3 times NASCAR drivers had physical confrontations, ft. Kyle Busch-Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

NASCAR is known for its high-speed thrills and intense rivalries, which occasionally ignite tension on the tracks, leading to physical confrontations. Over the years, several stock car racing drivers have found themselves involved in such clashes, creating unforgettable moments for the fans.

Here's a look at the notable instances, including the heated clash between Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Kyle Busch.

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#1. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Kyle Busch during the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season

During the NASCAR All-Star race held at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina, Kyle Busch sent Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s #47 Chevy Camaro ZL1 into the guard wall after just two laps of the 200-lap race, ending Junior's day.

Stenhouse Jr. was then parked in Busch's pit box and waited for 198 laps to confront Kyle Busch. After the race, amid celebratory fireworks, the two drivers exchanged words in the garage, leading to Stenhouse Jr. landing a right hook on Busch's face. A second later, surrounding people jumped in and separated both drivers. Crew members also got involved in the fiasco and threw punches at each other.

"Bring it! I don’t give a fu*k. I suck just as bad as you!" Busch yelled at Stenhouse Jr. before he got punched in the face. (via NASCAR)

Junior was slammed with a penalty of $75,000 for throwing a punch at Kyle Busch after the All-Star Race, and three others got suspended, including Stenhouse's father.

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#2. Dale Earnhardt and Rusty Wallace in 1995

The rivalry between Rusty Wallace and Dale Earnhardt has always been one of the fans' favorites. But during the Bristol race in 1995, things got heated up, resulting in a physical confrontation. During the race, both NASCAR Cup Series drivers had a strong run until Earnhardt pushed Wallace into the front stretch wall in lap 33.

However, Rusty Wallace managed to drive away from Big E and won the race, leaving Earnhardt as the runner-up. But later, during the post-race interviews, Wallace went to confront Earnhardt and threw a water bottle at Big E. Earnhardt left the interview and went to talk to Wallace, and the officials kept them apart.

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#3. Joey Logano and Tony Stewart at the Auto Club Speedway

Tony Stewart is known for his bold and aggressive attitude on track. One-time Team Penske driver Joey Logano had to face Stewart's wrath during the Auto Club 400 held at Auto Club Speedway in 2013. Logano blocked Stewart on a restart, and the three-time Cup Series champion was not impressed by Logano's move.

Tony Stewart then blocked the #22 Ford Mustang driver in the pit roads, and both exited their vehicles to confront each other. This confrontation started as a verbal argument, throwing powerful words at each other, but soon turned into a brawl. Both drivers threw punches at each other, which became one of the most memorable moments in NASCAR history.