More Than Just Racing
NASCAR may be about horsepower and speed, but let’s be honest—fans never forget the fights. When drivers spend hours trading paint at 200 miles an hour, patience runs out quicker than fuel. One wrong bump, one smart-mouthed comment, and suddenly you’ve got tempers boiling over in the pits. These moments are raw—part of what makes the sport so unpredictable. So, let’s take a look at 20 of the nastiest fights in NASCAR history.
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1. Cale Yarborough Vs. Donnie Allison (1979)
The Daytona 500 marked the first 500-mile race broadcast live on national television. In the closing lap, Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison collided, eliminating both drivers from contention. Plus, tempers erupted, leading to fists and helmet-swinging on the infield grass.
2. Jeff Gordon Vs. Brad Keselowski (2014)
At the playoff race at Texas Motor Speedway, Brad Keselowski’s late-race move cut Jeff Gordon’s tire, sparking immediate tension. After the race, Gordon confronted him on pit road, where punches quickly flew. Kevin Harvick shoved Keselowski back into Gordon, triggering a massive brawl.
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3. Kurt Busch Vs. Jimmy Spencer (2003)
The clash at Michigan took an ugly turn when Jimmy Spencer drove into the rear of Kurt Busch’s car in the garage area, spinning it around. Tempers boiled over as Spencer punched Busch, leaving him bloodied.
4. Kyle Busch Vs. Joey Logano (2017)
Las Vegas delivered fireworks when late-race contact between Kyle Busch and Joey Logano on the final lap set tempers ablaze. Busch stormed down pit road after the race and threw a punch at Logano, igniting a pile-on brawl as crews rushed in.
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5. Kevin Harvick Vs. Greg Biffle (2002)
Tensions at Bristol reached a breaking point when Kevin Harvick went after Greg Biffle following a rough short-track battle. Harvick grabbed Biffle by the throat before crews stepped in to restrain both men. The incident further fueled their ongoing feud.
6. Jeff Gordon Vs. Clint Bowyer (2012)
Phoenix became unforgettable when Jeff Gordon intentionally wrecked Clint Bowyer in retaliation during the race. What followed was chaos: a massive pit road fight erupted between their teams, and Bowyer sprinted through the garage in pursuit.
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7. Kyle Busch Vs. Kevin Harvick (2011)
The 2011 showdown at Darlington boiled over after late-race bumping between Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick. On pit road, Harvick tried to confront Busch, only for Busch to drive away as Harvick’s unmanned car rolled into the pit wall.
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8. Jeff Gordon Vs. Jeff Burton (2010)
Jeff Gordon’s temper flared after being wrecked out, leading him to confront Jeff Burton and shove him before officials intervened. The clash shocked fans, and NASCAR handed out warnings but no penalties, leaving Texas as the stage for Gordon’s rare outburst.
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9. Tony Stewart Vs. Matt Kenseth (2012)
At Bristol, tempers boiled over when contact with Matt Kenseth lit up Tony Stewart’s short fuse. Stewart, never one to hide his frustration, hurled his helmet at Kenseth’s car during the caution laps. The throw instantly became an iconic NASCAR gif.
10. Joey Logano Vs. Tony Stewart (2013)
Joey Logano’s aggressive block pushed Tony Stewart past his breaking point, sparking a fiery post-race confrontation. Stewart stormed over and shoved Logano, accusing him of reckless driving as tempers flared in front of fans and cameras.
11. Ryan Newman Vs. Juan Pablo Montoya (2011)
Tensions snapped the moment the race ended at Richmond, where Ryan Newman and Juan Pablo Montoya’s hard racing spilled straight into a heated exchange. Whispers soon circulated that Newman had thrown a punch inside Montoya’s hauler, though Montoya denied stirring any trouble.
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12. Brad Keselowski Vs. Matt Kenseth (2014)
The Charlotte playoff race turned chaotic when Brad Keselowski found himself tangling with multiple drivers, Matt Kenseth among them. Once the cars were parked, tensions spilled over in the garage area, where Kenseth launched at Keselowski between the haulers. ”
13. Jeff Gordon Vs. Matt Kenseth (2006)
Matt Kenseth’s late-race spin sent Jeff Gordon’s chances spiraling, and the four-time champion didn’t take it lightly. Once the race wrapped, Gordon stormed straight to pit road and shoved Kenseth square in the chest. As a result, NASCAR fined Gordon $10,000 for the outburst.
14. Michael Waltrip Vs. Lake Speed (1995)
Frustration erupted into fists when Michael Waltrip and Lake Speed clashed after a heated on-track tangle. Waltrip wasted no time storming down pit road, where he confronted Speed head-on. In a burst of fury, Waltrip punched multiple times.
15. Kevin Harvick Vs. Ricky Rudd (2003)
The 2003 Chevy Rock & Roll 400 delivered more than just racing thrills when Kevin Harvick and Ricky Rudd’s late-race contact lit the fuse. Furious over what he believed was an intentional wreck, Harvick stormed toward Rudd’s car on pit road and tried to yank him out through the window.
16. Rusty Wallace Vs. Darrell Waltrip (1989)
The 1989 All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway delivered one of NASCAR’s most infamous endings when Rusty Wallace spun Darrell Waltrip on the final lap. What followed was pure chaos: both pit crews erupted into a full-blown brawl on pit road, with cameras capturing every shove and scuffle.
17. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Vs. Kyle Busch (2024)
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. wasted no time showing his fury after being wrecked early, marching straight into Kyle Busch’s pit area with payback on his mind. He parked in Busch’s stall, climbed a ladder to confront the crew, and then turned his anger on Busch with a punch.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Punches Kyle Busch After All-Star Race by TobyChristieCom
18. Tony Stewart Vs. Kurt Busch (2008)
Repeated on-track run-ins during Speedweeks finally pushed Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch past their limits, setting the stage for a garage-area showdown. The two exchanged heated words before NASCAR ushered them into the hauler, where Stewart allegedly landed a punch that sent tensions soaring.
19. Robby Gordon Vs. Kevin Harvick (2001)
Late-race contact at New Hampshire International Speedway sparked tempers that carried straight into pit road, where Kevin Harvick went after Robby Gordon. Crew members and NASCAR officials quickly intervened, holding him back before punches could fly.
20. Jimmy Spencer Vs. Wally Dallenbach Jr. (1996)
After late-race contact, Jimmy Spencer’s temper snapped as he stormed toward Wally Dallenbach Jr.’s car in a fury. Reaching through the window netting, Spencer shoved his fist inside, forcing NASCAR officials to restrain him before things went further.
