their take: “Kevin was [ticked off], what do you say?” – Harvick team owner Richard Childress
“I don’t know. He’s got that little yap-yap mouth.” – Rudd, on what Harvick said
Kevin Harvick vs. Carl Edwards
Talladega, Charlotte, 2008
Banter after a Talladega wreck leads to a mysterious note followed by a physical confrontation in the Charlotte garage. Hulking Edwards looks like a wrestling star as he applies a choke-hold.
Their take: “Kevin, thanks for [criticizing] me on TV. I was really trying to screw up everyone’s day! Love, Carl.” – Edwards, in note to Harvick
“You just gotta be careful who you wanna pick a fight with.” – Harvick
Kevin Harvick vs. Juan Pablo Montoya
Watkins Glen, 2007
On-track incident leads to shoving and helmet-grabbing between two hotheads. NASCAR officials forced to break it up.
Their take: “I was talking about kicking his ass.” – Harvick
“I said it was my fault and he started shouting and grabbing me. I don’t appreciate that.” – Montoya
“I don’t want to end up like Pete Rose betting on my own team, but I would have bet on my guy.” – Montoya team owner Chip Ganassi
Jeff Gordon vs. Matt Kenseth
Bristol/Chicago, 2006
Angry Gordon shoves Kenseth on pit road at Bristol and then gets even by wrecking him on the last lap to win at Chicago.
Their take: “I like racing with Matt, [but] I certainly didn’t enjoy racing with him today. I showed him my displeasure. I get fired up, too.” – Gordon, at Bristol
“That wasn’t an accident. … Gordon just ran over me.” – Kenseth, at Chicago
Jeff Gordon vs. Tony Stewart
Watkins Glen, 2000
Early-race collision leads to shouting match and threats in the garage after the race – a YouTube classic. A year later, Stewart spins Gordon on pit road at Bristol.
Their take: “You’re busting my balls about taking it easy at the beginning. Make up your [expletive] mind.” – Stewart to Gordon at Watkins Glen
“I’ll run you straight into the wall the next time you’re anywhere near me. I owe you one now, buddy.” – Gordon to Stewart
Tony Stewart vs. Kurt Busch
Daytona, 2008
Crash in practice leads to insult (a fat joke?) and a (physical?) confrontation in NASCAR hauler (was it a shove or a punch?). Mum’s the word until Busch goes public on a Las Vegas radio station.
Their take: “It was highly emotional between two great race drivers.” – NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter
“He wanted to throw a punch, but I bobbed and weaved like a middle welterweight. We went toe to toe, I think, because I told him he has a large waistline.” – Kurt Busch
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