Yesterday we saw how tempers can get the best of people.
Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer were battling for position late in the Advocare 500 at Phoenix International Raceway when the two made contact. The result was a cut left rear tire on Gordon's car.
What happened next was straight out of a video game, or your Saturday night dirt track.
Gordon waited for Bowyer and intentionally wrecked him, collecting Joey Logano and Aric Almirola in the process. Two guys that had absolutely nothing to do with what happened between Gordon and Bowyer. After the accident, Gordon got out of his car and Bowyer's pit crew went after Gordon. A large melee broke out. NASCAR officials and sheriff's deputies got the crews separated. Bowyer exited the remains of his race car, then sprinted through the garage towards Gordon's hauler, attempting to confront him. He was stopped by several NASCAR officials and uniformed sheriff's deputies before he could reach Gordon.
As usual, both drivers were summoned to the NASCAR trailer.
So where do we go now?
It was pretty obvious Gordon intentionally wrecked Bowyer in retaliation for the contact a few laps earlier. Then the ensuing fight.
My suggestion: Suspend both Gordon and Bowyer next week at Homestead. Gordon for retaliation with his race car and Bowyer for his pit crew basically attacking Gordon.
NASCAR would look largely unpopular for this move, but it would set a precedence. The last time an incident like this occurred, Kurt Busch was "parked" for a race. Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick have seen similar fates as well.
It would send a rather harsh message to two drivers in the Chase. Both have already been eliminated from Championship contention, so it wouldn't matter if they missed the weekend. The teams would have to answer to their sponsors for their actions. And it would send a clear message to others: Actions like this will not be tolerated.
NASCAR has rarely put the brakes on drivers for their on-track incidents, but this was one that knocked Bowyer out of Championship contention. While he was a long shot, he now has zero chance. The initial contact between Bowyer and Gordon looked to me like a racing incident - two guys going for the same space late in the race.
Yesterday was definitely "have at it, boys". They took it literally.
Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer were battling for position late in the Advocare 500 at Phoenix International Raceway when the two made contact. The result was a cut left rear tire on Gordon's car.
What happened next was straight out of a video game, or your Saturday night dirt track.
Gordon waited for Bowyer and intentionally wrecked him, collecting Joey Logano and Aric Almirola in the process. Two guys that had absolutely nothing to do with what happened between Gordon and Bowyer. After the accident, Gordon got out of his car and Bowyer's pit crew went after Gordon. A large melee broke out. NASCAR officials and sheriff's deputies got the crews separated. Bowyer exited the remains of his race car, then sprinted through the garage towards Gordon's hauler, attempting to confront him. He was stopped by several NASCAR officials and uniformed sheriff's deputies before he could reach Gordon.
As usual, both drivers were summoned to the NASCAR trailer.
So where do we go now?
It was pretty obvious Gordon intentionally wrecked Bowyer in retaliation for the contact a few laps earlier. Then the ensuing fight.
My suggestion: Suspend both Gordon and Bowyer next week at Homestead. Gordon for retaliation with his race car and Bowyer for his pit crew basically attacking Gordon.
NASCAR would look largely unpopular for this move, but it would set a precedence. The last time an incident like this occurred, Kurt Busch was "parked" for a race. Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick have seen similar fates as well.
It would send a rather harsh message to two drivers in the Chase. Both have already been eliminated from Championship contention, so it wouldn't matter if they missed the weekend. The teams would have to answer to their sponsors for their actions. And it would send a clear message to others: Actions like this will not be tolerated.
NASCAR has rarely put the brakes on drivers for their on-track incidents, but this was one that knocked Bowyer out of Championship contention. While he was a long shot, he now has zero chance. The initial contact between Bowyer and Gordon looked to me like a racing incident - two guys going for the same space late in the race.
Yesterday was definitely "have at it, boys". They took it literally.
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