Racing’s Most Controversial Names
NASCAR has always been intense—but some drivers turned intensity into downright nastiness. History is packed with fierce grudges, risky moves, and drivers who pushed limits far beyond clean competition. Some either risked others’ lives to win or triggered wrecks that changed lives. Are you curious which stars stirred the most trouble? Let's uncover the wildest drivers NASCAR has ever seen.
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1. Dale Earnhardt
Dale Earnhardt made winning look brutal. At Bristol in 1999, he spun Terry Labonte on the final lap just to take first place. Years earlier, he also sent Darrell Waltrip into a spin at Richmond, which earned him a fine. Known for intimidating rivals, he got the nickname “The Intimidator.”
2. Jimmy Spencer
When Jimmy Spencer got angry, everyone knew it. He punched Kurt Busch after a tense Michigan race in 2003, and years earlier, he stormed from his car to argue with Wally Dallenbach after a wreck. His wild driving and short fuse made him hard to ignore.
3. Brad Keselowski
Brad Keselowski wasn’t afraid to gamble—and it often backfired. In 2010, his move on Carl Edwards at Gateway triggered a violent crash and sparked bad blood. Just four years later, another aggressive choice caused a 15-car wreck at Talladega. His style rarely left races untouched.
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4. Carl Edwards
Carl Edwards believed in giving payback, not second chances. In 2010, he wrecked Brad Keselowski twice—once in Atlanta, then again at Gateway. That same aggressive streak nearly sparked a fight with teammate Matt Kenseth in 2007, when Edwards threatened to punch him after a tense race.
5. Kyle Busch
In 2011, under a caution flag when drivers are expected to slow down, Kyle Busch hit Ron Hornaday Jr., which got him suspended. Six years later, he punched Joey Logano after a race. Ironically, he even criticized Carson Hocevar, even though their racing styles looked pretty similar.
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6. Kevin Harvick
After a rough finish in Texas in 2014, Kevin Harvick gave Brad Keselowski a hard shove that set off a pit-lane fight. He even tried to swing at Kyle Busch after a crash and called out Carson Hocevar for repeatedly driving too aggressively.
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7. Cale Yarborough
The 1979 Daytona 500 didn’t end with a trophy—it ended with fists. After crashing with Donnie Allison, Cale Yarborough traded punches in NASCAR’s most famous post-race fight. His refusal to back down kept tensions high, especially when racing against the Allison brothers.
The toughness behind Cale Yarborough's memorable career | You Kids Don't Know by NASCAR on FOX
8. Bobby Allison
Racing alongside Cale Yarborough often meant trouble, and Bobby Allison knew it. Their 1979 Daytona crash exploded into a physical brawl. Known for using bump-and-run tactics, Allison carried the Alabama Gang’s aggressive spirit into rivalries that often turned personal and occasionally violent.
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9. Tony Stewart
Tony Stewart never held back—on or off the track. He threw his helmet at Matt Kenseth’s car after a crash, wrecked Jeff Gordon to settle a score, and clashed with Robby Gordon at Daytona. Whether causing wrecks or arguments, Stewart’s temper always left a mark.
10. Jeff Gordon
Phoenix, 2012: Jeff Gordon deliberately wrecked Clint Bowyer, and within minutes, crews were brawling. But that wasn’t his only heated moment. He bumped Rusty Wallace at Bristol in 1997 and admitted to wrecking Sterling Marlin twice during a particularly tense 2003 season.
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11. Matt Kenseth
Don’t let the calm exterior fool you—Matt Kenseth could snap. When Joey Logano raced him hard in 2015, Kenseth struck back by wrecking him at Martinsville, earning a suspension. He’d also clashed with Tony Stewart and nearly came to blows with Carl Edwards.
12. Kurt Busch
Kurt Busch’s fiery streak showed at Bristol in 2002 when he bumped Jimmy Spencer, sparking a fight. NASCAR even parked him in 2007 for rough driving and later fined him $50,000 in 2012. Outbursts followed him everywhere, from reckless moves to angry tirades and crude gestures.
13. Rusty Wallace
Crashes weren’t rare in Rusty Wallace’s races—but neither were the fights that followed. His spin on Darrell Waltrip during the 1989 All-Star Race ended in a scrap. Outspoken, Wallace kept fans—and fellow drivers—on edge with every hard-charging move he made.
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14. Denny Hamlin
At Martinsville in 2017, Denny Hamlin spun Chase Elliott, and fans were furious. His aggressive restarts often stirred trouble since he wasn’t afraid to bump leaders for position. By 2023, he found himself in another dispute—this time with Kyle Larson at Pocono over hard racing.
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15. Ernie Irvan
Ernie Irvan earned the name “Swervin’ Irvan” because his driving often looked unpredictable. Other racers criticized him for accidents they said could have been avoided. His reputation grew from wrecks that sparked controversy, making it frustrating for fellow competitors in the garage.
16. Joey Logano
Racing Matt Kenseth hard for the win in 2015, Joey Logano made contact that sparked a long-running feud. That bold attitude carried into future races—he clashed with Ross Chastain in 2025 and wrecked at Daytona during high-pressure finishes. His aggression often came at a cost.
17. Donnie Allison
Donnie Allison’s 1979 Daytona crash with Cale Yarborough ended in a fistfight that made headlines. Part of the tough Alabama Gang, he used contact to gain position and was later placed on probation for his role in that explosive moment.
18. Darrell Waltrip
Nicknamed "Jaws" for his shark-like aggressive driving style, Darrell Waltrip became known for blocking tactics that irritated drivers like Dale Earnhardt. In the 1989 All-Star Race, Rusty Wallace spun him out, which led to a heated brawl that only added fuel to his reputation.
19. Robby Gordon
With a wild driving style that often caused cautions, Robby Gordon sparked a feud with Tony Stewart at Daytona in 2000 through abrupt bumping. Additionally, in 2005, he was fined after a road-rage clash with Kasey Kahne, and his tendency to overdrive early frequently triggered preventable wrecks.
20. Ross Chastain
Ross Chastain’s daring wall-ride at Martinsville—now called the “Hail Melon”—shocked everyone. He also clashed with Joey Logano in 2025 and earned a long list of critics for overly aggressive driving that led to wrecks and rising frustration in the garage.
